[metaslider id=8039]
MOLLY VANDENBERG
Staff Writer
Over this past weekend, the production “Alice in Slasherland” provided the perfect amount of cheesy slasher-flick inspired entertainment to a very enthusiastic crowd. The play was originally created by Qui Nguyen and was presented by Fredonia’s student-run Performing Arts Company, known commonly as PAC.
The storyline consists of a nerdy teenage boy named Lewis, played by sophomore musical theatre major Tyler Hecht, accidently releasing a “literal hell on earth” at a party when he unknowingly resurrects the soul of a teenage girl named Alice, played by senior musical theatre major Sarah Moebius. Lewis, his friend Margaret, played by senior musical theatre major Stevie Jackson, and Alice must attempt to save their classmates from the demons and killer that are running rampant around town. They also get some help from Alice’s hilarious demonic talking teddy bear, Edgar, played by Jacob Badding.
There were a fair amount of gory special effects used but the humor helped balance out all the blood. It was very reminiscent of the “Scary Movie” franchise in how it was poking fun at the horror genre.
The dialogue in the play subtly noted that the only thing it has in common with “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” is the fact that they both have characters or people involved named Alice and Lewis, though the adventure could compare as well with several scenes utilizing music, fight choreography and lighting changes to enhance the scene and often to draw laughs from the audience.
“There are various amounts of stage combat throughout the play, fake blood, props, costumes, projections, sound and lighting elements, really there is a lot that goes into this play, especially because we had to create it all between the eight of us,” said Nick Cahill, a senior BFA acting major and director of the production.
The fight choreographers consisted of senior musical theatre major Marisa Pizzuto and Moebius.
“Sarah … and I are big fighters. We love doing stage combat. We wanted to do a show that we could fight choreograph. Something that had three females because myself, Sarah and Stevie … really enjoy working together,” said Pizzuto, who also played a number of roles in the play, including Tina and a few different types of devils.
“I have loved doing fight choreography, but this was the first time I’ve ever gotten to create it myself … so that’s been fun, having something in my head and seeing it become fully realized on the stage is very cool,” she continued.
“We figure out what they’re going to do and teach them how to do it safely,” said Moebius.