By Sarah Skubala
The highly anticipated Round The Twist The Musical opened to an enthusiastic Brisbane audience, presented by Queensland Theatre in conjunction with QPAC. A boisterous new work with book, music and lyrics by Queenslander Paul Hodge, Round The Twist The Musical is a humorous and heart-warming adaptation of the iconic Australian TV series based on the short stories by Paul Jennings. Blending nostalgia with fresh theatrical magic, Round The Twist The Musical is a delightfully whimsical journey with quirky charm and toe-tapping original songs.
I am someone who never watched what was to become the most successful Australian children’s TV series of its time when it was first released in 1990. (As a teenager, I was obsessed with a different ABC show, Rage, also destined for cult status.) But you would have to have been living under a rock to have not at least been familiar with the show Round The Twist and its catchy, catchy theme song by Andrew Duffield.
Director Simon Phillips has ensured that Round The Twist The Musical stands on its own as a piece that appeals to more than just nostalgic fans. Although there were plenty of those in the packed Playhouse on opening night, and judging by the cheers, the team absolutely knocked it out of the park.
Set in an old lighthouse, single dad Tony Twist and his kids Pete, Linda, and Bronson embark on a magical adventure to unravel a 100-year-old mystery and a quest to protect their home from the greedy Gribble family, who want to turn their little piece of paradise into an Aqua-World-Casino-Pizza-Parlour-Burger-Joint-Amusement-Park. With the help of a haunted outhouse, a crystal ball, some friendly ghosts and smelly feet (up the pong!), the Twist family might just have what it takes to save the day.
Paul Hodge has taken the most popular elements of the series and worked them into this full-length musical, namely storylines from the famed episodes Smelly Feat, Nails and Without My Pants. The lyrics were brilliantly crafted and executed in a way that was easy to follow, and I was drawn into the story from the outset.
The majority of the cast and creatives are from Queensland, and production partner Griffith University was involved in the musical’s development. The cast featured many talented alumni of the Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Musical Theatre course. As the three Twist children, Hanlon Innocent, Charly Oakley and Edison Ai prove that young people can carry a mainstage show. The wonderful cast of supporting characters also helped bring to life the colourful beachside community of Port Niranda. Across the board, the characters were grounded and relatable; this wasn’t your usual slick and polished musical theatre show, and I think that tonal choice really worked.
As Pete, Innocent was especially funny during the ‘Without My Pants’ number. His fast, almost rapped delivery of his history presentation speech felt Sondheim-esque, and his singing voice was fabulous. Oakley’s portrayal of Linda successfully tugged at the heartstrings, especially during her scene with love interest Andrew Shelford (Alexander Tye), the gloved boy with a secret. Edison Ai stole everyone’s hearts as the adorable ‘little squirt’ Bronson. It was a huge role for a 10-year-old and Ai proved that good things come in small packages. Matt Hetherington was wonderfully likeable as patriarch Tony Twist. His comic timing and chemistry with Bronson’s teacher Fay James (Liz Buchanan) was endearing and we all cheered for the couple at the end.
Nic Van Lits was an energetic standout as head bully James Gribble, while Christen O’Leary had fabulous characterisation as both Nell Rickards and Clair King. Bryan Probets handled multiple quirky characters with ease, his most memorable being teacher Mr Ralph Snapper.
Craig Wilkinson’s video designs were simply incredible. Together with Renée Mulder’s set design and Ben Hughes’ lighting design, they filled up every inch of the stage to create a wondrous world that looked like it had been ripped straight from a picture storybook. Featuring various real photo imagery infused with hand-drawn etchings and line work, the worlds of 2D and 3D collided to create a rich universe that is best seen rather than described. The set, featuring the base of the huge lighthouse, contained two levels of living space, which were sporadically revealed behind giant white walls, and the effect evoked the dolls’ houses we all played with as kids in the ‘80s (Strawberry Shortcake treehouse, anyone?). Having now seen the musical adaptation, I’m curious to check out some of the original episodes on which much of the storylines were based. I think I might’ve missed out on something here.
Round The Twist The Musical was a whimsical, nostalgic delight that brought the beloved TV series to life in a whole new way. With its quirky humour, memorable characters, and catchy songs, it’s a theatrical experience that will enchant audiences of all ages. Whether you grew up watching the original show or are discovering the magic for the first time, Round The Twist The Musical is packed with heart and hilarity that’s impossible to resist. Don’t miss the chance to relive the wonder and share in the laughter—this is a musical you’ll absolutely love!
https://queenslandtheatre.com.au/plays/round-the-twist-the-musical
Image: Lyndon Mechielsen.
