Most musicals entertain, but there are some that will also quietly devastate you. OnStage Stage Players’ production of Alice by Heart falls firmly into the latter category, a hauntingly emotional experience that lingers long after the final bow.
Set against the backdrop of war, grief, fear, and imagination, Alice by Heart asks enormous things of its cast. These young actors embraced it fully, diving headfirst into the heartbreak and vulnerability that define the piece. Presented entirely by teen performers, this production achieved something genuinely remarkable: emotional honesty at a level many adult productions struggle to reach. The way Alice looks into Alfred’s eyes every step of the way? That’s not something you see every day. Choreography and staging this unique and daring, done with such precision and impact? An unbelievable commitment from a stage full of high school students.
The sorrow at the center of the story never felt forced or theatrical. Instead, every moment carried an aching sincerity that made the audience feel as though they were experiencing the pain, confusion, and fleeting hope alongside the characters. Scene after scene landed with emotional weight, often leaving the room completely still.
The production also marked a major milestone for the education program: its first performance at Haddonfield United Methodist Church. Rather than feeling like a temporary or unconventional venue, the space became an integral part of the storytelling. The staging used the environment brilliantly, transforming it into an immersive dreamlike maze of memory and imagination. Using the space at HUMC allowed Haddonfield Plays and Players to run two shows at two different venues through the weekend, accounting for nine performances between Alice by Heart and the mainstage’s Jagged Little Pill:The Musical and the opportunity for close to 1,000 people to see HP&P productions in a span of 5 days - no small feat for a main stage that normally seats under 130.
The choreography and movement work were particularly stunning. Every transition felt purposeful and cinematic, with the cast flowing through scenes in ways that constantly kept the story alive. Army cots came alive and the cast flew through the air and down the rabbit hole. The staging created striking visual tableaus while maintaining emotional intimacy - no small feat in a show that shifts so fluidly between fantasy and reality. The production’s heartbeat pulsed through one uniformly incredible ensemble, with each actor contributing to the emotional atmosphere at every moment.
What ultimately made this Alice by Heart so memorable was the maturity behind it. These weren’t performances built on imitation or surface-level emotion. These teens found the humanity in the material and trusted it (and the incomparable production staff) completely. The result was a production that was raw, heartbreaking, beautifully staged, and deeply affecting.
Alice by Heart will remain with audiences for quite some time.
