Waiting for Alice

Generally speaking, there is very little one can do with literary classics when it comes to adapting them to the stage. Even more generally speaking, it is exceptionally hard to create a classic piece of theatre without following said classics to the word. Transplanting literature's most famous of twins into an entirely new storyline – especially when attempted by a novice playwright – would appear to have "mediocre" written all across it: a dry, faux-intellectual, soulless experience that is indicitive more of the writer's abject lack of imagination than the strength of the original characters.

Waiting For Alice, on the contrary, is an absolute labour of love. Written by Phill Jupitus and co-star Andre Vincent, this is a piece of theatre oozing heart and soul. It would seem that never were two human beings better suited to two roles than Vincent and Jupitus to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. There is so much affection for the characters and the chemistry between them is captivating and fast-flowing, endlessly funny and beautifully scripted.

Underlying Waiting for Alice, is a particularly nostalgic yearning for the days of libraries and proper children's books; a sadness that the age of gloriously written, imaginative, innocent, dangerous, illustrative and inspiring literature has been lost to MTV and videogames. As the subplot reveals itself, as the layers of depth peel away and as Dee and Dum become enlightened of their situation, Vincent and Jupitus' script comes truly into its own.

This is a production that has perhaps been misplaced in the programme - much more theatre than it is comedy - but that is not to say it doesn't have its moments. Indeed, the warmest laughter - akin to that of sheer childish delight - greets many of the lightening quick exchanges between the two. It is, at times, nothing short of beautiful.

There are a number of very good plays adapted, written and performed by comedians at this year's Fringe. But this is, far and away, the best.