'STOMP' Rocks!

It also bangs, thumps, clicks, pounds, swishes, thuds and bounces! A unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy that entertains without one spoken word. It opens with what appears to be a janitor dressed in street rags apparently to sweep the stage. A motley crew of sweepers, looking suspiciously at one another, soon join him. One by one they turn a tedious task into a series of rhythm, which slowly turns into a frenzy of amazingly choreographed sights and sounds. Swishing brushes, wood beating on wood and boots stomping the floor - welcome to STOMP.

If you think this is just a bunch of angry teens banging trashcans, you've not seen STOMP. The performers consist of a collection of multicultural dancers, drummers and actors. They seem to challenge each other as they circle the stage blending and layering rhythm together that almost makes you forget you are hearing music from toilet plungers, wood sticks, Zippo lighters, tin garbage can lids, huge plastic drums, boxes of matches, rubber tubes, newspapers, water; everything including the kitchen sink!

STOMP is the creation of Luke Creswell, a self-taught percussionist and one–time member of Britain's leading busking/cabaret musical group, the Pookiesnackerburger. Creswell worked as a percussionist and programmer with Beats International, Bette Midler, Elvis Costello and more.

Steve McNicholas worked as an actor/singer/musician/writer with Cliff Hanger Theatre Company, 7:84, The Flying Pickets in the UK and more. His TV work includes various soundtrack work with Rowan Atkinson's "Mr. Bean." He shares directorial credits with Cresswell on STOMP-based short films and commercials and co-composed the soundtrack to the Showtime movie, Riot.

In the summer of 1991 Luke & Steve produced and financed what was to become an eight person outfit of performers. Between 1991 and 1994 STOMP played to capacity audiences from Hong Kong to Barcelona, from Dublin to Sydney and around the world again. With several STOMP companies on the road, there's practically not a place on earth that hasn't been STOMPED.

The performers seem to delight the young as well as the old with clever, comedic routines that challenge one another and entice the audience to join in the show by inviting them to copy their clapping and stomping drills from their seats, in which they gladly participate. At one point, the performers climb ladders to a tall junk pile wall of metal and wood objects. Suspending themselves on ropes they swing from side to side banging everything in their path like a xylophone. Others mount huge drums strapped into heavy boots to create an earth shattering thumping music that could surely topple Billy Penn from his City Hall perch down the street.

So what is the attraction to all this noise? It's the amazing creativity of sound through percussion. How impressive can this be? Well, how about these stats: STOMP has performed in 350 cities in 36 countries. It is one New York City's longest-running shows in Off-Broadway history as well as the most financially successful show. STOMP has earned An Oliver Award for Best Choreography, Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, 1996 Academy Award Nomination for " Best Live Action Short", 1998 Emmy Award. Television appearances the on 68^th Annual Academy Awards, Letterman, Leno, Oprah,

Sesame Street

and Mr. Rogers.

After the first few sets you become intrigued as you watch each group of instruments and performers unfold their routine. After an hour you are amazed at the complexity and coordination of movement and sound mixed with disbelief that a half dozen young men and women could take a dozen household objects and turn them into a musical stage show. That's STOMP. And everyone left with a smile on his or her face and nary an earplug was to be seen.

 

STOMP- plays at the Merriam Theater from December 23 to January 4^th.

Tickets: 215.336.1234 or www.ticketmaster.com

To post a comment, you must register and login.