'BWW Reviews: STOMP is a Real Kick

If you have seen the clever Campbell  Soup commercial with a variety of chefs in white hats banging their spoons, you can see how the advertisers got the idea for this commercial. And that would be the gigantic hit Stomp which has become a world-wide sensation.

The premise is founded on a simple idea of using everyday objects to create rhythms. There are brooms, bins, plungers, plastic bags, matchboxes, and lighters.  They even throw in the kitchen sink!

Stomp was hatched in England in 1991 by its creators Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.  In opened Off-Broadway at the tiny Orpheum Theatre where it still holds court.  This is the space I first viewed the piece and I still believe this is the correct venue to see this fun piece of entertainment. But, if you prefer to view your theater locally, you will not be disappointed if you know what to expect.

What you won't see is a musical in any way, shape, or form.  There is literally no orchestra (though there IS music of a percussive nature), no story line, but there is much choreography. It has won both an Obie and Drama Desk Award for "Most Unique Theatre Experience". And after you see it, you will not forget the experience.

The cast is quite a cohesive unit. They are not listed as actors but as performers. They include John Angeles, Jaclynn Bridges, E. Donisha Brown, Guillaume Carreira, Andres Fernandez, Cammie Griffin, Michael R. Landis, Guy Mandozzi, Justin Myles, Mike Silvia, Elec Simon, and Nicholas Young.  All but three seem to have had extensive dance credits.  Only eight perform at a time.

Myles (who is from Maryland) deserves special praise for his amazing acrobatics and precision. He also leads most of the audience participation segments when he asks and receives help with responsive clapping.  He also deftly dealt with an over enthusiastic youngster in the audience who kept laughing incessantly.

However, the character that the audience adored was Guy Mandozzi, who wears a green hat. A native of Slough, U.K., it is his comedic  touch that stands out and what makes this production so different from the show I saw many years ago.

To give you an idea what to expect, the cast have a large weekly shopping list of 30 brooms (one broke in the middle of a routine on opening night and the performer immediately looked stage right and a replacement broom came flying at him), 15 boxes of matches, 288 liters of water, 40 newspapers (yes, I noticed the Baltimore Sun), 20 pounds of sand, 10 garbage can lids, 7 garbage cans and 20 drum sticks.

One of the most entertaining new segments is a number called "Donuts" which utilizes huge tractor trailer tire inner tubes worn around the waist attached to a bungee cord.

The show certainly appeals to young people who seemed to relish the loud sounds emanating from the stage and it's only 90 minutes long with no intermission.

Stomp continues at the Hippodrome  until March 28. For tickets, call 410-547-SEAT or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

For videos of the production, visit www.stomponline.com.

Next at the Hippodrome is the longest running musical ever on Broadway,
The Phantom of the Opera beginning  April 8.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

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