Clay Wheeler, Brian Witkowicz and Ben Bryant star in N47’s take on “Alice in Wonderland” now onstage at the Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park. (Photo Courtesy of Nouveau 47)

Whoever thought Lewis Carroll’s famous “Alice in Wonderland” couldn’t be set in a street alley starring hobos is soon to be proven wrong with Nouveau 47’s production of “Alice in Wonderland and Other Hallucinations.”

The collection of Carroll’s work, which opened April 7 at the Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park, features a cast of ultra-talented actors in a series of wacky, off the beaten path, roles.

Starting the show with the shrill of a call whistle, the cast quickly begins Carroll’s famous rhymes and reasons with his short poem, “Rules and Regulations.” When dealing with work as tedious as Carroll’s, annunciation is key.

“Rules and Regulations” was the perfect fit to start the show, as it allowed the viewers to settle into the unorthodox dialogue and get a feel for how the rest of “Alice in Wonderland and Other Hallucinations” would go. At first, the twisting and sometimes tongue-tying verbiage of Carroll’s work can seem unsettling, but just like a good scotch, the play gets better over time.

A short transition piece, Carroll’s “Dreamland,” is used to introduce the remaining, more fantasy-like, part of the show.

The play promptly progresses into Carroll’s “Phantasmagoria.” The story, which follows a noble British man and his encounter with a visiting ghost, is just as whimsical as it is haunting. Credit has to be given to Tom Parr IV’s art direction, as his creative decision to depict the ghost on stage allows for the story to flow seamlessly while giving the ghost a visible role. Cast member Clay Wheeler’s delivery was spot on and his ability to talk to an empty stage should not go un-noted.

The first act continues with the short, one-man at sea story, “A Sea Dirge.” Brian Witkowicz plays a sailor who has had an encounter with the testy sea. Perhaps the lightest of the fair of Carroll’s work, “A Sea Dirge” is perhaps the most forgettable piece of the night.

The next piece, “The Hunting of the Snark,” tells the tale of a shipwrecked crew that includes a butcher, beaver, judge and pirate. The motley crew becomes obsessed with finding a mysterious creature on the presumed island. A lot of physical comedy comes from Clay Wheeler and Danielle Pickard as their dueling characters provide plenty of humor. “The Hunting of the Snark” concludes the first act with a haunting, but ironic, ending that works well with the rest of Carroll’s pieces.

“Alice in Wonderland and Other Hallucinations” second act begins in a dreary and drab alleyway peppered with trash and dirty cardboard. With a dingy dress and a confused look upon her face, Danielle Pickard plays Alice…sort of.

After a wandering child leaves Carroll’s book by her feet, Pickard’s character gets lost within its world and eventually finds herself playing the role of Alice. Again, Tom Parr’s creative art direction is put to good use throughout Alice’s journey, as the stage becomes littered with common items that serve as something much more in Wonderland.

Pickard’s journey is highlighted by memorable performances from her supporting cast. Randy Pearlman’s part as the Cheshire cat allows for the seasoned actor to flex his comedic muscle and also gives him a slight opportunity to interact with the audience.

Other notable performances come from Whitney Holotik as both queens and Wheeler’s mad hatter. Pearlman shines again as he plays the eloquent humpty-dumpty and needless to say, a broken egg ensues.

“Alice in Wonderland and Other Hallucinations” concludes in a somewhat cryptic manner with Brian Witkowicz playing a singing man whose song is just as haunting as it is sincere. With a somber tone and low, blue, lighting, act two ends in a manner much less festive than the rest of the night’s performances, however, it still meshed flawlessly.

“Alice in Wonderland and Other Hallucinations,” runs at the Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park until April 23.