‘Twisted’ Is One Wild Arabian Night
The “Aladdin” parody from O’Connell & Co., playing for two weeks in Shea’s Smith Theatre, is recommended for audiences aged 16. That is not because of its hard-hitting condemnation of ancient slave systems, misogynist social practices or theft in the name of hunger.
It’s because of all the penis jokes and “scenes of a saucy nature.”
(Anyone who is offended by that last sentence can stop reading now, because “Twisted” is not for you.)
Still with us? All right!
With its upbeat message of Golden Ruling and villainous rehabilitation, this “Untold Story of a Royal Vizier” puts the fun in “F-U.” The action is full of entendres, double entendres and I-can’t-believe-they-are-getting-away-with-this entendres (e.g. a prince’s encounter with a tiger).
Only once did I notice the cast having trouble keeping their faces straight while the audience cracked up.
The story in “Twisted” turns the Aladdin legend on its head. Nicholas Lama plays Ja’Far, wrongly perceived as being evil by those who don’t know him. That’s a shame, because this Ja’Far is a man of science and reason, and a champion of the people.
He has his work cut out for him. Cruel rulers and rampant poverty have replaced the “H” with a “Cr” in “the Happiest place on earth,” and Ja’Far is the sultan’s scapegoat.
Plus, he has to contend with a cocky criminal named Aladdin (David Wysocki). A lecherous liar, Aladdin steals for the heck of it and sets his sights on seducing the Princess (Amanda Funiciello), whom Ja’Far cares for like a daughter.
The Magic Kingdom also faces outside threats from Achmed, prince of Pixar (Adam Kilgore), angling for much more than a park-hopper pass.
As fast as the plot twists pile up onstage, the cast must be moving like lightning behind the scnes with costume and prop changes, because there were dozens. Hats off … and on and off again … to all of them, and to costume designer Timmy Goodman and Joey Bucheker for the props.
The ensemble included Michael Wells, as the imperious sultan and the wisecracking blue Djinn; Stefanie Warnick, who plays men, women and Aladdin’s monkey (getting one of the biggest laughs of the night before the show even starts); and Samantha Campbell, adding a brief sense of gravitas as the storyteller Scheherazade.
Also: Michael Flanagan, Corey Bieber, Gabrielle Nunzio, Gayle Petri and Audrianna Yates shine in multiple roles, including slave girls, guards, enemy soldiers, merchants and, best of all, a collection of misunderstood Disney villains – except for that one villain (we won’t say which) who even the villains think is awful!
Shea’s Smith Theatre can be a tricky venue for audience and performers, but director Drew McCabe and choreographer Timmy Goodman served both well, using every inch of Todd Warfield’s set. Still, arrive early for the best choice of seats.
Clearly, it takes a lot of talent and effort to redeem the reputation of an infamous Royal Vizier, if not a lot of time. “Twisted” runs for only two weeks. Remaining shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15, 19 through 22, plus a 2 p.m. show on Sept. 21. Tickets are $47.20, including fees, at sheas.org, with discounts for students and seniors.