We can now see that STOMP, which originated in London in 1991, has developed sturdy legs (along with drums, bags and Zippos) to carry it well into the 21st century. Carolelinda Dickey first pounced on the production and brought it to town under the aegis of the Pittsburgh Dance Council during the 1994-95 season and STOMP has returned for a fistful of visits since then, always to enthusiastic audiences, with its latest run ending this Sunday.
So what is it — dance, musical or rhythmic entertainment? A quick glance at the cast list showed a blend of drummers who move well and dancers with a strong beat sensibility, because it’s a seamless give-and-take throughout the evening.
So I suppose, now that it’s back in Pittsburgh, albeit in the Benedum Center, rather than the smaller, better-suited Byham, it’s fun to think about the impact (couldn’t resist!) that this feisty show has had on its entertainment surroundings.
For one thing, STOMP was probably the first environmental show. Think about it — virtually everything there appears to be recyclable, from sweeping things to banging things to crushables. Maybe that’s why STOMP is still current in the minds of its viewers.
The opening night audience seemed to possess a strong core of repeat customers who treated it like a rock concert and also provided a savvy knowledge of those nifty interactive segments. As a wizened old veteran myself, I looked forward to some of my favorite parts — the newspapers, the lighters, the big oil drums, the garbage can lids and, of course, those swinging harnesses.
I wasn’t disappointed. STOMP had been promising to come back with a few surprises…and it did. The production just shortened some routines to make room for more. I don’t know if the preponderance of rubber slinkies or the cacophony of rubber containers or the extra harness performers really added a punch or picked up the pace any more.
After all, the original concept of STOMP needed no recycling. It still sells the same message: All you need is a little imagination and a sympathetic ear to capture the rhythms of life.
For ticket information, go to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website.
Point Park alumnus Justin Myles, along with some of his cast-mates, is giving a STOMP-style master class to Conservatory students at Point Park University on Friday at the George Rowland White Performance Studio.
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