STOMP

I was so excited that STOMP was coming to El Paso that I bought tickets several weeks in advance. I have always been amazed by what the performers can do with the simplest of things - a matchbox, a plastic bag, newspapers. Seeing the performance live, though, was even more amazing.

First, the setting. The historic Plaza Theatre in downtown El Paso. I'm a fan of the theatre in general, so any chance to see a show there is always worth taking. The acoustics are magnificent, and they are well-employed by a team of on-stage percussionists.

Second, the instruments. These ranged from using the body as an actual instrument to the seemingly quirky or unuseable. Sand? Give it a try. The dancers/musicians used it, and it made a wonderful "swish" sound as they slid their feet through it. Lighters? I couldn't believe it, but, yes, the performers had a number in which they used lighters. I don't know how the performers were sure that the lighters would light or would light according to the tempo, but they seemed to trust their tools. Oversized inner tubes? Naturally. Who would expect anything less from STOMP? This number was probably one of my favorites because of the ludicrousness of the huge inner tubes. During one part of this number, the dancers sat inside the tubes and bobbed up and down as they simultaneously beat on the tubes with drumsticks. Basketballs? We know that basketballs can create a tempo (Who can forget basketball drills? Du-dum, du-dum, du-dum...), but to see and hear the performers create a beautiful melody with the balls was fascinating.

Third, the dancers/musicians. Most of the performers have a dance background, and many of them have that background in tap. Others have taken modern dance, jazz, and ballet. My favorite dancer, though, was the b-boy (breakdancer). He had some amazing floorwork and freezes, which he accomplished while having trash can lids attached to his hands. Absolutely phenomenal. I also enjoyed watching the female performers; they were amazing and often seemed to hit the beat even harder than the males. The dancers/musicians also are consummate performers; they know how to express themselves with the smallest of motions and facial expressions. One of the performers was particularly good and well-cast. He played the role of the clown, and he acted his role superbly. He had the crowd laughing at his antics as well as sympathizing with him when the other performers seemed to treat him unkindly.

Finally, the combination of elements. The beauty of the Plaza Theatre didn't seem to be compromised by the outside-the-boundaries percussion; rather, the union of the two seemed to be the perfect blending of old and new. I also loved that I was not only seeing a performance but also hearing it. The show engages a person's sight and hearing, and I think that makes for a better show. The audience is truly engaged if the audience members are having to use more than one of their senses. STOMP truly was amazing.