Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Opera House, London
As material for a ballet, Lewis Carroll's Alice books have clear pros and cons. On the plus side, they have strong imagery and the chance for any amount of theatrical spectacle. On the minus, the story is episodic, hugely complicated and focused on wordplay. Christopher Wheeldon's 2011 production for The Royal Ballet can't solve the problems, but its dazzling illusions and general oomph have made it a big hit.