BWW Reviews: Great Fun at The Fox with STOMP

One thing I really love about Stomp is that no matter how many times you've seen it, there are always a few new bits thrown in for you to enjoy. It's a constantly evolving show, although you can bet it will always begin with the troupe using their brooms to demonstrate how common items can be utilized to produce music and magic. Productions have been touring the world with various participants for so many years now that it's even become a touchstone for parents, who have already experienced it, to take their children to see it for the first time. My own son has seen it at least three times, but has grown to appreciate it even more as he's gotten older and more into music. The touring company that just passed through The Fabulous Fox Theatre (April 10-12, 2015) proved, once again, that the poly-rhythmic textures that reverberate in the venues they play overflow with a truly joyful noise that both amuses and delights.

Whether it's brooms, sticks, garbage cans, plastic drums, lighters, matchboxes, basketballs, shopping carts, their own bodies, or even the proverbial kitchen sink, Stomp is the dream show for the frustrated percussionist in all of us. With timbres both raucous and subtle, sounds are piled on top of one another and varied to create tension and release, often building to audience-pleasing crescendos. It's an incredibly enjoyable and interactive presentation that's managed to remain continually cool.

What makes Stomp tick are the performers, and what I especially like is the fact that each brings their own unique personality to the stage. That's what allows each show to be special. John Angeles, Ivan Delaforce, Eric Fay, Andres Fernandez, Cammie Griffith, Mike Hall, Delaunce Jackson, Alexis Juliano, Kris Lee, Jeremy Price, Ivan Salazar, and Reggie Talley all exhibit different talents that mesh perfectly with the cleverly choreographed vignettes that occur. It's a cunning mix of athleticism, timing, and comic relief, that creates a consistently engaging environment.

Credit is certainly due to the creative directorial team of Like Cresswell and Steve McNicholas (who also lights the show in imaginative ways along with Neil Tiplady) for keeping this show fresh and invigorating. Make sure to catch it when it comes to your city, and if you're a veteran of Stomp, bring along a youngster and expose them to its particular brand of musical mischief.

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