Blog post 'TWIST in LOS ANGELES'
TWIST in LOS ANGELES
- Published: 330 days ago
- Comments: 0
- Reads: 110
"The Tony and Oscar winning family classic Oliver and the recent award-
winning off-Broadway musical Twist share the same basic Charles Dickens
plotline. For those living under a rock, it goes as follows: An orphan boy named
Oliver Twist, abandoned at birth, raised in an orphanage, later sold to a
mortician, and eventually taken in by the rapscallion Fagin finds ultimate
wealth and happiness. That’s where the resemblance ends. Unlike the G-
rated, Focus on the Family approved Oliver, Gila Sand and Paul Leschen’s
Twist gives the Dickens classic a subversively gay S/M musical twist. I loved it!
At lights up, we meet the newborn Twist (“probably another runaway”) and
the Twist ensemble (of various genders and sexual persuasions) who join in to
sing the rock-rhythmed title song, which informs us that “everyone ends up
queer here,” “here” being the orphanage in which Twist is raised. In short
order, Twist has grown up into the enchanting Brandon Ruckdashel, and we
quickly understand that this is one Oliver Twist who enjoys himself a good
whipping, giving new meaning to “Please, sir, may I have some more? (There’s
even a song, “Whipping,” sung to this order by workhouse owner Bumble, the
cross-dressing Matron, and the rest of the workhouse boys.)
Sand’s book is full of amusingly twisted lines like, “It’s Tuesday. Do you ever
recall having supper on a Tuesday? Tomorrow’s food day.” (Twist’s Bumble is
clearly a good deal stingier with the gruel than Oliver’s was.) Or when Twist
asks in all innocence how he could earn money “just by standing on a street
corner.” There are also some unexpected (and very funny) gags. When Mrs.
Sowerberry tells Twist, “You’ll have to be restrained,” she quickly tears off the
entire hem of her full length gown in order to restrain him, to which Twist
responds, “You know. It’s quite amazing how this keeps happening to me.”
Of course, as a musical, Twist would not work (despite its clever and naughty
reworking of Dickens’ tale) without a memorable score, and Leschen’s songs
are catchy, melodious, and hummable. From the poignant “Bound and Tied,”
sung beautifully by Ruckdashel, to the Artful Dodger’s infectious “Sucker” (“fill
up my mouth and I’ll be a sucker for you”), to the rousing Act 1 finale “You
Can’t Choose Your Family,” this is one of the best original scores I’ve heard in a
long time. (There’s also the Abba-esque “Clothing Makes the Man” and the
touching “Reflection,” a gorgeous love song for Twist and Dodger, among
other winners.)
Director Storiale spent several months casting Twist, and it shows in the musical
theater talent he has assembled. The title role was the hardest to fill until, at
the end of several months of searching, Ruckdashel arrived from New York and
blew the competition away. Looking and singing like an angel (with a
naughty gleam in his eye), Ruckdashel is, as they say, “a find.” Casting
Alexandra Billings in the role of Fagin was both an inspiration and a coup.
Fresh from her triumph in Drood, Billings is a force of nature, who in this version of
Oliver Twist’s story heads not a ring of young pickpockets but rather a house of
ill repute where the lads ply a somewhat different, though equally illegal,
trade. With a voice like raw silk (and a tongue that seems to have a life of
itself), Billings gives a whirlwind of a performance.
Tall, lanky, bleach-blond Chris Carlisle is a dynamically androgynous Dodger--
with a sensational voice. The lovely and star-quality-blessed Darrin Revitz, is
absolutely endearing as Nancy. Equally good, and providing a swarthy macho
counterpart to Twist’s peaches and cream sweetness, is the dynamic Justin
Mortelliti, bringing his rock-star voice to the role of Bill Sykes. Angela Nicholas is
a beautiful and classy Lady Downlow, whose shoe fetish she gladly passes
along to Twist. (“My wickedness is in my heels,” she sings piercingly.) Others in
the winning cast include ready for Rocky Horror Michael Mullen as Charlie
Bates, Billy Thompson (a fright in drag) as Matron and later as a (handsome)
Constable, the spooky/kooky duo of Kelly Roberts and Justine Valdez as Mr.
and Mrs. Sowerberry, and Brendan Brandt, Niki Villarimo, and Liam Smith as
Twist’s fellow orphans.
