'Alice in Wonderland' has many strengths

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

2 and a half stars

Rated PG

Walt Disney Pictures pairs quirky genius filmmaker Tim Burton (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Beetlejuice”) with the extremely popular actor Johnny Depp (“The Pirates of the Caribbean” series) for the seventh time in the first big movie event of 2010.

Your very important date is a complete reimagining of the classic fairy tales “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass,” written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll.

The script by Linda Woolverton (“Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King”) includes all the familiar characters, story elements and central themes. The most significant changes are that Alice (relatively unknown Australian Mia Wasikowska  previously seen in “That Evening Sun,” “Amelia” and “Defiance”) is on the verge of turning 20 and the place she ends up after tumbling down a rabbit hole is “Underland.”

KC native hits home with new play

According to Ennis King, a barbecue joint worker, “Broke-ology” is his scientific examination of two concepts.

“One, being broke,” Ennis explains. “Two, staying alive despite your broke-ness.”

Ennis is a character in “Broke-ology,” an affectionate new comic drama by Kansas City, Kan., native Nathan Louis Jackson, a writer for the NBC-TV series “Southland.”

It’s the current production at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s downtown Copaken Stage.

Starlight Theatre offers free ticket program

As Starlight Theatre, located in Kansas City’s Swope Park, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2010, it continues a valued program that has existed since its inaugural 1951 season.

Starlight’s Community Ticket Program will make available 364 free tickets to every night of every Broadway performance to qualifying area organizations.

Interested community and nonprofit groups must complete and submit a Starlight Community Ticket Program application by mail by March 15.

Playhouse celebrates ‘Broadway’s Best’

Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W. 10th St., celebrates more than 60 years of American musical theater history with its upcoming production, "Broadway’s Best," opening Friday, March 5.

The intimate cabaret revue features songs from winners of the Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Musical and highlights the broad changes in musical and theatrical styles since the first award was presented in 1949.

Marvelous acting in 'The Last Station'

THE LAST STATION

3 and a half stars

Rated R

The ensemble cast puts on an acting showcase in this historical drama written and directed by Michael Hoffman (“Restoration” and “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”).

Based on the 1990 novel by Jay Parini, the film explores the turbulent final year in the life of Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer from “The Insider” and “The Man Who Would Be King”).

The movie could pass as a finely crafted stage play. The simple premise is a tug of war between Tolstoy’s wife of 48 years, Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren from “The Queen” and “Gosford Park”) and Tolstoy’s trusted disciple and righthand man, Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giammati from “The Illusionist” and HBO’s “John Adams” miniseries), over the rights to the literary works (including “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina”) and vast estate of this great man regarded as a living saint.

Chertkov represents the interests of the Russian people. Sofya wants the estate to stay within the family, passing to her as surviving spouse and then to their 13 children.

Besides being a devoted wife, Sofya has been a passionate lover, muse and secretary to this man with a long bushy white beard and mustache. She has even copied “War and Peace” by hand six times. She uses every trick of seduction in her feminine arsenal to deter her husband from signing a new will.

Theatre in the Park announces auditions

The Theatre in the Park at Shawnee Mission Park will hold auditions for its 2010 summer season Saturday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, Feb. 28, at Shawnee Mission North High School, 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park.

Participants may audition for roles in:

• “Jesus Christ Superstar,” with director Phil Kinen and choreographer Christopher Barksdale of the Kansas City Ballet, performances June 11-13 and 15-18.

• “Annie,” with director Tammy Ruder and choreographer Brian McGinness, performances June 25-27 and July 1-3.