Most of us think of Alice (of "Wonderland" fame) as a blond girl in a blue dress who falls down a rabbit hole and has magnificent dream-like adventures. Well, Alice has her own colorful set of adventures in Dance Alloy's must-see "Feed Your Head Cafe," which premiered at the New Hazlett Theater Friday night.

Only now she's a middle-aged woman, blond wig and all, whose blue dress is a yummy variation on a waitress uniform, accessorized by striped blue-and-white tights and sensible dance shoes.

Alice is also Michael Walsh in his own stylish blue frock. And she's alter-ego Greer Reed. According to Alloy artistic director and choreographer Beth Corning, she exists in all of us, even audience members who come for a little adventure of their own and find it in this delicious adult fantasy.

In her first full-length production here in Pittsburgh, Corning has filtered Lewis Carroll's classic story through the 1974 Ellen Burstyn flick about a waitress, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," and has constructed her own hallucinogenic take on the Jefferson Airplane tune, "White Rabbit," which has heavy references to Alice and features the line, "feed your head." Also included, and we can only guess about this, are some of Corning's personal reminiscences.

With all of these inspirational sources, Corning jumps from the rabbit hole to a quasi-chess game to a tea party of sorts with political and religious undertones. Call it surreal, dreamlike or a real trip, it works, although the viewer may not always follow the meaning.

No matter, that's where the audience's Alice comes in to fill in the blanks with its own individual interpretations.

The striking scenic design puts the senses on full alert. A black-and-white linoleum floor climbs the walls in increasingly psychedelic patterns. When the large door at the back of the versatile Hazlett opens, it extends to a path that seems to go on forever. High above the floor hang tables and chairs, some of which play a part in this purposefully upside-down world.

And a Dali-esque blue window and gurney sit on the second level.

The choreography shows more range for Corning, who favors a German Expressionist style, where the movement is slow and purposeful. That is put to good use in the opening sequence and a poignant family-oriented trio with Walsh and Stephanie Dumaine.

A double-decker solo sequence, where Alice recalls her singing ambitions while her alter-ego seems to be performing above her, either needs to be better synchronized or more separate. Right now, it's half and half, blurring the intentions.

Corning shows rare bursts of energy, more successfully in the fleeting duet with Scott Lowe, less so in the merry-go-round ending, which could be tightened. A few times, the production begins to lag, but the imagery is so compelling that the audience just waits to see what's around the choreographic corner.

In designing this vehicle around her own life, Corning has come home in this complex role, with juicy parts for her wonderful company, guest artists Reed, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Aaron Ingley as the White Knight, Clyde Jones as a paper-reading customer and audience favorite Jezebel D'Opulence as Tina Turner. A talented student contingent from Pittsburgh's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts fills out the 19-member cast.

Then there's the real Feed Your Head Cafe in the lobby, all the better to connect with your inner Alice, and well, enjoy. Just stay away from the mushrooms.

<<span style="font-style:italic;">p>Dance Alloy will present "Feed Your Head Cafe" at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 13. Brunch and dinner packages available. Call 412-363-4321 or e-mail lauren@dancealloy.org.