Musical director Russell Kieffer’s excellent prerecorded background tracks take
the place of a live band. Choreographer Matt Valle has designed several fine
dance sequences, most notably a pas de deux for Twist and Sowerberry,
performed exquisitely by Ruckdashel, with the able help of Roberts. A.M.
Bartolomeo’s costumes alternate between elegance and rags (including a
gorgeous strapless red gown which Twist delights in trying on). "
................
"Twist, with its dark, sexy, and funny twist on the oft-performed and filmed
Dickens’ classic, has all the signs of a cult smash. It provides a winning evening
of theater for those in search of a subversively tuneful antidote to their usual
holiday fare.
Avery Schreiber Theatre, 11050 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA.
Through December 30. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 7:00.
Tickets: www.TheaterMania.com"
--Steven Stanley
December 1, 2007
December 16, 2007
Jeremy Smith Hollywood, Cawinning off-Broadway musical Twist share the same basic Charles Dickens
plotline. For those living under a rock, it goes as follows: An orphan boy named
Oliver Twist, abandoned at birth, raised in an orphanage, later sold to a
mortician, and eventually taken in by the rapscallion Fagin finds ultimate
wealth and happiness. That’s where the resemblance ends. Unlike the G-
rated, Focus on the Family approved Oliver, Gila Sand and Paul Leschen’s
Twist gives the Dickens classic a subversively gay S/M musical twist. I loved it!
At lights up, we meet the newborn Twist (“probably another runaway”) and
the Twist ensemble (of various genders and sexual persuasions) who join in to
sing the rock-rhythmed title song, which informs us that “everyone ends up
queer here,” “here” being the orphanage in which Twist is raised. In short
order, Twist has grown up into the enchanting Brandon Ruckdashel, and we
quickly understand that this is one Oliver Twist who enjoys himself a good
whipping, giving new meaning to “Please, sir, may I have some more? (There’s
even a song, “Whipping,” sung to this order by workhouse owner Bumble, the
cross-dressing Matron, and the rest of the workhouse boys.)
Sand’s book is full of amusingly twisted lines like, “It’s Tuesday. Do you ever
recall having supper on a Tuesday? Tomorrow’s food day.” (Twist’s Bumble is
clearly a good deal stingier with the gruel than Oliver’s was.) Or when Twist
asks in all innocence how he could earn money “just by standing on a street
corner.” There are also some unexpected (and very funny) gags. When Mrs.
Sowerberry tells Twist, “You’ll have to be restrained,” she quickly tears off the
entire hem of her full length gown in order to restrain him, to which Twist
responds, “You know. It’s quite amazing how this keeps happening to me.”
Of course, as a musical, Twist would not work (despite its clever and naughty
reworking of Dickens’ tale) without a memorable score, and Leschen’s songs
are catchy, melodious, and hummable. From the poignant “Bound and Tied,”
sung beautifully by Ruckdashel, to the Artful Dodger’s infectious “Sucker” (“fill
up my mouth and I’ll be a sucker for you”), to the rousing Act 1 finale “You
Can’t Choose Your Family,” this is one of the best original scores I’ve heard in a
long time. (There’s also the Abba-esque “Clothing Makes the Man” and the
touching “Reflection,” a gorgeous love song for Twist and Dodger, among
other winners.)
Director Storiale spent several months casting Twist, and it shows in the musical
theater talent he has assembled. The title role was the hardest to fill until, at
the end of several months of searching, Ruckdashel arrived from New York and
blew the competition away. Looking and singing like an angel (with a
naughty gleam in his eye), Ruckdashel is, as they say, “a find.” Casting
Alexandra Billings in the role of Fagin was both an inspiration and a coup.
Fresh from her triumph in Drood, Billings is a force of nature, who in this version of
Oliver Twist’s story heads not a ring of young pickpockets but rather a house of
ill repute where the lads ply a somewhat different, though equally illegal,
trade. With a voice like raw silk (and a tongue that seems to have a life of
itself), Billings gives a whirlwind of a performance.
