TO produce ?Alice the Musical?, an adaptation of Lewis Caroll?s classic tale that contains more than 20 songs and 30 characters, is no mean feat at the best of times ? but last weekend the Young Actors of North Tawton Society (YANTS) succeeded with one of their youngest casts for many years. This was in large part due to the talent and enthusiasm of the actors, and some real characters emerged over the course of the evening. Richard Cornish, as the author-narrator, confidently navigated his way through Caroll?s complex prose. The two Alices, Victoria Orbell and Georgina Hodgson, were impressively self-assured and Joshua Cassels, Sophie Bending and Rowan Perrior, as the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and Mock Turtle respectively, all displayed wonderfully natural gifts for comic timing. These cast members were ably supported by Libby Kinsey as the lively White Rabbit, Sophie Thompson as the March Hare, Tess Townsend Green as the Gryphon and Jasmin Barber as the suitably-haughty Duchess. Other cast members included Gemma Cooper, Jack Cornwall, Katrina Harrison, Jade Dunster, Chloe Dunn, Vicky Eames, Harry Edwards, Rebecca Estella-Lovell, Sarah Gillard, Jennifer Grey, Shannon Hill, Autumn Honeychurch, Rebecca and Lucy Kennedy, Jessica Molyneux, Stephanie Perrott, Ben Phillips and Victoria Reed. Thanks must also go to the directors Wendy Hill and Tamsin Grayling, Sound Director Martin Orbell, and their legion of helpers, without whose commitment the show could never have taken place. The production also included graceful dancing, particularly from Chloe Dunn, colourful costumes and lively music ? making it a pleasure to watch from beginning to end. Emma Wilby
