No quiet evening for ‘Stomp’ audiences

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 11, 1998 | 10:14 a.m.

Great fun. There were about a thousand of us in the MGM Grand Theatre for the 8 p.m. Thursday performance of "Stomp," only in through Sunday as "EFX" enjoys a one week respite. We had a wonderful time, clapping hands in time, and finger snapping when called upon. Apparently, so did the octet of multi-talented, hard-working young people, six males and two females, onstage. It was an hour and 40 minutes that played like half that much time.

There is an impressive, attractive but utilitarian set, and about 20 very imaginative segments. There is no musical soundtrack, just the percussive rhythms produced by each of the performers, using hands, feet, other parts of their bodies, drums, percussion, and various unusual sources.

It opens with one person and a push broom, joined one by one, until the entire company is onstage with brooms, creating an infectious beat. There is some hand jive, hambone-type body slapping, and dancing on sand. Next came a succession of hollow tubes, water sinks and buckets, toilet plungers and mops, followed by long poles and sticks, clicking lighters, and use of the entire set.

Six newspapers kept the rhythm going; then men with boxes and men in boxes; and men standing on large tin drums while the two females played tom toms. An interlude followed with the two females and one male picking various objects out of a large trash bag and creating quiet sounds, setting up a raucous finale with everyone using garbage pails and lids, a show-stopoer, and an encore that had the audience still popping its fingers as each member disappeared.

There is no dialogue, but many humorous moments throughout; plus incredible audience participation and response. The highest compliment is that even this old critic found himself audience as well, from the beginning. Be sure to see it.

JOE DELANEY is a Sun entertainment critic.