BWW Reviews: MADCO's Extraordinary WALLSTORIES

The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 to supposedly "protect" the population of East Germany from succumbing to socialism. But, all it actually accomplished was the emotionally painful separation of families and friends; preventing the so-called defection of individuals looking to avoid living in a communist state. And, until it's destruction in 1989, it served as a grim reminder to the rest of the world that oppression was still very much alive and well (and still is around the globe). Choreographer Nejla Yatkin has taken this dark history lesson and transformed it into a unique work called Wallstories that combines modern dance with interviews she collected and edited, as well as the music of Pink Floyd, Bach, and Larsen and Sherman. MADCO presented this powerful and compelling production at the Touhill November 14-16, for a total of six performances, three of which played to students who were brought in to see the show. It was a truly moving experience that I felt privileged to see.

Sometimes it's just hard to describe the world of dance in words that do it justice. But, Wallstories allows for more discourse because it has a narrative thread that takes us through from the erection to the destruction of the Berlin Wall. It accomplishes this with a number of stunning qualities, often enhanced by provocative and heart-wrenching video projections (by Yatkin and Mike Rogers), that captivate and humanize what it must have been like to have lived through those times. Yatkin's choreography is spectacular throughout, allowing the dancers, through movements that reflect their emotional and physical reaction to each piece of the work, to genuinely affect the audience and connect with them emphatically.

It's all backed by powerful selections of music that range from the humor of Larsen and Sherman's comical "Berlin Wall" to the searing progressive and conceptual rock of Pink Floyd ("In the Flesh", "Mother", "Goodbye Blue Sky", etc.). It's no coincidence that Pink Floyd's contributions are taken from their album "The Wall", since their sometimes searing contemplations on the psychological "walls" we erect around ourselves can be seen as a direct result of the kind of man-made construction that occurred in 1961. It's a magical fit. When you add the fascinating, and often conflicting, interview audios to the mix, along with a couple of choice Bach compositions, you end up with something that grabs you by the collars and forces you to confront a part of our world history that is too often glossed over in textbooks.

The troupe itself, under the guidance of artistic director Stacy West, was excellent. Belicia Beck, Brandon Fink, Claire Hilleren, Darell Hyche, Marcus Johnson (who was absent from the performance I attended due to injury), Jessica Manker, Monica Meyr, Jeffrey Mitchell, Sam Mitchell, Rafael Tillery, and Nicole Whitesell are athletic, lithe, graceful, limber, and were able to convey the feelings of each section with a dancer and an actor's sensibilities. Kimberly Klearman's lighting and technical direction worked perfectly, and Annie Peacock Warner's costumes had just the right feel.

MADCO's production of Wallstories was an inspired choice, and I'm glad that even on a cold and snowy day I was able to attend. There's no doubt in my mind that everyone that was able to see this show during its run was affected in one way or another by it. A brilliant display outside the theatre entrance that depicted the events which led up to the building of the wall filled in the blanks in very informative and engaging fashion as well.