After last year's triumphant 'Wind in the Willows' Christmas show, the Rose has struggled to keep the run going with this year’s chaotic and disappointing offering.
As usual the show is dominated by a Rose Youth Theatre cast, but for all their hard work, they can’t save Ciaran McConville’s confusing mish-mash. Here Alice is transported to Wonderland where time has stopped at two minutes to four, and therefore it’s never tea-time and always winter, you are constantly questioning whether McConville has his Lewis Carroll confused with his CS Lewis stories.
The first half is nothing less than excruciating, kids fidget as the boredom increases, and for a first time I considered walking out – others showed the courage of their convictions.
Fortunately the second half is a lot shorter and rallies somewhat with the help of some delightful puppetry, but there are a lot better ways to spend your time and money during the festivities.