Dark 'Radio Hour: Alice' is real treat

"RADIO HOUR: ALICE," Plan-B Theatre Company, through Oct. 31, Rose Wagner Center (801-355-2787); running time: one hour (no intermission)

Midway through Plan-B Theatre Company's production of "Radio Hour: Alice," I found myself thinking, "This is what can happen when talented, creative people get together and do what they do so well."

It's a complete joy.

"Radio Hour: Alice" is the fifth and final installment of the company's Halloween radio hours. This time, resident playwright Matthew Ivan Bennett takes the already dark world of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and twists it, making the characters uglier and the story a whole lot creepier.

Though the bulk of the live performances are sold out, you can still experience the show as it was meant to be … on the radio. "Alice" will air on KUER and XM channel 133 Friday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

But by not sitting in the black box theater, you won't see the most darling Cheshire cat, actor Jay Perry, stretching his lips from ear to ear. You won't see Teresa Sanderson's face, stern and cold as she shouts, "Off with her head!" And you won't see musician David Evanoff play parts of the score using his iPhone as the instrument.

But listening to the radio may be the only way to appreciate the beautifully descriptive language of Bennett — who perfectly creates, describes and illustrates Alice's dark wonderland, and it is an absolute treat.

Doing the words justice, with his commanding voice, is Bill Allred (from X96's Radio From Hell), who flawlessly delivers Bennett's words, bringing the characters, setting and nightmare to life.

Another reason Bennett's story is so vivid is Evanoff's original music — an entire score, inventive and creative. It is the perfect scene-setter.

Playing several characters each — everything from the Mad Hatter, a hooka smoking caterpillar, the Queen of Cups, a series of animals and the infamous White Rabbit (Tobin Atkinson) — the talented cast does a marvelous job of switching from voice to voice and interacting with one another.

And 15-year-old Emma Munson not only does a great job holding her own against a cast of more experienced performers, she brings a lovely innocence to the role of Alice.

Daisy Blake provides the sounds — running water, the pop of a cork and Alice's many and varied growth spurts — designed by Cory Thorell.

Thank you to cast and crew for sharing your creative energy. "Radio Hour: Alice" is an hour very well spent.

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com