Oscar E Moore

Welcome to the dystopian world of Anthony Burgess as seen through the eyes of Alexandra Spencer-Jones set in England – Today.  It might be better set in 1984.

This ultra-violent, unpleasant, homoerotic world (with all those half naked males) that began as a novel by Mr. Burgess in 1962 (supposedly written in three weeks as a Jeu d’espirit – a light hearted display of cleverness) and then a Stanley Kubrick film in 1971 and then a theatrical adaptation in 1987 and now – the acclaimed Action to The Word “event” imported from across the pond has landed at New World Stages through January 6, 2018.

While watching this alienating, stark and menacing production on a black bare bones tiered set where the lighting and sound designers (James Baggaley and Emma Wilk respectively) take precedence there are nine very fit men playing a variety of roles headed by an Adonis – Jonno Davies as Alex deLarge – a violent “droog” (one of the many made-up words that will at first baffle) who is fixated on his looks (as you will be) as his wickedness runs rampant until he is caught and reprogrammed by being forced to watch people being tortured.  He is reduced to being a number 6655321 which might very well become a popular passcode in honor of Mr. Davies.

I started thinking about dark, underground S&M porn movies.  That led to Warhol and Edie Sedgwick.  And guess what.  They were involved with Mr. Burgess in a very loose adaptation of Clockwork in a 1965 experimental film – VINYL.

It’s fascinating that so many find violence entertaining.

This Clockwork is done stylistically with a lot of robotic movement that you might grow impatient with.  Alex is obsessed with Beethoven and Ludwig Van’s music is omnipresent.  The props and some costume accessories are appropriately orange.   The teen droogs (thugs) drink milk.  Spiked with drugs.  The music blares.

To say that this production is a mesmerizing wonderment would be an exaggeration.  The acting is fine – especially of Jonno Davies whose physique is unparalleled and who passes this physical endurance test with phenomenal flying colors as the beautiful face of terror.  He even enunciates beautifully while you may not understand some of the made up Russian influenced language that somehow sounds Shakespearean.

I particularly thought Timothy Sekk outstanding in his four portrayals.  Others in this Charles Atlas ensemble are:  Jimmy Brooks, Matt Doyle, Sean Patrick Higgins, Brian Lee Huynh, Misha Osherovich, Ashley Robinson and Aleksander Varadian.

No intermission.  1 hour 45 minutes.  Seems longer – all that pumped up near nakedness and testosterone notwithstanding.  It dulls the senses.  Through January 6, 2018

www.aclockworkorangeplay.com

Photos:  Caitlin McNaney

Visit www.talkentertainment.com

Tags: No Comments