This
musical about vampire twin sisters, by actual twins, is in desperate need of
fresh air and would be better in a nightclub.
Mihaela Modorcea and Gabriela Modorcea, aka
Indiggo Twins, are women of many talents. Together they wrote, composed,
choreographed, and perform in the “cinema-musical” Wicked Clone. Based on Mihaela’s novel Wicked Clone or How to Deal with the Evil, the show
draws an allegorical double-portrait of vampire twin sisters, named after the
originators of the roles, Mihaela and Gabriela. Wearing multiple hats is an
admirable skill, but it also has its pitfalls. The inability to distance
yourself from the material and the lack of collaborators often cause flatness
and stuffiness, which is exactly what happens with Wicked Clone.
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| Gabriela Modorcea and Mihaela Modorcea in Wicked Clone. |
The prototypical plot follows “good” Mihaela
and “evil” Gabriela and their attempts to reconcile both with their nature and
each other. A mixture of autobiography and popular folklore, the story of the
vampire sisters starts in Transylvania in 1483. Mihaela’s aspiration to be
among humans, and to become one, brings her to modern-day New York City. In an
attempt to cope with her dark side (and make some money), she writes and
produces an autobiographical play on Broadway. But Gabriela doesn’t easily let
go and shows up at the theater.
This modern day vampire fairy tale is infused
with a good supply of pop-folk songs, but they barely move the story forward
and function more as decorative elements to feature the dancing and singing
talents of Indiggo Twins. Much of the narration is done through short
voice-over bits, connecting one number to the next, making Wicked Clone more of a music album
presentation. Video projections serve as a backdrop for the action. They
feature found footage and other characters, but mostly depict the sisters
walking and dancing throughout various landscapes.
The format, reduced plot, music, and
choreography would be more successful in a cabaret or nightclub setting, where
the audience could dance, drink, and enjoy themselves. The production would
also benefit from colorful dynamic lighting that is usually found in such
venues. The current lighting design is rather unflattering and highlights every
imperfection of the costumes (designed by Mihaela.) Unfortunately, as is the
case with almost every visual aspect of this show, the costumes are in need of
a remake. The idea to create sexy outfits infused with folk motifs is great,
but the DIY execution...less so—bra cups made of drain strainers with “nipples”
looking in different directions are sorrowful, not “hot.”
Despite the inadequate branding and sloppy
visual design, Wicked Clone has
a potent, sexy and liberating vibe deep at its core. The show also makes great
use of both sisters’ talents, including Gabriela’s skillful roller-skating,
which I was particularly impressed with. Ultimately, Wicked Clone should just embrace its nature and
focus entirely on Indiggo Twins and their performance. Instead of being a
mediocre musical theater show, it has the potential of being a great piece of a
nightlife entertainment, like The Donkey Showor The House
of Yes.
__________
Wicked Clone plays at Davenport Theatre, 354 West 45th
Street, through May 27, 2018. The running time is 90 minutes with no
intermission. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30, and
Sundays at 3. Tickets are $69 and are available at telecharge.com. Visit wickedclone.com for
more information.
Wicked Clone is
written, composed, choreographed, produced, and performed by Mihaela Modorcea
and Gabriela Modorcea, based on the novel Wicked Clone or How
to Deal with the Evil by Mihaela Modorcea.
