The story of Oliver Twist is beloved and well-known, but
what happens when you re-tell it through the eyes of the scheming, allusive
commander-in-chief, Fagin? Avant Garde Dance Company’s ‘Fagin’s Twist’ is a
dynamic re-imagining of Dickins’ classic tale, colliding theatre with
contemporary-infused hip-hop dance as it takes the audience on a journey
through the life of Fagin, meeting the familiar faces of Nancy, Bill Sykes and,
of course, the Artful Dodger along the way. Armed with only seven cast members,
Avant Garde Dance Company succeed in making the stage vibrant and electrifying
through Tony Adigun’s choreography and directing.
The set itself was minimalist, the pre-set being only what
seemed to be a long wooden fence-like structure, which later would break into
three and reveal metal bars and scaffolding on its interior, allowing the
performers to effortlessly glide and swing through them and even jump from one
to another without missing a step. There was little need for more other than
the occasional use of chairs and brooms, keeping the piece feeling somehow new
and modern in contrast to its Victorian roots.
The piece began with an explosive opening number, captivating
the audience as the performers danced sharply with top hats in an almost
physical-theatre-esque way; each member in perfect unison with one another as
they turned, jumped and lunged, making use of all the space the stage had to
offer and giving the impression of a much larger ensemble than that of just
over half a dozen. The cast throughout did not miss a beat and worked above and
beyond, moving their own set and props from start to end despite, as I
discovered during the post-show Q & A session, having dropped a cast member
during this tour. The small-sizing choice lent itself to multi-roling, allowing
the cast to show off their chameleon skills of melting from one character to
the next with impeccable skill.
Aaron Nuttall, The Artful Dodger, acted as the narrator,
peppering the action throughout with well- delivered wit and intrigue which
left the audience ready to delve in deeper whilst Stefano A. Addae, playing an elusive character later to be defined
as a young Bill Sykes, showed a wonderful character arc from a sweet-natured
workhouse boy whose only dream being to “have a girlfriend and a family” to the
cold-blooded villain we know from the novel and film.
The
stand-out role of Fagin was played by company newcomer, Arran Green, a statuesque,
elegant performer with sleek and flowing movements accompanying his flawless
performance throughout. A particular stand-out moment being his act two
maddened monologue in which he cries how everyone always wants “more”, a subtle
nod to the original’s infamous line. Green gives a powerful performance,
showing the inner-most parts of Fagin’s mind, stripping away the cunningness
and giving him an, albeit deranged, raw humanity.
A refreshing
gender-blind casting of Oliver Twist himself was highlighted with Sia Gbmoi, a
compact powerhouse performer, portraying stunningly Oliver’s change from
innocence to deceitful experience, full of unexpected twists and turns along
the way, turning on its head what you thought you knew. The
boisterous Nancy, Ellis Saul, showed a refreshing, softer side as she shared a
sentimental scene between herself and Oliver whilst lifting and moving a table
around him, perfectly choreographed, without a mention. My only criticism would
be that I ached to be given more from Saul’s portrayal, having been a strong,
stand-out role in the original, she seemed to almost fade into the background,
even within dialogue.
Peppered
with scenes of dialogue and merging the line between dance and theatre, Avant
Garde Dance Company’s confident production of ‘Fagin’s Twist’ played with
boundaries and made old things feel new. It truly managed to, as their motto
states, “go against the grain” and “innovate, never replicate” in this strong,
diverse piece of theatre/dance infusion.
Reviewer - Neve Francis
on - 30/10/18
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