Two local theater companies present a theatrical adaptation of the classic children's tale Alice's Adventures in Wonderland this weekend.

The play is an original adaptation created by director Beth Berry and is a composite of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, the two best-known works of author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson – better known by the penname Lewis Caroll,

The production features a cast of about 70 performers, with an additional supporting cast that includes a 10-piece chamber orchestra.  The play is a co-production of the Contemporary Theater Company and GEAR Productions, both based in Wakefield.    

Arjun Yadav and Jaden Franklin, two Narragansett residents with prominent roles, will play the parts of the Jabberwocky and the King of Hearts respectively.

Yadav has worked behind the scenes with CTC and performed in the "Sunday Funday" series, but this will be his first appearance with the company in a major production.

A recent graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering, Yadav designed and constructed the Jabberwocky with the help of his fiancée.  The costume, or more accurately puppet, weighs 50 pounds and measures 12 feet from head to tail, complete with wings, and is controlled by an internal framework of plastic tubing. 

Keeping the monster child-friendly, the Jabberwocky features a vest.

"It's kind of cute, in a way," Yadav said. 

The Jabberwocky appears in accompaniment to Alice's reading of Caroll's famous nonsense-poem of the same name.

"It's just a wonderful show, and I think the Jabberwocky will be the most impressive part, just to see that part will be amazing" Yadav said, laughing.

Yadav also appears as a member of the chorus and as the titular carpenter in the "The Walrus and the Carpenter" sequence, also based on a famous poem from the books.

Franklin, the King of Hearts, has appeared in two previous CTC productions, with his first role in CTC's 2009 "Metamorphosis" production.

Because scenes are rehearsed separately, neither Franklin nor Yadav had seen the entire play at the time of their interviews.

"It'll be a surprise to me when it comes out, I basically have tunnel vision right now, I know what my scene looks like, but everything else is a mystery," Franklin said.

Franklin's scene features a game of croquet played with hedgehogs and flamingos, the Cheshire Cat, the Mock Turtle and an irate Queen of Hearts.

Extrapolating from what he has seen, Franklin described the play as vibrant.

Of the approximately 70 performers, 44 are individuals with special needs receiving support from the Adeline LaPlante Memorial Center, the Perspective Corporation or Ocean State Community Resources, Inc.     

"We had this vision for this type of production, an all abilities cast," Berry said. "AAA – Awesome, All-Abilities cast is what we call it."

Berry, who directs mostly for GEAR Productions, said the inspiration for the project came from a friend doing similar work in Iowa.   

GEAR, short for Give Everyone A Role, produces performances mostly with school-age children, but has always been inclusive of all abilities, Berry said.  

The idea, she said, was to provide an opportunity for a broader age range of people with disabilities to perform.

"Some of the young people that have been in our productions in the past are now young adults, and it's not as easy for them to find opportunities to be part of the dramatic arts," she said. 

The show will run this weekend only, Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. in the South Kingstown High School auditorium. Tickets are $5.

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