Friday, April 17, 1998 | 10:44 a.m.
Please don't miss "Tap Dogs," a tap spectacular, replacing "EFX" through Sunday, even if you are not a tap dancing fan. David Cassidy, et al., return next Tuesday. "Tap Dogs" is 80 non-stop minutes of the best solo and ensemble tap dancing since the best vaudeville and film days of the Step, Nicholas and Berry Brothers. It is also the most innovative and exciting use of a multi-level stage set, lighting and sound in recent ken.
Australian Dein Perry studied tap in a makeshift dance studio in Newcastle, a steel town north of Sydney, went to Sydney and was cast in that city's production of "42nd Street." He went back for five of his Newcastle friends and formed the Tap Brothers, which, after successful trips to London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland, returned to Sydney, where he teamed with director-designer Nigel Triffitt and composer Andrew Wilkie to create the present edition of "Tap Dogs."
Sheldon Perry, Lathaniel Cooper, Christopher Elk, Jeremy Fullam, James Guasto, Jeremy Klesman, Anthony LoCascio and Lee McDonald are the super-talented company. Buck Monahan is featured on guitar, keyboards and percussion and Jason Yudoff also is on keyboards and percussion. They drive the show, musically. Honorable mentions also go to David Murray's lighting and Darryl Lewis' sound. Audience response was immediate and continuous throughout.
There are so many changes on that single, incredible set and so many variations of tempo and approach that neither the principals nor the audience have time to take a deep breath until the final bows. The Delaneys would go again if "Tap Dogs" was to ever spell "EFX" in the future.
JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.
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