Jonno Davies & Cast
Review by Sandi Durell
Depravity and violence mark this dystopian society that seems to no longer be a future prediction as when first published in 1962, written by Anthony Burgess, followed by Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 much talked about movie. From London, comes director Alexandra Spencer-Jones’ all too horror-filled explosion of bodies intertwined as they battle in dance-like movement for survival.
The leader of the Droog pack in this boys’ penitentiary is Alex deLarge (a very scary, 6 pack buff Jonno Davies). All the pack boys are in black leotards, all look like they spend every spare minute at the gym. They’re a mean bunch as they test and taunt each other; their atrocities and sadistic nature sometimes hard to even watch; their sexual desires and simulations an everyday distraction.
In the background, some lovely Beethoven amid pop-rock, and doo-wop sounds as they commit mayhem and murder in this world of ultra-violence, the fight scenes and movement credited to Jonno Davies. The homosexual erotic nature is ever present and interesting to note as the director is female.
The other hunks are Matt Doyle (late of Sweeney Todd), as Georgie, etal.,Sean Patrick Higgins as Dim etal., Brian Lee Huynh as Frank, etal., Timothy Sekk as Chaplain/Mr. Deltoid, etal., Aleksander Varadian as Marty, etal., Ashley Robinson as Minister/Old Woman, etal., Jimmy Brooks as F-Me Pumps etal., Misha Osherovich as Pete, etal. All play multiple roles except Jonno Davies.
The gang slang is perverted as original sin prowls in the midst of a world gone mad. Alex, known as 6655321, and his cohorts kill, maim and steal until Dr. Deltoid interferes telling Alex he can be reformed with a new government re-conditioning technique that will change the human brain and give him freedom of choice.
It’s all very loud with primal screaming and distorted grumbling, sometimes difficult to understand the actual words, but easy enough to get the meaning of all the simulations. Credit James Baagaley for lighting design, Emma Will for sound, with original music by Glenn Gregory and Berenice Scott.
This is a hi-energy production of fine actors. However, if you’re prone to closing your eyes in such circumstances as described, better not even bother attempting to be in the audience. Not for the faint of heart! After all, we watch enough television on much too similar topics daily.
Photos: Caitlin McNaney
A Clockwork Orange runs 90 minutes, at New World Stages for a limited 16-week run, 240 West 50th Street) NYC.
