The cast of With a Twist!
Lunchbox injects some social realism into the musical in With a Twist!
With a Twist! is as Lunchbox Theatre advertises a musical in the "key of crazy." "It’s really a satire on the modern world and the kinds of things we do the day-to-day situations we encounter" says director James MacDonald. "The beauty of this piece is that it takes normal everyday situations and expresses what’s going on inside peoples’ minds within those situations. We hope it’s a recognition piece where audience members will slap their heads and think ‘Other people think that way too!’"
This play is a change for MacDonald who also serves as the artistic associate of Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre where he also directed the world première of Vimy .
With a Twist! is written by Jonathan Monro a Toronto-based actor pianist and composer who first performed at Carnegie Hall at the age of 16. He is also a veteran of Ontario’s Stratford Festival and will be appearing there again next season. With a Twist! is the third of seven world premières Lunchbox is staging this season. The musical has been in the works for the past two years. MacDonald says Canadian musicals are becoming less rare and that Monro successfully combines the talents of a musician and comedian.
Four actors take on about 30 different characters throughout the show making for a fast-paced theatre experience. Calgary audiences will recognize Carson Nattrass from his recent turn in Ground Zero Theatre and Hit & Myth’s production of The Fully Monty . Adrian Marchuk appeared a couple of years ago on Calgary stages in Bat Boy: The Musical . Elizabeth Beeler and Adrienne Merrell round out the cast. Musical accompaniment is provided by pianist Dan Perrott.
Don’t expect elaborate costume and set changes in this production — there’s no time. At 45 minutes the show doesn’t stop moving. MacDonald says the downtown venue is particularly suitable for this play. "All these office workers will get a great sense of themselves and the lives they lead" says MacDonald. "They’re really watching their own lives onstage not someone else’s."
