At some point while sitting around waiting for a bus, doing a crossword at the kitchen table, or finishing some reading, everyone has tapped their feet, clicked their pen or used the pencil in their pocket as a drumstick. Now imagine that same phenomena, exploded in scale, and that will be something a lot like "Stomp." Technically and visually stunning, the performance is sure to rattle some bones in the audience and make visitors want to work out a rhythm the next time they have a spare moment.
Upon entering the theater to see the show, one thing stands out about the set - anything that could be used to hit, bash, bang, slap or tap is on stage. Nothing is just for show; everything is used, and all with a great degree of skill and aplomb.
The show itself is built up like a series of skits. This format is based on its roots in street theater at the Edinburgh Festival, where its creators collaborated for many years on musical comedy.
While these skits rarely have much to do with one another, the characters that populate them hold onto their personalities throughout the show. Those characters cover a wide variety of personalities and styles, including the lovable oaf, a woman with lots of attitude and the laid back "leader" who communicates with the audience through various claps and facial expressions.
Some of the crowd's favorite skits were the opening piece with brooms, a skit involving a group of people reading newspapers, anything with the lovable oaf going through pratfalls (of which there were many) and the penultimate trashcan finale that is enough to knock one's socks off with its percussive force.
The only way to describe the performers is awe-inspiring. Whether hanging from the ceiling and banging on steel drums, street signs and other items, or simply walking around the stage with a box of matches, the athleticism and precision of these artists is incredible.
In addition to their amazing rhythmic and physical feats, the show also features visual comedy and nearly continuous movement. Too often, shows build momentum only to be cut off midway through by the intermission, but "Stomp" gets around that by not having one. This is an incredible benefit to the show because the performers do not give the audience a chance to catch its breath at any point.
While "Stomp" has ended its most recent run at the Warner Theatre, make sure to bring a group of friends to see it the next time it swings through the city or during a visit to New York City.
It is much more than a great way to spend a couple of hours, because it is also fantastic theater that even those who generally dislike musicals or plays can enjoy.
