THE surreal, nonsensical world of Alice in Wonderland unfolded itself on the RSC stage last week in front of a hugely delighted audience.

The spectacular show, with magical scenes and larger than life characters, was very impressive. Alice grew huge and shrunk like magic - thanks to the outstanding effects and props.

The colourful well-loved parts of the classic story where the bad tempered Queen of Hearts and her courtiers played crochet with flamingos, and the lion and the unicorn fight for the crown, were well represented.

One of the highlights of the show, the appearance of the fearsome Jabberwocky, caused my little seven-year-old companion to jump out of her skin. The creature, which seemed to fill the stage at one point, was a great triumph of engineering.

My young critic, Jessica, was entranced by the show, but it has to be said, when she first clapped eyes on the leading lady with short dark hair and no Alice band, she said: "That's not Alice!" For me also, the Cheshire cat was a disappointment, as well as the mad hatter. Call me old fashioned, but why depict the characters from the age old classic to near perfection, when you can just as easily do it perfectly?

The show is on until March 9, and despite my personal point of view, is well worth seeing.

PAT Smith