Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Ballet

when you think of what with Fille mal G Ashton managed in terms of character, choreography story-telling on one hundredth of the budget - Alice begins to make me feel a bit sick for future of ballet (attack of Homansitis)

Has Alice not been done enough already? And more to the point, is this *real world* we live in not upside down, back to front and completely crazy enough that a successful, meaningful, poignant and stunningly effective ballet could be made about things happening right here and now? Do we really need to go down that well worn fantasy rabbit hole *yet again* when we live in a society and in a real world absolutely full of genuine rabbit holes?! Has everyone completely forgotten what the arts are supposed to be for? Is art really just about updating a mobile library's worth of ancient 'classic' works over and over and over and over and over again? Can we not make something new, relevant, intelligent original and MEANINGFUL!!!!?? And if we are able - why aren't we? Is the real world not curious (and curiouser) enough -bursting as it currently is with uprisings, revolutions, corruption and deception being exposed at the highest levels, false flag terrorism and illegal wars with their resultant genocide already passing the million dead mark? Are not the attempts to dismantle the entire social, industrial and economic fabric of all developed nations based on phony environmental science by 'leaders' who like to dress up in red robes and perform mock child sacrifices in front of a 40 foot stone owl every year in Northern California (google Bohemian Grove) somehow not 'interesting' or 'relevant' enough to deserve some kind of reflection and contemplation in our arts? OUR arts? What about the biggest bank robbery in human history (by the banks themselves no less!) and their tying up of all the world's economies in preparation for their imminent and collective destruction and no doubt their biggest consolidation of wealth yet. I'm sure when the economy crashes people will be losing their homes and starving by the tens of thousands .... is that somehow still not 'engaging' enough that we should all flock instead to watch a ballet (another remake, another repeat) about some girl, a bunch of hallucinogens left lying about and a Chesire cat made some 150 years ago? Honestly .... anybody would think our entire culture from Hollywood movies to corporate TV shows and pop music through to our beloved, 'vibrant' but safely neutered 'Arts and Culture' scene was all heavily controlled and censored in order to keep us all endlessly distracted, dumbed down while normalizing this insane world around us and (certainly in the case of Hollywood) predictively programming us all to accept each now insane development at least a decade before it intrudes upon our increasingly precarious lives. Is this a fair (rough and simplified) approximation of our so called culture? If so WHY? Catagory One 'Saccharine magical', occult, freemasonic, fairy tale (Alice in W, Harry Potter, Charmed, Oz, most Disney, Being Human, corporate pop and rap music) Catagory Two Technological/ militaristic/ police enforcement celebrations with strong transhumanism/ dehumanization elements (Terminator, Avatar, Robocop, Star Wars, Infra, at least half of modern dance, Independence day, Toy Story, Tron, Spooks, CSI, corporate pop and rap music) Catagory Three Annoying, moronic, materialistic, narcissistic brats obsessed with social Darwinistic competitiveness and status and often 'ego sex' too (Black Swan, Bridget Jones, all rom coms, X-factor and all game shows, Master Chef, at least half of modern dance, Big Bruvva, Hanna Montana, corporate pop and rap music etc) I'm sure many people will already be thinking, "yeah, but what else is there to life?" Exactly.

I was there last night, and I can understand where you are coming from, as there was a lack of character between the scenes, and too much emphisis on technology. However, I loved the 2nd act. The choreography for Alice and Jack/The Knave was wonderful, the "card tutus" and flamingos had some very detailed and interesting steps and I thought the rose adagio parady had perfect comic timing. However, it will be interesting to have another viewing without the atmosphere of a gala. I didn't stand up at the end, but I can understand why people did, because it was beautifully danced and lighhearted. Art with an F: I would suggest it is not about the subject that you convey, it is about the quality of the choreography, new work about ground breaking issues is being done by the RB. And why can't people have escapism and be concerned about current issues at the same time?

I saw the dress rehearsal on Monday morning and thought it was wonderful. Super in every way what do the critics want ? Not what the audience want obviously! As Noel coward said " if I really cared what the critics said I would have shot myself in the 30's " ........ Jennifer Haley

Art with an F, you need to get out into the more interesting places more, starting with establishment bastions the Royal Opera (which is more or less your Alice venue, OK) and English National Opera, then try the fringe. You make some interesting points, and you're a great read in yourself - I'm guessing you're also the 'Pop Mum with Kids' - but you're limiting your worldview of the arts, at least as they're practised in London. And what's all this about a Freemasonic conspiracy???