‘Carnival of Memories: A Wonderland Story’ and ‘The Changeling: a Neverland Story’ (Review)

by Brian Resler
Brian Resler
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October 19, 2018
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6 min read

Another voyage through the looking glass and a return to Neverland with Epic Immersive’s latest San Francisco productions

The imagination of a child is not to be underestimated. Though technology changes and mediums evolve, for many children, the lure of a well-told story is paramount. As adults, there is often no greater pang of nostalgia than to remember the earliest experiences of being told such stories. Whether it’s shared with a group in school or a library, recited at bedtime by a parent, or encountered alone, lost in the pages of a well-worn familiar book, the stories we encounter in our youth leave a lasting impression. From fantastical islands beyond the stars populated by mermaids and pirates, to nonsensical gardens and tea parties through a looking glass, the memories of imaginary worlds linger throughout adulthood. The details of plot or character become hazy, but the feeling of nostalgia for journeys through fantastical lands remains.

It’s no coincidence that Epic Immersive’s two latest production seek to delve deeply into nostalgia. As they wander through the wistful recreations of Lewis Carroll’s “Wonderland” and J.M. Barrie’s “Neverland” respectively, participants in Carnival of Memories: a Wonderland Story and The Changeling: A Neverland Story come face to face with characters, both familiar and new, who share their nostalgia. The painful mix of familiarity and longing for the carelessness of past with the struggle to accept the concrete reality of adulthood, of change in the here and now. Reconciling the imagination and joy of youth with the responsibilities of age is a universal challenge.

Both productions are ostensibly sequels to Epic Immersive’s previous works (a third current production, Between Two Worlds: A Wonderland Story, is a remount of the original Wonderland saga with some additions); however, knowledge of the previous productions is not essential and may actually cause some confusion for those familiar with the company’s earlier productions, as actors have changed, along with some details and characterizations, as well as sets. And while the worlds of Alice’s Wonderland or Peter’s Neverland have been interpreted on stage and screen countless times, Epic Immersive has successfully created their own enticing interpretation, and the true draw of these sequels is the ability to re-experience the worlds and environments they’ve created: to wander along with Alice and Peter in the worlds you dreamed of visiting as a child.

Of course, much like the original texts, these journeys are not without cynicism. The protagonists of Carnival of Memories and The Changeling all share a skepticism about the virtues of youth and escapism, and it’s to the production team’s credit that, while both journeys begin in the same place (both literally and figuratively), they come to almost diametrically opposite conclusions, and yet still seem well earned.

(Some spoilers follow.)

Both experiences begin in the most adult, inauspicious of environments, a Mission dive bar. You’ve ostensibly gathered for one of two coming of age rituals, a baby shower or a 21st birthday, but one suspects that this meeting spot serves to remind you of exactly how unimpressive adulthood can be (that the bartenders were less than polite and wholly uncooperative with the place-setting that was occuring was a surely unplanned, but helpful reminder of why fantasy and escapism can be so welcome).

Thankfully, your time is short in this real world setting, as both productions quickly transport you, via one of the more unique and exciting set elements, into the fantastical world hidden just out of sight.

The set on which both productions plays out is nothing short of impressive. Previous visitors will recognize the facility from the first iteration of Wonderland (the original Neverland set is not revisited). The designers have created a complex maze of detailed set pieces, at once specific enough to transport participants to well-known worlds, reminiscent of familiar elements of original Tenniel illustrations, Disney animation, and countless stage/screen interpretations, while also allowing a more generic otherworldliness that allows the set to be transformed between the worlds of Alice and Pan. By design, the experience can feel disorientingly large and then give way to cramped and claustrophobic. At times the set feels surprisingly real, and at others it gives way to a grittier, more homemade feel, as if we are children playing on the set of J.M. Barrie’s original play. Scenes are connected by a series of dark narrow tunnels, frequently requiring visitors to find their way by feel, often crawling or sliding to their next encounter, which creates a physical sense of disorientation (although having seen the two productions in the span of 24 hours, my knees did not appreciate the journey).

Much has been made in many of the recent pop cultural interpretations of these works of the more dramatic, occasionally salacious details of their writing and their authors, but Epic Immersive’s productions are, to their benefit, based on the source texts themselves. These interpretations draw mainly from Carroll and Barrie, but pull inspiration from mythology, both Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian, as well as the works of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Carnival of Memories is, first and foremost, a family story — one of sisters who find their family on the precipice of major change. A balance of joyful expectation, tempered by a recent and painful loss. What seems like a straightforward sibling rivalry quickly gives way to an dream-like exploration through time and space. The real-world tribulations of the Liddell family are mirrored and then blended with those who of residents through the looking glass. Much like the original Wonderland, Carnival of Memories explores the anxieties of aging, of the transition from youth to adulthood. But it also broadens its scope and examines motherhood, sisterhood, grief and loss.

The Changeling is a more straightforward reexamination of the themes of Epic Immersive’s original Neverland production. While Carnival of Memories focused on the transitions we encounter in our lives, The Changeling is a meditation on mortality. Each character in their own way seeking their Fountain of Youth, hoping to avoid the final common passage. The set has changed, and the interpretation of some characters has, as well. One of the stronger elements of the original Neverland was revelation of the unique, mythological interpretation of Peter’s role in Neverland and his relationship with his nemesis, Hook. This fortunately remains intact in The Changeling, though it’s curiously held back and presented as an unexpected “reveal” despite being known to those familiar with the original production.

These productions are longer and more complicated than their predecessors. Their nightly staging is a stunningly complex arrangement of scenes and set pieces, a labyrinth occupied by actors and audience. On opening night, the pieces weren’t all fitting together exactly as they should. During Wonderland, there were several moments when it became clear an expected entrance had not yet occurred or that the timing was not quite perfect. There were also moments when we were directed down the wrong tunnel or into the wrong scene, at one point finding ourselves accidentally backstage. However, the performers were, by and large, competent improvisers and were able, for the most part, to suppress their panic and maintain their character. As small adjustments are made and further rehearsed, the staging is sure to become tighter, and even by the next night, the seams were less apparent for the opening of The Changeling.

Each production ends with a large climactic set piece before depositing audience members suddenly back onto the real world. The sights and characters of the fantastical worlds suddenly just a memory as the reality of the cold Mission street corner comes into sharp relief. But for a single night, Epic Immersive allows you to experience the stories of childhood once again. The moving narratives (of love and loss, and of growth and change) and the touching performances are the icing on the cake, but the true strength of Epic Immersive is the ability to step into a world that you’ve never truly experienced, but still feels like you’ve visited many times before.

Carnival of Memories: A Wonderland Story, and The Changeling: A Wonderland Story are playing through the end of October in San Francisco. Tickets are $85.

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