Word: shows
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...rewarded for my patience the next night when we caught the new Cirque du Soleil production, "O," at the decidedly upscale Bellagio hotel ($100 a ticket!) It's insanely high-priced, but if you've never seen a Cirque du Soleil show in your life, the experience is priceless. There are only four productions currently on stage in the U.S.--"O" at Bellagio, "Mystere" at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, "La Nouba" in Orlando and "Alegria" at the new Biloxi resort in Mississippi. I've seen the first three and "Mystere" is definitely my favorite--but that, perhaps, is because...
...some people why they refuse to see Stomp, and they will paint a picture of a bored four-year-old running around, banging pots on a rainy day. That perception hardly does justice to the performance. Sure, it doesn't take a genius to enjoy the show. It takes, rather, a genius--or in this case two geniuses--to turn the simplicity of sound and dance into a spectacular evening of entertainment. In 1991, creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas realized the simple joy that a four-year-old can take in banging pots, and brought that happiness...
Using anything you can imagine and objects you would never dream of, the performers bring a simple toe-tapping, knee-slapping pleasure to the show. From brooms to newspapers to matchboxes to Zippos, the percussionists take the show to new levels of creativity. A rustled trash bag morphs into an extraordinary orchestra of sound. A routine sweeping becomes a rhythmic blast. Set in a hubcap-adorned industrial-metallic garage, the three female and five male cast members turn the beat-heavy sound into something more than just a tribute to the powers of rhythm...
...show is a chaotic mix of fun and frenzy. Expertly choreographed, the dancers-cum-percussionists put on an astounding display of physical dexterity and mental ingenuity. The rapid manipulation of the most basic objects into instruments is as much fun to watch as it is to hear. Perhaps "rapid" is an understatement. It is nearly impossible to follow the movements of the cast members as they smash their way along. One minute they are harnessed to a vertical wall of musical hubcaps, the next smashing broomsticks in a ritualistic dance. It was dance, drama, action and comedy rolled into...
...cocoon of joyful noise as characters and personalities--the joker, the bully, the runt--whose only means of expression is the fervent beat of a drum. Each member was as good an actor and dancer as percussionist. As a result, it is difficult to name the "star" of the show. The physically intimidating Shaka Opare bullies the meeker--but hilarious--Taro Alexander, while tough John Sawicki challenges Opare in a series of beat-battle-royales. The intense competition between the performers is guaranteed to whip the crowd into a happy enthusiasm. "Stomp" was specifically desgined to bring...