REVIEW : Cast clatters a hit out of STOMP
Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/225752/
FAYETTEVILLE — STOMP is an exploration and celebration of rhythm, sound and creativity. At times, it’s also very funny.
Eight fit and athletic performers — six men and two women — barely stopped moving during the roughly 90-minute show Tuesday night at the Walton Arts Center, where performances continue through Sunday.
They used every imaginable object — even a kitchen sink — to show the force of rhythm and movement. They swept and smacked the floor with shop brooms. They flicked open metal lighters for audio and visual effects. They stuck toilet plungers to the floor and then plucked them off.
Dressed in paint-stained jeans and casual tank tops and shirts, they used their work boots for the stomping. And, as expected, there’s a lot of stomping in this show.
From piece to piece, the performers employed myriad rhythms along with expertly cohesive choreography. At times, they seemed like a band in an improvisational jam session. But their sounds and moves were all timed perfectly, so they got loud and quiet at the right times without stomping on someone else’s part. The overall effect was impressive.
In addition to their amazing auditory display, the performers used facial expressions and comedic timing to enhance the show.
In one piece, the performers did little solo bits, showing off their individual styles. They were soft, groovy, edgy — and one even did break-dancing that was highly entertaining.
They showed that practically anything can be used to make sounds and produce rhythms. Their mastery of noise-making was amazing.
They took rubber tubing of various lengths and created interesting sounds of different pitches. They used putty knives, empty water cooler jugs, bouncing basketballs, metal chairs, trash cans and trash can lids to play their music. The metal chairs, trash cans and, later, metal barrels used as giant stilts and drums all got pretty loud.
Four male performers came out with kitchen sinks, filled with water and strapped around their necks. They clanged on objects in the sinks, showing how they change pitch as water pours out of them. Washing the dishes will never be the same.
At the back of the stage, they played a wall that was filled with random objects — something like a junk yard drum kit. Then, for a quieter piece, they experimented with the sounds newspapers make when shaken, folded and smacked.
Three performers rummaged through a trash bag and made music with items found inside. At one point, they found a groove using just bags — plastic grocery bags, paper lunch bags and an airfilled, clear plastic bag.
The fun effect of this show will be when the kids — and their parents — who watch it go home. They’ll never look at a newspaper or broom or plastic bag the same way again. And that’s good.