Role of Alice a ‘test of stamina’

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 5

Role of Alice a ‘test of stamina’

For 18-year-old Michelle Randall, playing “Alice in Wonderland” in the “Disney on Parade” show is not so much portraying a role as a “test of stamina.” Alice is primarily a dance role, but Miss Randall also has to sing, speak, and mime. She has 20 full minutes on stage, the longest of any of the characters in the show. In this time, she sings, dances, and runs with the White Rabbit.

Although extravagant costumes are a feature of “Disney on Parade,” Miss Randall has no dress changes at all during her performance. “The only things that I do change are ballet shoes. After about the first 10 minutes, I rush off-stage to change from flats to pointe shoes for the dance with the flowers,” she said.

“When that is over, I rush I off-stage again, back into flats and chase the White Rabbit, i After that, I have the teatable scene, and the dance I with the Queen and cards.” There are two “Disney on Parade” shows. The one camped in North Hagley Park i is the “Alice unit.” The other is called the “Snow White unit,” each concentrating on a different Disney aspect. Miss Randall has been with the show for six months. Her home is in Perth, Australia, where the Disney shows were cast. “I was doing ballet, both dancing and teaching, and hoped to make it my career. When I heard about the auditions for ‘Alice,’ I applied, because any audition is good experience,” she said.

After the two-day audition, Miss Randall was told the role was hers. The show

opened in Perth last August, and has toured in Adelaide and Melbourne before coming across the Tasman.

Life under the Big Top, in a sort of circus atmosphere, would not appeal to everyone but Miss Randall says that she loves it. “I love the travelling round and meeting people,” she said. “Even though we were rather tied to the show, we have managed to see a bit of New Zea* land. While we were in Auckland, a few travelled to Rotorua for two days. We are hoping to see Mount Cook the same way, perhaps on a Sunday or a day off.” DANCING PRACTICE Not a great deal of Miss Randall's time is spent in actual rehearsal, but as a ballerina, she finds constant workout and limbering up are essential for good performance. The 60 or 70 dancers in the show often hold schools, or training sessions, to keep their dancing up to standard. “I’m always being teased about being'the biggest eater in the show,” Miss Randall said. “Since I have the most strenuous part, I work up a great appetite rushing round all day. However, I can’t let it get out of hand and put on weight, so I have to be fairly careful.” Once a keen artist, swimmer and diver, Miss Randall has found that these hobbies had to be dropped. "When you do ballet, you

have to let a lot of things go,” she said. “You just do not have the time or the energy to keep them up. However, I do a bit of reading—when I am not too tired.”

After its New Zealand season ends in Christchurch on February 29, the “Disney on Parade” show will return to Australia for a run in Sydney and Brisbane.