Brisbane review - Twisted: The Untold Story Of A Royal Vizier: a seriously funny show
By David Wilson
Twisted: The Untold Story Of A Royal Vizier
Produced by StarKid Productions
Music by A J Holmes
Lyrics by Kaley McMahon
Book by Matt Lang, Nick Lang and Eric Kahn Gale
Directed by Kristen Barros
Musical Direction by Hayley Marsh
Choreographed by Hannah Crowther
Brought to you by Phoenix Ensemble - After Dark
At the Pavilion Theatre Beenleigh 1st to 9th November 2024
Adult tickets $40, concession $35, group $30
Twisted: The Untold Story Of A Royal Vizier is the hilarious origin story of Jafar, the Royal Vizier in Magic Kingdom, set before the Disney classic Aladdin that we all know and love. Created by StarKid Productions, and strictly 18 plus, this musical parody celebrates and lovingly pokes fun at the classic animated musical genre that we are all so familiar with.
In this seriously funny show, Jafar is our hero, determined to save the kingdom from its incompetent Sultan, a Prince threatening war, and a sleazy, troublesome thief. With a bratty teenage Princess by his side, Jafar must find the Djinn’s wish-granting lamp and defend the city.
The creative team at Phoenix Ensemble has done an outstanding job with this excellent production. The entire performance was very tight and on point from start to finish. The strong direction of Kristen Barros was evident throughout, with the connection of the wonderful cast and the perfect timing on show a joy to watch, and a testament to the talent and commitment of all involved. The choreography of Hannah Crowther was fabulous, well supported on stage by dance captain Harley Roy and a very strong cast. Special mention also to the musical direction of Hayley Marsh and the outstanding ‘Twisted Band’ who perfectly captured the magic and wonder of the classic animated genre. This is a high quality production indeed.
Zach Price was outstanding as Jafar, the disillusioned Royal Vizier to the Sultan, wishing only to make the Magic Kingdom a better place. Much like Elpheba in Wicked!, we see Jafar in this origin story as a goodhearted, sympathetic hero who was never evil to begin with. Price’s performance showcased his stage presence and gravitas as much as it did his excellent characterisation and strong vocals, not to mention some laudable tap dancing skills! He was very much the commanding leading man, with the entire musical unfolding around him, and his assured, confident performance serving to highlight the often zany, silly antics of the other characters. Price’s vocal performance was fabulous, highlighted by his performance of “If I Believed”, while his comedic tendencies were on full show in “A Song Is A Dick”. His performance with the whole cast in the Chicagoesque number “Twisted” was fantastic. A wonderful performance.
Molly Campbell was absolutely fantastic as the sheltered and naive, bratty Princess. Campbell’s portrayal was perfectly exaggerated, aided by her often extreme physicality and wonderful comedic timing. She also expertly captured the nuances of the Princess’ eventual realisation that there are consequences for one’s actions, and that she has an inner strength that can be trusted. Campbell’s vocal performance was truly outstanding, particularly showcased in “Everything and More”, and her on-stage dynamic with both Jafar and Aladdin was excellent, due in large part to her wonderful timing.
Conor Ensor captured the essence of the self-centred, lying, sleazy, manipulative street rat Aladdin perfectly. Ensor’s performance was dynamic in every way, and his casting as Aladdin was spot on. Not only was his characterisation and physicality excellent, but his vocals were also outstanding, particularly in “I Steal Everything”. Ensor’s flair for comedy was evident throughout, and his performance of “Orphaned at 33” was an audience favourite.
Daniel Lelic was fabulous in his portrayal of the overly sensitive, self-important and self-involved Prince Achmed, ruler of the neighbouring kingdom of Pik-zahr, who was rebuffed by the Princess and threatened war on the Magic Kingdom. Lelic’s outrageous characterisation was just what the role needed, and his comedic gifts are obvious. Lelic’s performance of “No One Remembers Achmed” was absolutely hilarious.
Douglas Berry did a wonderful job as the incompetent man-child Sultan and also the Djinn. His comedic delivery as the Sultan was spot on, and his ability to capture the larger-than-life essence of the Djinn, who speaks only in rapid-fire movie quotes, character impressions and pop culture references was impressive.
Ellen Axford was excellent as Sherrazade, the narrator and the heart and soul of the story. Her performance of “1001 Nights” showcased her wonderfully rich vocal talents, and her on-stage chemistry with Price brought a lovely warmth and tenderness to the show.
Lindsay Cooper was hilarious as the Captain, the stoic leader of the Guard who has to deal with a series of calamities throughout the show. Cooper’s wonderful comedic timing, best showcased by his recurring delivery of the show’s catchphrase, was a highlight throughout the show.
The performance also benefitted from a particularly strong ensemble, and it was wonderful to see such a talented and connected cast obviously having such a great time performing on stage together.
I thoroughly encourage you to see Twisted, a genuinely hilarious musical wonderfully delivered by the high quality team at Phoenix Ensemble.
Tickets can be purchased now and start from $30. Season runs until 9 November 2024
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