Abby in Wonderland (2008) (V)

Director:

Kevin Clash

Writer:

Christine Ferraro (written by)

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Musical

Plot:

A retelling of Alice in Wonderland featuring Abby Cadabby as Alice and Elmo as the Red Rabbit. |

Cast

Fran Brill	...	Zoe as Mousey the Hatter Helper (voice)
Tyler Bunch	...	Bottle (voice)
Leslie Carrara	...	Abby Cadabby (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	Elmo as the Red Rabbit (voice)
Eric Jacobson	...	Grover as the Mad Hatter / Bert as Tweedle Dum (voice)
Paul McGinnis	...	Additional Muppets
Jerry Nelson	...	Count von Count as the Counter-pillar (voice)
Carmen Osbahr	...	Rosita as Little Rose (voice)
David Rudman	...	Cookie Monster as the Cheshire Cookie Cat (voice)
Caroll Spinney	...	Oscar as the Grouch of Hearts (voice)
Steve Whitmire	...	Ernie as Tweedle Dee

Directed by
Kevin Clash

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christine Ferraro		written by

Produced by
Tim Carter	....	producer
Kevin Clash	....	co-executive producer
Melissa Dino	....	senior producer
Carol-Lynn Parente	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Radice

Other crew
Kelly Adams	....	production coordinator
Shevaun Gray	....	production secretary
Mark Magner	....	package art director

Production Companies

• Sesame Workshop

Distributors

• Sesame Workshop (2008) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Sesame Workshop

Movie Connections:

Version of Alice in Wonderland (1985) (TV)

Intellectually Vacuous Modification Of Recondite Inscription

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I did not find this to be a truly esoteric rendering of Lewis Carroll's literary arcane. The script was overtly simplistic and the actors often miscast or banal in their respective characterizations.

Miss Abby Cadabby is suitable enough as the lead although I found it hard to identify exactly the genus or subgenus of her origin. The Count was his usual suave self and his performance solid and self assured. Grover was somewhat inspired and amusing in his execution, but the Cookie Monster needs to perfect his diction through an acting coach because I couldn't understand a word he said.

That brings us to Mr. Elmo. I've never felt that Mr. Elmo (or is it Sir Elmo? wasn't he knighted by the queen or something a few years back? Don't know)was a particularly good actor. Mr. Elmo has always been one of those actors of limited range who is better at playing himself than trying at true characterization. He is likable enough, but as an actor Mr. Elmo lacks depth or introspection. In this show his acting limitations are all too apparent. He is completely miscast and seems uncomfortable and uneasy with his performance. I would recommend Mr. Elmo stick to his 'Elmo's World' show on 'Sesame Street' and not dabble in serious acting doing Shakespeare or Williams or Mamet.

The rest of the production was satisfactory enough. Although at times the cinematography was unimaginative and even sub-par as in the dramatic moments where Ms.Cadabby gains insight. The sets were colorful but rather pedestrian, and the songs were unmemorable and not on a par with say, Gilbert and Sullivan or Gershwin. On a whole the show was not definitive but suitably proficient.

Uuhh. I'm not at all sure what I just said but I think it had something to do with Elmo being a hack actor.