BWW Reviews: Twist - an American Musical

Reworking a classic story is not a new concept in the theatre world. Just ask the creators of Wicked or West Side Story. Taking something that audiences are already familiar with and turning it on its ear can be quite a task and is not without its challenges. First, there are the constant comparisons to the source material (or previous adaptations). Next, there is the daunting task to "reinvent" the plot and bring audiences on a fresh and new journey. But with the ALLIANCE THEATRE's premiere of Twist - an American Musical  (a modern, American take on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist) they beat the odds and have created a magical tapestry of music, story and life that, even with a classic tale at its heart, feels like a something completely new. 

The story of Twist is a tale of identity, belonging and family and was written by the Tony nominated William F. Brown (The Wiz). It follows the life of a young orphan, named Twist (the thoroughly talented 10 year old Alaman Diadhiou) who struggles with acceptance among his peers and among the adults that inhabit his world of  "the Paris of the South" - 1928 New Orleans. What makes him so different is the fact that his father (Jared Grimes) was black and his mother (Aijia Lise) was white, making him something of an enigma among the community at the time. Not claimed by either group, Twist is treated as an outcast and tossed about from orphanage, to the ownership of a creepy funeral director (deliciously played by Tracy Kennedy), to a ragtag group of street urchins, and eventually the warm and caring home of local lawyer Mr. Prudhomme (E. Wade Benson).

Throughout his journey, Twist encounters a mélange of lively characters that help (or hinder) him along his way. Standouts include the cruel orphanage owners Potlatch and Miss Cotton (Paul Aguirre and Shawna M. Hamic), Twist's evil, weasel of an uncle Lucius (Pat McRoberts), the beautiful and severely talented Della (Olivia-Diane Joseph) and her scheming beau Boston (Matthew Johnson).

Not surprisingly, the real star of this show is the dancing, originating from the mind of the incomparable director and choreographer Debbie Allen. Each number is infused with a clear sense of energy and motion encompassing a wide range of dance techniques, from ballet, tap and jazz to African-influenced dance. Standout numbers include the hyper-energetic opening number ("Back By Demand"), a rhythmically challenging but catchy number featuring wooden spoons ("Meat on the Bones"), a mesmerizing and haunting number featuring the voodoo infused spirits and spooks in "The Coffin Room" and a classic New Orleans celebration of Mardi Gras featuring numerous different "talents" including African dancers, a Josephine Baker lookalike and too many revelers to count. 

But the dancing couldn't happen without music to give it purpose, and the music of Twist does not disappoint. Tena Clark and Gary Prim's score (witH Clark's lyrics and beautifully orchestrated by Harold Wheeler and Arturo Sandoval) captures the lively feel of Jazz-age New Orleans while retaining a modern sense of timing and power. The entire ensemble were all strong vocally, especially Miss Joseph as Della who stopped the show more than once with a powerful ballad that showcased her equally powerful voice and brought more than one audience member to tears (this reviewer included).

Emilio Sosa's spot-on period costumes and flamboyant Mardi Gras finery bring a certain technicolor flair to the stage while Todd Rosenthal's set showcases a beautiful recreation of the ironwork beauty of the French Quarter that is interwoven seamlessly throughout the show.

But with the stellar dancing, songs, characters, costumes and set the heart of this show is an amazing message of acceptance and love. Twist, who asks in a beautiful song early in the first act "God, if you made the rainbow why did you make me a color no one likes?" defeats adversity, gains identity and comes to know not only the love of a surrogate mother and father, but of a family of strangers who all come to care for this inspiring little boy.  As an audience, we cared as well. And isn't that what the theatre is for? To touch us deeply and entertain while teaching us something we may not have already known about ourselves?

As the closing song tells us, "through every generation, love is the universal song" and as it is conveyed on stage at the Alliance, what a song it is indeed. 

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Twist, the Alliance's season opening production, begins previews September 1, 2010 with opening night slated for Wednesday, September 15.  Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. September 1 – October 3 on the Alliance Stage. There is no matinee on Saturday, September 4. 

Tickets are $25 - $55 and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office by calling 404.733.5000 or online at http://alliancetheatre.org. Discount rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404-733-4690. Discount rates are also available for members of the military, seniors and students. The ALLIANCE THEATRE is located at the Woodruff Arts Center, corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, in Midtown Atlanta.

For more coverage on Twist - Check out the following:

Additional coverage: http://atlanta.broadwayworld.com/article/TWIST_to_Open_the_Alliance_Theatres_201011_Season_91_20100901#ixzz0z4adv414

Photo flash: /article/Photo_Flash_TWIST_at_Alliance_20100909

First Look on BroadwayWorldTV: /article/STAGE_TUBE_TWIST_at_Alliance_First_Look_20100916

Photo credit: Greg Mooney

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