Following young Alice on her adventures in Wonderland has given millions of readers enjoyment since it left the pen of author Lewis Carroll in 1865.  Almost a century later, that enjoyment took on a fantastically colorful hue thanks to the late Walt Disney and his 1951 animated feature “Alice in Wonderland.”

The Queen of Hearts (Jiill Springer) looks on as the King of Hearts (Joel Lininger) questions Small Alice (Molly Hill) in this scene from "Alice in Wonderland Jr."

The stage version of the Disney cartoon, titled “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” is aimed as young  theater-goers but, as evidenced by the enthusiastic reception of the all-ages audience Friday evening at the Bristol Opera House, the Elkhart Civic Theatre ECTeam production lands squarely on the multi-generational funny bone.

Presented by a LARGE cast (I stopped counting after 40) of  young performers, it blended music from the film (including “Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah,” a show-stopper from Disney’s ”Song of the South”) with delightful interpretations of the story’s memorable characters, inventive and bright costuming and an energy that literally bounded off the stage.

Here, the Cheshire Cat is a triple play with ears, grin and tail handled by Ali Parr, Megan Auger and Celina Davis respectively, as is Alice. Jan Mecklenburg is “normal sized” Alice with Katie Norwood and Molly Hill as her Tall and Small incarnations. Jacqueline Kelley-Cogdell is appropriately frantic as the always-late White Rabbit with McKenna Kaczanowski and Riley Miller doing a turn (literally) as Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum . . . or is is Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle Dee?  No matter, they are delightful.

Alice (Jane Mecklenburg) says "How Do You Do" to Tweedle-Dee (McKenna Kaczanowski, left) and Tweedle-Dum (Riley Miller) in this scene from "Alice in Wonderland Jr."

A befeathered Andrew Scott is the nautical Dodo,  and Mad Hatter Dan Murakowski declares 364 “un-buirthdays,” aided by his tea-drinking March Hare sidekick, Zachary Salisbury.  The flowers in the Golden Afternoon Garden must be Valley Girls, as their spangled interpreters (Leigh Van Ryn, Lauren Tilley, Morgan Jordan, Alana Todd and Michelle Jones, plus floral wannabe Carlie Manges as Poison Ivy) are right out of “Gossip Girl.”

Zack Kovalenko has his “ups and downs” as the Doorknob and Michael Salisbury is the rapping Caterpillar  who sheds his inventive cocoon (loved the hula hoops!) for sparkling wings. Jill Springer doubles as Alice’s sister and the super-authoritarian Queen of Harts with Joel Lininger as her quaking consort.

These were the “named” characters but equal credit must go to the several dozen “chorus” members who portrayed flowers, sea creatures, royal court members and cardsmen, boatmen and rock lobsters. They were on time and on key and added 100 percent to the success of the production (an additional performance is set for 3 p.m. today as all others are sold out).

Behind the door to “Wonderland” are director/choreographer Steven Salisbury, assistant director Stephanie Salisbury and vocal director Mary Norwood, with John Jay Shoup designing set and lights and Dawn Blessing, costume designer.