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Stomp
Created and directed by
Luke Cresswell & Steve McNicholas
At the LaSalle Bank Theatre
18 W. Monroe
Chicago, IL
Call 312-902-1400, tickets $20 - $55
Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 PM
Friday, July 21 at 8 PM
Saturday, July 22 at 5 & 9 PM
Sunday, July 23 at 2 & 7:30 PM
Tuesday, July 25 at 7:30 Pm
Wednesday, July 26 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 PM
Friday, July 28 at 8 PM
Saturday, July 29 at 5 & 9 PM
Sunday, July 30 at 2 & 7:30 PM
Running time is 1 hour 45 minutes with intermission
Stomp tramples, pounds and beats into a hypnotic sensation
For some unknown reason, despite a 12 year run in NYC and several engagements in Chicago, I have never witness Stomp until now. The show was interesting, engaging and unique. Folks love Stomp and it sure has a cult-like following. The opening night audience enthusiastically took to the intoxicating percussion sensations which included clapping in response to the clapping initiated by the lone performer. Stomp is everywhere—New York, London, European and North American touring companies. People can’t get enough of Stomp.
It is a clever show utilizing household cleaning items, Luke Cresswell, a self-taught percussionist, and Steve McNicholas, a British actor, spent years developing Stomp. Once completed in 1994, Stomp quickly became a world-wide sensation.
Stomp is so infectious because it produces basic rhythms in a unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy that plays to our basic sense of rudimentary communication. If you’ve ever banged on a can to get someone’s attention, you know what Stomp does. Stomp produces basic musical rhythms using push brooms, garbage cans, pipes, kitchen sinks, boxes, brushes, kettles, 55 gallon metal drums and an assortment of pots, pans, pipes, even hubcaps, tea chests, plungers, boots, plastic bags, wooden poles and washboards. The result is a hypnotic, hyper eight person show that grabs us and keeps us thrilled from the opening scene where the cast sweeps us into their engaging beats produced by their push brooms. The nice variety of ‘stomps’ produces a mixture of rhythms, tempos and sounds that communicate the expressive feelings that each performer wishes feels. Emotions are in good hands with these talented ‘stompers’ who never speak but sure communicate with the audience. The universal moods are aptly conveyed through the pulsating stomps.
Stomp deftly demonstrates our human response to sound, movement and rhythm as we need to express ourselves and we need to communicate our thoughts and emotions through performance art.
Stomp is a unique experience that is a sure winner. It takes us on a journey back to basics of entertainment. If you’ve never seen Stomp—do so, you’ll have a bang-up time.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2006
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