Tall, lanky, bleach-blond Chris Carlisle is a dynamically androgynous Dodger--
with a sensational voice. The lovely and star-quality-blessed Darrin Revitz, is
absolutely endearing as Nancy. Equally good, and providing a swarthy macho
counterpart to Twist’s peaches and cream sweetness, is the dynamic Justin
Mortelliti, bringing his rock-star voice to the role of Bill Sykes. Angela Nicholas is
a beautiful and classy Lady Downlow, whose shoe fetish she gladly passes
along to Twist. (“My wickedness is in my heels,” she sings piercingly.) Others in
the winning cast include ready for Rocky Horror Michael Mullen as Charlie
Bates, Billy Thompson (a fright in drag) as Matron and later as a (handsome)
Constable, the spooky/kooky duo of Kelly Roberts and Justine Valdez as Mr.
and Mrs. Sowerberry, and Brendan Brandt, Niki Villarimo, and Liam Smith as
Twist’s fellow orphans.
Musical director Russell Kieffer’s excellent prerecorded background tracks take
the place of a live band. Choreographer Matt Valle has designed several fine
dance sequences, most notably a pas de deux for Twist and Sowerberry,
performed exquisitely by Ruckdashel, with the able help of Roberts. A.M.
Bartolomeo’s costumes alternate between elegance and rags (including a
gorgeous strapless red gown which Twist delights in trying on). "
................
"Twist, with its dark, sexy, and funny twist on the oft-performed and filmed
Dickens’ classic, has all the signs of a cult smash. It provides a winning evening
of theater for those in search of a subversively tuneful antidote to their usual
holiday fare.
Avery Schreiber Theatre, 11050 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA.
Through December 30. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 7:00.
Tickets: www.TheaterMania.com"
--Steven Stanley
December 1, 2007
December 16, 2007
Great show. Great Actors. Great Singing. I loved it
December 13, 2007
John Maisler Culver City, CATwist is hot, the play and the guy
December 11, 2007
TheatreGoer North Hollywood, Cai bought half price tickets, but they deserved full price. As someone who has been watching the Los Angeles Theatre scene for the past six years as a writer and actress, I felt that all of the performers in Twist demonstrated exceptional skills, both vocal and physical. A handful of whom should be in New York working on Broadway. The Sand/Leshen/Guadan Team have created something special from an original. The Music and Talent alone allowed me to leave twenty dollars richer with the hope that more productions like this one will surface here in the noho arts district. Well Done, Paul St0riale and Angela Nicholas, and thank you.
December 10, 2007
Rick van nuys, caI thouroughly enjoyed Twist. I am from New York and I think this holds up to New York standards. the singing was great, the cast is having a good time which allows the audience to have a good time. I think it was well directed, choreographed and performed. two twisted tumbs up
December 6, 2007
Jodi Cohen Beverly Hills, CA
While Mr. Rund is certainly entitled to his opinion, his slamming of the show was unwarranted. Yes, it's a low budget show but this is a "fringe" musical and if you're expecting to see Jersey Boys or Wicked on stage, yes, you'll be disappointed. Comparing this show to a $120 a ticket Broadway show is foolish. I just got back from Chicago where I paid $49.50 to see a critically lauded play called "The Sparrow". Tickets were $49.50 each for a non-equity production and the acting, direction and dancing were all sub-par. By contrast, Alexandra Billings, Brandon Ruckdashel and the rest of the cast give wonderful performances that would make any city proud.
December 4, 2007
Chalres Dick Los Angeles, CAThe goal of theatre is to create a dialogue. As a cast member, I feel the need to comment. We are here to entertain and hopefully to make you think. Our company is incredibly strong and you will be captivated by every cast member at some point during the show. Are techincal aspects as great? No. But I would hope not many attend theatre to see spectacular lighting and sound effects with lesser talent. Our costumes simply suggest a time and place. If we were in the Ahmanson, please, berate the execution. But we are at The Avery Schreiber: a black box with limitations. In Henry V, Shakespeare instructs the audience to imagine...isn't that what theatre is? So please, come see the show and focus on the story, on characters and on the talent of 14 committed actors who are simply there to entertain you. If you leave miserable, then maybe all you need is a good whipping.
December 4, 2007
L.J. Studio City, CaMr. Rand must be someone who was not cast in the show, and is bitter. Googled, he doesn't come up. I thought the show was simply breathtaking. Yes, I have a friend in the show, but wthout mentioning names, it was one of the best shows I have seen in Los Angeles, and I see many. There is nothing 'below-par 'about the show. It is one of the best musicals I have ever seen in my life, and the entire company has done a great job.
