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Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

  • 1.  Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-14-2015 14:40
    My principal wanted me to get a consensus of theatre teachers about
    the school- appropriate use by the caterpillar of a hookah in Alice
    and Wonderland. He would like to be able to say "it is standard
    practice" if I use it and he gets flack for it. If you didn't use it,
    what did you do? Thanks,
    Brenda Williams brenda_williams@sumnersd.org
    Bonney Lake High School
    Bonney Lake WA


  • 2.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 00:29

    When we did Alyse in Wonderland: steampunk style, the caterpillar wore a partial gas mask and goggles. I've seen it done with a long, slender cigarette holder, as well as a hookah, and some without anything except a flourish. I think it's pretty standard to include some paraphernalia, but I think it needs to fit in with whatever you plan to do.

    ------------------------------
    Jo Strom Lane

    Roosevelt HS
    Theatre Teacher and Director
    Portland Public Schools
    Portland OR
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 07:01


    When we did the show, we used bubbles. It kept the oddity of the caterpillar's actions, and gave him something to do while being annoyingly slow with answers. Plus, it solved the issue at hand.
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    Mark Johnson
    Theatre Arts Teacher
    Stevenson HS

    Sterling Heights, MI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 07:42


    I'd not use it, but if you do, use a child's "bubble pipe".  Have your actor practice with it so that it's obvious that it's a toy and not remotely being used to inhale smoke or vapor.  The sound of the blowing bubbles will help.

    Break a leg!

    ------------------------------
    Josh Ruben
    Fine Arts Head, Northwest Whitfield
    Chattanooga TN
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 07:47


    We've done a version of Alice 4 different times and we used a hookah each time.
    ------------------------------
    Kristie Bach
    Retired Theatre Teacher
    Traverse City MI
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 07:49


    Yes, bubbles: the new evil drug. :)

    You could argue for the use of the hookah, but it would be more tiring. In an age where smokers and smoking paraphernalia are the new leprosy, I'd go with the bubbles. My predecessor in the Troupe did Alice, and I believe nothing was used. I'd have gone with the bubble pipe too. Though I agree with Jo, whatever you do, it should fit with the overall design motif, whether that's selective realism, deconstructivism, or steam punk (look how I'm learning from my awesome PDI with Jo Lane!) 
    ------------------------------
    Phillip Goodchild
    Theatre Arts Instructor/Assistant Department Head of English
    Hillsborough County Schools
    Ruskin FL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 08:48

    Don't know which version you are doing, but we used a bubble pipe.

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    Linda Veneris
    Greensboro NC
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  • 8.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 08:50

    I have done Alice in Wonderland twice (in different centuries even!).  I glued together a hookah looking thing both times. (Cans, large Christmas ornaments, medical tubing, and the the like.) It is such an iconic image that I knew I wanted it.  I also knew when we did Mame, Chicago, and numerous other shows I would want to paint dowels to look like cigarette holders and when we did Arsenic and Old Lace, The Nerd, Fiddler on the Roof, and most Agatha Christie shows there would be stage drinking.  By recognizing the issue and demonstrating my concern, I feel I head off most of these discussions before they begin.

    ------------------------------
    [William] [Myatt] [Drama Director]

    [Pleasant Valley High School]

    [myattw@pleasval.k12.ia.us][563-332-5151][Bettendorf][IA][USA]
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 09:40
    I used it in H.S. production.

    When my script was adapted for a pro touring kid's show, they used a bubble wand.


    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-15-2015 11:47


    I am in a fairly conservative district and got no flack for it when we did Alice.
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    Nancy Curtis
    Director of Theatre Arts
    Virginia Beach VA
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-16-2015 20:05


    Thanks to all of you for your responses. I am so glad to be part of this great community of theatre educators.   They have given me exactly what I needed to make a decision!

    Brenda Williams

    Bonney Lake High School

    Bonney Lake WA

    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Hookah in Alice in Wonderland??

    Posted 10-16-2015 21:15


    The Hookah on the original was a satirical poke at excesses of Lewis Carrolls associates.  We simply took that idea and got a huge Coca Cola bottle and hooked up a Curley straw to it.  The Caterpillar drank coke through the who scene through the straw.  He also wore goggles he a funny aviator hat and acted like a visionary that COUKD see the future.  Point made.  Satire intact for today's audiences.  Easy to do without freaking out the admin.  Got lots of laughs too.

    ------------------------------
    Tom Fulton
    Director
    Academy for the Performing Arts
    Chagrin Falls OH

    Original Message