One-Act Play
Wondered
You’re cordially invited to the maddest tea party of the year.
Play Details
(2F, 3M) Drama. Written by Elodie Boal. 45 Minutes in length.
Awards
In 2015, Wondered toured the Southeast Queensland, achieving over 40 awards along the Drama Festival Circuit. The play received stellar reviews and was recognised as Best Play (5 times), Best New Australian and Unpublished Script (4 times). Other accolades included numerous Acting awards (including Best Actor and Best Actress in Dramatic roles, Best Supporting Actor and Actress), Best Director, Adjudicators Award and Best Lighting and Sound Design.
Premiere Information
Wondered first performed at the Murrumba Drama Festival in June 2015. From there it toured to Strathpine, Dalby, Beenleigh, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast. In 2016, Wondered was invited to perform as part a joint project with Brisbane Arts Theatre. This was its first public and professional production. It then performed a season with Anywhere Festival in May 2019 with its original cast.
Wondered is an engaging piece of theatre that stimulates the darkest parts of the imagination. This contemporary work is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s ‘Adventures of Alice in Wonderland’ and sets out to reveal the true story of what really happened in Wonderland.
Written by Elodie Boal in 2014, Wondered was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s Story entitled ‘The Systems of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether’ and Elodie’s Grandad, Fred Boal. This play requires minimal set and can be easily adapted to any stage size.
Reviews and Feedback
“Elodie Boal’s script is quirky, well written and imaginative, with twists and turns all over the place and filled with dramatic impact. The characters are excellently drawn. It is funny and dark, very much a black comedy… This 45-minute one-acter has won a heap of awards on the festival circuit and, after watching this absorbing play I could see why… And I am sure Charles Dodgson would have loved it!”
Eric Scott, Absolute Theatre
“Each role was written with a fresh perspective to build a compelling depth into Lewis Carroll’s classic characters… The team behind Wondered should feel immensely proud of their efforts.”
Ashleigh Hopping, The Creative Issue
“As overheard from one theatre goer at the end of the evening “That was brilliant! I loved it… But it was totally creepy, right?” Right… Wondered’ has now completed its run at the Brisbane Arts Theatre, but if it happens to be playing again it is worth the visit.”
Luisa Ryan, Scenstr
“Fast-paced dialogue, clever take on well-loved classic and excursion into what is real and what isn’t. Some very funny and also dark moments. Overall great energy and committed ensemble playing.”
Sally McKenzie, Adjudicator at Sunshine Coast Theatre Alliance
“Very entertaining. The audience laughed and gasped out loud. They were captivated by performances. The closest thing to the perfect play that I have ever seen.”
Lesly Stevenson, Adjudicator at Ipswich One Act Play Festival
“Sharp clean direction and movement with fantastic ensemble work. Vibrant, imaginative, interesting and great story telling.”
Lesly Stevenson, Adjudicator at Dalby Players Little Theatre Drama Festival
“Nicely crafted original take on the Alice tale. Intense insight into Alice’s fourth adventure. Tim Burton would be proud.”
Ron Kelly, Adjudicator at Act1 Theatre Festival
“What a shame we can’t see it again! I think I’ve seen it 5 times now and I don’t think I’d ever tire of watching it!”
Wendy Humberdross, Audience Participant
“What a great production the cast presented. Great directing, lighting and the opening seen before any dialogue set the tone for an interesting play.”
Lorraine Adby, Audience Participant
Awards and Achievements
Murrumba Drama Festival, Redcliffe – June 2015 (Adjudicator: John Boyce)
Best Play, Best Unpublished Script (Elodie Boal), Best Male Actor (Reagan Warner), Best Male Supporting Actor (Gary Farmer and Trent Sellars) and Best Female Supporting Actress (Lindi Milbourne).
Act1 Theatre Festival, Strathpine – July 2015 (Adjudicator: Ron Kelly)
Best Play, Best Unpublished Script (Elodie Boal), Best Director (Elodie Boal), Best Male Actor Drama (Reagan Warner), Best Supporting Actor Male (Trent Sellars), Best Supporting Actor Female (Elodie Boal), Best Supporting Actor in a Minor Role Female (Lindi Milbourne), Certificate of Distinction (Gary Farmer) and Stage Managers Award (Mira Ball Productions).
Dalby Players Little Theatre Drama Festival, Dalby – July 2015 (Adjudicator: Barbara Lowing)
Best Play, Best Australian Play, Playwrights Award (Elodie Boal), Best Director (Elodie Boal), Best Male Actor (Reagan Warner), Best Female Actor (Elodie Boal), Best Male Supporting Actor (Gary Farmer and Trent Sellars) and Best Female Supporting Actor in a Minor Role (Lindi Milbourne).
Beenleigh Theatre Group Drama Festival, Beenleigh – August 2015 (Adjudicator: Nigel Munro-Wallis)
Best Play, Best Original Work Shield for Best Original Script (Elodie Boal), Lino Club of Twin Rivers Shield for Best Australian Play of the Festival, The Redheads Shield for Best Director of the Festival (Elodie Boal), Best Director Trophy (Elodie Boal), The Joy Corby Memorial Shield for Best Set and Lighting Design of the Festival, Best Actor Male in a Dramatic Role (Reagan Warner), Best Actor Female in a Dramatic Role (Elodie Boal), Best Supporting Actor Female (Lindi Milbourne), Westpac Beenleigh Shield for Best Actor Male of Festival (Reagan Warner) and Soroptimist Int. Beenleigh Inc. Shield for Best Female Actor of Festival (Elodie Boal).
Ipswich One Act Play Festival, Ipswich – August 2015 (Adjudicator: Lesly Stevenson)
Best Play, Best Australian Play, Playwrights Award (Elodie Boal), Best Director (Elodie Boal), Best Male Actor (Reagan Warner), Best Female Actor (Elodie Boal), Best Male Supporting Actor (Gary Farmer and Trent Sellars) and Best Female Supporting Actor in a Minor Role (Lindi Milbourne).
Dalby Players Little Theatre Drama Festival, Dalby – July 2015 (Adjudicator: Barbara Lowing)
Best Play Drama, Best Male Actor in a Drama (Reagan Warner) and Best Supporting Female Actor in a Minor Role (Lindi Milbourne).
Sunshine Coast Theatre Festival, Sunshine Coast – July 2015 (Adjudicator: Sally McKenzie)
Adjudicators Award for Writing, Directing and Acting (Elodie Boal) and Best Male Actor (Reagan Warner).