December 4, 2007
Darlene Monterey Park , CAoh what a clever musical. The actors sang beautiful. The songs were so well timed. Alexandra Billings was so brillant loved her as the crafty Fagon. Brandon Ruckdashel what an honest lovely voice. So pretty to watch. Chris Carlisle had the best voice in his solo i almost cried. Best thing of all "Twist" entertained my boyfriend who tends to be a testosterone heavy male who shys away from anying slightly different. He only came with me because he hates me driving in the rain. When i heard him laugh out loud tap his feet and after the play was over say "that was really entertaining". I knew the play was a hit. Great job all.
December 4, 2007
Deb and Greg Taylor Toluca Lake, CaMy husband and I enjoyed this show greatly. We're in our 50's, and thought maybe it was going to be too much for us, but as we sat in the theatre we wnjoyed every moment from start to finish. The Lights were not a problem for us. There's scene changes in every play, and these were not abnormal. Ioved Bill Sikes and was very happy when during a blackout, he picked up nancy and took her offstage, rather than a dead body leaving the stage. Cast was incredible and so was the Direction. I also actualy enjoyed the lighting. wasn't too much, or too little and by the way, That Fagin is a STAR!
December 4, 2007
Tina L. Pasadena, CAI saw this production on Saturday. Steven is 100% right on about the talent in this show. Chris Carlisle shines his way through a role adding color and imagination along the way. Brandon Ruckdashel is truly a "find" and a guilty pleasure to watch being bound. Darrin sings "Slip Away" like an angel. It is a shame that we don't see more of Justin, he is truly a gem within his moment. Definitely not least, Alexandra, who engages an audience lost within the long blackouts and set changes.
December 4, 2007
Jeremy Westwood, CAThere is an interesting article in the Bruin about Twist, Brandon Ruckdashel. Thought he was a recent UCLA Acting student but apparently he is from New York. Hope to follow in his footsteps when I graduate.
December 4, 2007
Joey D. West Hollywood, CAHave been looking forward to the LA version of TWIST. I saw the play in NYC. This production is equally as good. Alexandra is wonderul, full of spunk. Darrin, as Nancy, sings with a heart of gold. She is a vision to behold. Justin with his rock star quality brings lots of energy to a much over-looked part. Go and see the play and decide for yourself. That is the true gift of theater. Anyone can afford the ticket price and have themselves an interesting evening.
December 4, 2007
Tony West Hollywood, CAI agree that Twist is a great show to watch. Like a lot of people there I came to see the new kid from New York Brandon and was very pleased.
December 4, 2007
Charlayne Vivika North Hollywood, CACurmudgeon Charles Rund states: “This production is terribly bad, and demonstrates why Los Angeles theatre is so poorly treated in this town and elsewhere.” It’s thanks to elitists like you that L.A. continues to be unjustly criticized. Rund continues to rant about “the failure of the playwright and director to give a focused story that manages to engage the audience or reveal anything new about the characters or story.” Mr. Rund, this is a show which debuted in your estimed NEW YORK CITY to many rave reviews. If you wish to tear down our outstanding local theater scene, please limit yourself to productions originating here. Re Twist’s limited budget, remember that tickets for Twist in L.A. run just $20. If you are willing to pay New York ticket prices and bring your friends with you, please do. That would indeed be great news for L.A. theater!
December 4, 2007
Steven Stanley Alhambra, CAGila Sand & Paul Leschen’s Twist gives the Dickens classic a subversively gay S/M musical twist. Sand’s book is full of amusingly twisted lines like, “It’s Tuesday. Do you ever recall having supper on a Tuesday? Tomorrow’s food day.” Leschen’s songs are catchy, melodious, & hummable. Looking & singing like an angel (with a naughty gleam in his eye), Brandon Ruckdashel is, as they say, a find. Casting Alexandra Billings in the role of Fagin was both an inspiration & a coup. Tall, lanky, bleach-blond Chris Carlisle is a dynamically androgynous Dodger--with a sensational voice. The lovely & star-quality-blessed Darrin Revitz, is absolutely endearing as Nancy. Only a very simple lights-up, lights-down lighting design, & frequent scene changes which leave the audience waiting in pitch darkness could be worked on. Kudos to director Paul St0riale. Read my full review at www.LAStageScene.com.
-
- Trigs
- 0