MNfusion: STOMP Comes In With A Boom, Goes Out With A Bang
When audience members audibly ask a cast to return to the stage, it's safe to say a performance was a hit.
This was the case on Wednesday night at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts' performance of STOMP.
For those unfamiliar, STOMP is an eclectic drumming company that uses every day materials to create music, while also incorporating dance and acrobatics.
If it sounds like a lot, it's because it is.
Throughout the show, each performer uses matchbooks, lighters, plastic bags, brooms, tubes, inner tubes, sinks, trash cans and even their own bodies to create rhythms and sounds that blend together into transfixing beats.
While there is a leader, Sarge (John Angeles), the majority of the show is performed with the group as a whole.
One of the most awe-inspiring moments of the show, for myself, involved the whole cast.
With the lights out, in a dark theater, the entire cast stood in a straight line and created music and a light show using Zippo lighters.
Outside of my incredulousness at how they could possible create a rhythm by flicking a lighter on (which they can and it's awesome), I was amazed at how the performers could do this in the dark.
Each held two lighters, one in each hand, and at times had to light them alternatively.
It was quite spectacular.
Other numbers featured only a few cast members, such as the one were Alexis Juliano, Cade Slattery and Krystal Renée played items of trash.
At one point, Renée took out a plastic bag, blew into it, tied it up and began to beat on it like a drum – something which I would never think to do. (Though, to be honest, I wouldn't think to play more than half of the things they did in this show.)
Sarge, however, does perform a few numbers by himself. Angeles amazed the audience with his ability to clap and tap out rhythms and an alarming speed.
While watching, I couldn't help be recall a scene from "White Christmas" when Judy's character taps her toes so quickly I had always thought it was a studio trick. Seeing Angeles perform in real life, at a tempo quicker than Judy tapped, brought fantasy to reality.
However, what perhaps makes the show most enjoyable is the performers' ability to communicate tone without speaking.
Several moments are quite funny, eliciting roars of laughter without one word being spoken. Other moments are softer, or more mysterious, like the Zippo lighter number.
While occasionally lighting or the beginning beat helps carry out the playfulness, seriousness or humor of a scene, most of the emotion is from the facial expression, body language or movements of the performers.
It speaks to how each cast member isn't merely a drummer or a dancer; they are a complete, multifaceted performer.
From the performers' abilities to move fluidly from instrument to instrument and beat to beat, to the director's foresight for how eight separate beats will come together to create music, it is truly a jaw-dropping experience.
STOMP runs one hour and 40 minutes, without an intermission. It is family friendly, but there is a touch of adult humor in a few numbers.
For a bit of added fun, see how STOMP and Target collaborated for Back to School.
https://www.facebook.com/stomponline/videos/10154555437936742/
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STOMP will perform Oct. 21 -- 23. Tickets cost $44 - $74. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Ordway Center For Performing Arts online.
