Twist
Ho Ho Ho tis the season to be jolly or maybe just twisted. There are several alternate versions of classic Dickens. Now I am a great fan of Dickens and don’t really mind seeing my umpteenth version of A Christmas Carol as long as its good. I even looked forward to a Charles Ludlum - inspired version of Oliver Twist simply called Twist currently showing at the Avery Schreiber Theatre in NoHo (North Hollywood). The show had been nominated for the 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and was the winner of the Midtown International Theatre Festival Award for Best Book, Music, and Lyrics. I found the show to be a rather mixed bag.
The best things about the show were certain performances and the universal vocal talent of the cast. I show is basically an s and m version of the classic story where Oliver is a sort of male fatale who is irresistible to all he encounters and provoke them to tie him up, whip him, and generally abuse him. Remember the line “Please Sir, can I have some more’ will expand that idea into abuse and make Oliver a glad recipient and you have the idea. The conceit is quite funny and Brandon Ruckdashel who play Oliver, more than fulfills the bill. He is a great looking chap with a terrific voice and good acting chops. He even provoked an audience member to throw women’s panties at him in the curtain call. He is a great find.
Top billing goes to the transsexual artist Alexandra Billings. I am a great fan of hers and she has a wonderful presence and a voice that knocks you out of the theatre. She also has an awareness of an audiences expectations and questions about her person and approaches her roles with a wry exuberance which goes between feminine sensuality and male power. She is getting a following that adores her which is great. I first saw her at the same theatre in a one -woman show that had only a few people in the audience. Now she is given billing over the title and the house was full in part because of her.
The other outstanding performer was Chris Carlisle as Dodger. He may have the best voice of the lot though Billings and Ruckdashel and Justin Mortelliti who plays Bill Sikes are all excellent singers. Carlisle’s love duet with Ruckdashel at the end (yes they find true love midst all the whips, chains, and cross-dressing) is quite moving.
My basic caveat with the piece is that the direction is sloppy and undisciplined. Granted it is hard to pull off a production like this in the confines of the small theatre space but then extra care needs to be taken. The recoded music was also difficult, at times, for the singers to match. The songs were good with some amusing lyrics, and the little choreography, including a male on male ballet, by Matt Valle was more than serviceable. Well I don’t mean to be a Scrooge and want to end by saying the audience ate it up and this may be just the show for you in these twisted times.
At the Avery Schreiber Theatre http://www.the musical twist.com