When the curtain rises one sees nothing but odd black lanterns with orange lights, hanging, presumably, from the sky. The scene lights up slowly revealing Alice seated on two large cushions. She has been “dropped behind” by the White Queen and is dazed to find herself in a strange hall with many peculiar doors and knobs too high to reach.
Alice
Oh! my head! Where am I? Oh dear, Oh dear!
[She staggers up and to her amazement finds herself smaller than the table.]
I’ve never been smaller than any table before! I’ve always been able to reach the knobs! What a curious feeling. Oh! I’m shrinking. It’s the fan—the gloves!
[She throws them away, feels her head and measures herself against table and doors.]
Oh! saved in time! But I never—never—
White Rabbit
Oh! my fan and gloves! Where are my—
Alice