‘Arias with a Twist’: Still a brash, handcrafted theatrical fantasia
In 2008, legendary performance artist Joey Arias teamed with puppet master Basil Twist to concoct a bold theatrical fantasia titled “Arias with a Twist.” Directed by Twist, with costume concepts by Thierry Mugler and starring Arias, it was a sort of demented cabaret act that chronicled the drag doyenne’s trippy, sex-soaked journey through space and … Read More
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In 2008, legendary performance artist Joey Arias teamed with puppet master Basil Twist to concoct a bold theatrical fantasia titled “Arias with a Twist.” Directed by Twist, with costume concepts by Thierry Mugler and starring Arias, it was a sort of demented cabaret act that chronicled the drag doyenne’s trippy, sex-soaked journey through space and time.
Ben Brantley of the New York Times awarded the show a Critic’s Pick, calling it “inspired” and “glorious,” admiring its “vast enchanted troupe of effigies.” I recall it as an eye-popping, mind-boggling fever dream. The show received scads of accolades, including the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Off-Off-Broadway Production.
And now the show has resurfaced, largely intact, at the HERE Arts Center, where it originated nearly two decades ago. I’m happy to report that it has lost none of its transgressive power. In fact, with a few choice updates nodding to the current sorry state of geopolitics and AI, it feels more affecting than ever. The vision and music are credited to Arias; production, set, and puppetry design are by Twist. He also directed the six highly skilled puppeteers.
[caption id="attachment_65096" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Joey Arias in "Arias with a Twist."Richard Termine[/caption]
Much of that durability stems from the timeless, nostalgic elements packed into the show. The intro features a comical series of slow-motion openings of curtains made of velvet, chintz, and other alluring fabrics, accompanied by jazzy, old-timey music. This dissolves into a scene showcasing a 1930s-era “Dream Orchestra” comprised of eerie marionettes in tuxedoes.
Another scene finds the scantily clad “sacred warrior” strapped to a wheel being examined by a gang of spectral aliens. “Get the jumbo-sized probe” one alien says (translated in supertitles). “Not my cherry…that’s my cherry pie!” a horrified Arias replies. Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir blasts in the background.
Ejected from the spaceship, Arias lands in a lush, creepy Jungle of Eden, squirming with a ginormous snake, a Venus fly trap, and a cigarette-smoking monkey. Then he eats a phallic “disco mushroom” and goes on a hallucinatory trip, to the tune of the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Within You Without You.”
After a drug-fueled three-way with a pair of maniacal, amply endowed male devils, Arias crashes hard, launching into a heart-breaking rendition of “All By Myself,” the plaintive ballad first made popular by Eric Carmen, then Céline Dion. Later, we see Arias as a giant Godzilla-esque monster, terrorizing screaming residents of New York City.
Perhaps most remarkable are the ingenious, handcrafted puppets and sets, magically fashioned by artisans from wood, fabric, wire, fishing lines, and glitter — animated by mood lighting. The visual effects are decidedly low-tech, often giving a sixties psychedelic vibe. Nowadays, such images are largely produced using soulless, state-of-the art digital projections. Somehow the humanity is leached out.
[caption id="attachment_65097" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
“Arias with a Twist" has resurfaced at the HERE Arts Center, where it originated nearly two decades ago.Richard Termine[/caption]
A fixture in the downtown cabaret scene across five decades, Arias took a detour to Las Vegas to star in Cirque de Soleil’s raunchy show “Zumanity” for a few years. In 1979, the chanteuse appeared with alt-musician Klaus Nomi backing up David Bowie on “Saturday Night Live.” A cross between Joan Crawford, 1950’s pinup queen Bettie Page, and jazz crooner Billie Holiday in dominatrix garb, his sultry, raspy vocal stylings are haunting and ageless.
Not that this surreal adventure is merely a brash extravaganza. “Arias with a Twist” weaves together thought-provoking themes of escapism, personal transformation, resilience, and ultimately, self-acceptance. The motif of being an outsider highlights issues of gender, queerness, and embracing one’s uniqueness. The roller-coaster journey ultimately helps him reclaim agency and self-respect.
Arias with a Twist | HERE Arts Center | 145 Sixth Ave. | Get Tickets $105 – $158 | Through November 1, 2026 | 90 minutes, no intermission
Joey Arias in "Arias with a Twist."Richard Termine[/caption]
Much of that durability stems from the timeless, nostalgic elements packed into the show. The intro features a comical series of slow-motion openings of curtains made of velvet, chintz, and other alluring fabrics, accompanied by jazzy, old-timey music. This dissolves into a scene showcasing a 1930s-era “Dream Orchestra” comprised of eerie marionettes in tuxedoes.
Another scene finds the scantily clad “sacred warrior” strapped to a wheel being examined by a gang of spectral aliens. “Get the jumbo-sized probe” one alien says (translated in supertitles). “Not my cherry…that’s my cherry pie!” a horrified Arias replies. Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir blasts in the background.
Ejected from the spaceship, Arias lands in a lush, creepy Jungle of Eden, squirming with a ginormous snake, a Venus fly trap, and a cigarette-smoking monkey. Then he eats a phallic “disco mushroom” and goes on a hallucinatory trip, to the tune of the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Within You Without You.”
After a drug-fueled three-way with a pair of maniacal, amply endowed male devils, Arias crashes hard, launching into a heart-breaking rendition of “All By Myself,” the plaintive ballad first made popular by Eric Carmen, then Céline Dion. Later, we see Arias as a giant Godzilla-esque monster, terrorizing screaming residents of New York City.
Perhaps most remarkable are the ingenious, handcrafted puppets and sets, magically fashioned by artisans from wood, fabric, wire, fishing lines, and glitter — animated by mood lighting. The visual effects are decidedly low-tech, often giving a sixties psychedelic vibe. Nowadays, such images are largely produced using soulless, state-of-the art digital projections. Somehow the humanity is leached out.
[caption id="attachment_65097" align="aligncenter" width="700"] “Arias with a Twist" has resurfaced at the HERE Arts Center, where it originated nearly two decades ago.Richard Termine[/caption]
A fixture in the downtown cabaret scene across five decades, Arias took a detour to Las Vegas to star in Cirque de Soleil’s raunchy show “Zumanity” for a few years. In 1979, the chanteuse appeared with alt-musician Klaus Nomi backing up David Bowie on “Saturday Night Live.” A cross between Joan Crawford, 1950’s pinup queen Bettie Page, and jazz crooner Billie Holiday in dominatrix garb, his sultry, raspy vocal stylings are haunting and ageless.
Not that this surreal adventure is merely a brash extravaganza. “Arias with a Twist” weaves together thought-provoking themes of escapism, personal transformation, resilience, and ultimately, self-acceptance. The motif of being an outsider highlights issues of gender, queerness, and embracing one’s uniqueness. The roller-coaster journey ultimately helps him reclaim agency and self-respect.
Arias with a Twist | HERE Arts Center | 145 Sixth Ave. | Get Tickets $105 – $158 | Through November 1, 2026 | 90 minutes, no intermission 
