William Donnelly's play conflates the problems of Alice (Rashmi), a young artist with painter's block, with Alice in Wonderland. Alice has accepted a commission from an obnoxious art dealer (Daisy Mullen) but finds herself unable to deliver the promised work, and her frustration undermines her relations with her lover, Leverett (Brad Cook). After a particularly acrimonious exchange, he walks out and goes home to mother. Alice finds herself cast into an art-world version of Wonderland. Here she encounters a smug, dyspeptic, destructive art critic (Frank Noon); a furious mermaid (Jen Bowman), who doesn't like the way Alice painted her; and a Renaissance Painter (Dexter Hamlett) whose works have not survived the depredations of time.
There's a meeting of Artist's Anonymous, which seems to be a cross between the Mad Hatter's tea party and a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Bowman scores as a painter-suicide who can't remember precisely why she killed herself. She also plays an influential art critic who, like the Queen of Hearts, puts Alice on trial in a kangaroo court. Eric Jorgenson is engaging and effective as Finn, an ex-artist who's trying desperately to convince himself that he's glad he "settled" for a life of rural domestic not-quite-bliss.
Because Alice is a largely passive character until almost the end of the play, her story tends to be tepid, but the Wonderland scenes are sharp and funny, and they are well-executed by the talented ensemble. The underlying theme is the question that continues to plague many artists who labor long and hard for little reward: Am I really an artist-actor-writer-singer-whatever if I can't manage to sell or get paid for my work?
Donnelly's writing and the direction by Jayne Taini are of fluctuating quality, but the energetic and versatile ensemble -- including James Henderson, in several roles -- strikes enough comic sparks to make it a lively evening.
Presented by Sphere Theatre Company at the Elephant Theatre,
6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood.
Thu. 8 p.m. (Sep. 13 only.) Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Sep. 13-Oct. 7.
(323) 960-1057. www.plays411.com/paintedalice.