Twist

Twist is a Americanized version of Charles Dicken's novel Oliver Twist. The main character in the play Twist is a mixed racial orphan in Prohibition era New Orleans. Much like an archetype orphan, who needs a family and will do anything for love, he is also a "mulatto" who cannot identify with a racial group, an therefore is not accepted by either. This non-acceptance is shown in a key line. In the orphanage he is being teased by a group of kids when one says, "I have White Pride, and he has Black Pride, what do you have? No pride."

  Lucius is the antagonist of the story, and is also the wealthy uncle of Twist. Revealed early in the story, and was made easy to forget, was the scene of the KKK lynching Roosevelt King. Lucius is the brother of Roosevelt's girlfriend. He was also one of four KKK members that killed Roosevelt King. This might strike you as portraying Lucius as a racist, but i disagree. When every one is calling Twist names for being mixed racial, he is merely calling him his nephew. He is purely a money driven person who will do evil to anyone as long as money is his reward.

      As amazing as the play was, I thought that the play did not use it's cast to it's full potential. More difficult and eye pleasing dances would have been a welcome sight in the mostly vocal production. Other than that and a few rounding out of rough edges, this play is very close to being ready for broad way!