O.K., so Judi Rolin seems about 10 years too old for the role of Alice, but when she breaks into her big song, "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are", you are totally taken by her. Not as well known as "Alice in Wonderland", "The Looking Glass" has been made several times for T.V. and only as part of a special which included the more famous characters from "Wonderland". Gone are the "Off With Her Head!" Duchess, the rolling pin wielding cook and the Mad Hatter. This is obviously a different fantasy land, and the White Royals and Red Royals are definitely a more welcoming group than the mad rulers of Wonderland.
With Nanette Fabray and Agnes Moorehead as the two queens and Ricardo Montalban and Robert Coote as the two kings, there's imminent camp, and a delightful description of life behind the mirror ("Two Sides to Everything") has the delightful Ms. Moorehead singing one of the few times in her career. Broadway veteran Fabray shows her meddle after practically stealing "The Band Wagon" away from Fred Astaire, and Jimmy Durante is a delightful Humpty Dumpty. The Smothers Brothers are well cast as Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee, but their song ("The Backwards Alphabet") isn't one of the better tunes in the score.
I often find myself humming "Keep on the Grass" when strolling through Central Park or some other nature setting, although I still "Don't Pick the Flowers", to quote the song's second verse. A group of singing flowers do appear as do witches briefly from some other famous children's fairy tales. Jack Palance is never frightening as the Jabberwork, just sneering and over-the-top. They certainly could have done without his non-show-stopping song which stops the action cold.
Overall, I rate this equally as high as some of the other more famous children's TV musicals, and while the score in total isn't stage-worthy, it is perfect for what it is, a memory I cherish from a Thanksgiving of many years ago, and the type of T.V. we unfortunately shall never see again unless they release it on home video.
With Nanette Fabray and Agnes Moorehead as the two queens and Ricardo Montalban and Robert Coote as the two kings, there's imminent camp, and a delightful description of life behind the mirror ("Two Sides to Everything") has the delightful Ms. Moorehead singing one of the few times in her career. Broadway veteran Fabray shows her meddle after practically stealing "The Band Wagon" away from Fred Astaire, and Jimmy Durante is a delightful Humpty Dumpty. The Smothers Brothers are well cast as Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee, but their song ("The Backwards Alphabet") isn't one of the better tunes in the score.
I often find myself humming "Keep on the Grass" when strolling through Central Park or some other nature setting, although I still "Don't Pick the Flowers", to quote the song's second verse. A group of singing flowers do appear as do witches briefly from some other famous children's fairy tales. Jack Palance is never frightening as the Jabberwork, just sneering and over-the-top. They certainly could have done without his non-show-stopping song which stops the action cold.
Overall, I rate this equally as high as some of the other more famous children's TV musicals, and while the score in total isn't stage-worthy, it is perfect for what it is, a memory I cherish from a Thanksgiving of many years ago, and the type of T.V. we unfortunately shall never see again unless they release it on home video.