On Stage presentations are the marquee events of Luminato – in other words, paid for tickets – which represent the new and the different from home and abroad. This year there were five On Stage shows, of which I saw three. One, Dancer of the Year, was cancelled out right due to illness, while, sadly, I was unable to fit in the Nathaniel Dett Chorale due to a conflict.
What follows are reviews of HOME, Afrikan Party and 360 Allstars.
HOME, created by Geoff Sobelle, Bluma Appel Theatre, June 13 to 16, 2024.
This production was one of the most exciting theatre experiences I have ever witnessed, and it will be one that I will never forget.
The creator, Geoff Sobelle, is an internationally acclaimed Philadelphia-based visionary who creates original performance art works that examine humanity in, and I quote, “the most uncommon of places”. HOME (2017) is the second part of a trilogy that includes The Object Lesson (2013) and FOOD (2022). The first looks at things, the second dwellings, and the third, what we eat, but these pieces go far beyond the obvious.
HOME begins on an empty stage. The first part is watching a house being built before our eyes, with the six cast members, including Sobelle, illustrating the uses of the various rooms – lying in bed, cooking in the kitchen, setting the dining room table for a dinner party, using the bathroom, shower and toilet, and working on a computer in the study.
The second is a very funny section which features snapshots of different people who live in their own home, but the kicker here is, they are doing their own thing at the same time as everyone else without impeding anyone else’s space. This includes hilariously intricate choreography, for example, they all use the bathroom at the same time and are oblivious to one another.
The last section features events that can happen in the house like weddings, gender reveal parties, graduations and funerals. The most bizarre and wonderful element is the participation of the audience as at least 20 or more members are brought on stage to partake in the activities. The cast whispers instructions to them as to what their duties are, and what follows is a riotous homage to the home. This also involves wearing costumes.
How it happens that these newbies play along to make things work, is a marvel. More so, is how cleverly the audience participants are instructed to leave the stage.
I can’t even begin to describe how surprising, enthralling, provocative and stimulating this production was. Please, please, Luminato (or anyone else), bring the other two parts of the trilogy to Toronto as soon as possible.
Afrikan Party, concept, direction and co-choreography by Oulouy, Bluma Appel Theatre, June 8 and 9, 2024.
Oulouy is a world famous icon of street dance. Born in the Ivory Coast, he is currently based in Barcelona, Spain. His company is called Supa Rich Kids and two of his dancers joined Oulouy in this performance. They are also credited as co-choreographers.
The premise of the piece is that it is 2090, and we watch a futuristic child, born in the United States of Afrika, journey through his life, only it is three dancers simultaneously portraying one person. On route, we experience the rich African traditions that impact the child at key moments, from birth to death. The performance included mime, music and dance, with a special call out to fashion in the form of a plethora of costumes designed by Ambrose Tjark, who is one of the Supa Rich Kids. There was also a very sophisticated use of lighting from Manuel Ordenavia. In all, Afrikan Party was a very classy show.
The choreography was a cunning mix of street, contemporary and traditional African dance that involved a total physicality. The dance movement was impressive, particularly the supple use of the body. These dancers looked like they didn’t have a stiff bone on their person. The fabulous accompanying music score blended compositions from five different composers.
Afrikan Party had both heart and passion, and gave off the vibe that these dancers were performing for their lives.
360 ALLSTARS, directed by Gene Peterson, Young People’s Theatre, June 15 and 16, 2024.
This show from Australia was designed specifically for children, and the kids certainly seemed to enjoy the spectacle, although, from an adult point of view, it did seem a mite repetitious. Nonetheless, you had to admire the skill of the performers.
Gene Peterson, the brainchild behind the show, acted as the drummer, and along with vocalist/looper Mirrah Fay-Parker, provided the soundtrack for the performance. The show presented five young men with extraordinary trickster skills – Heru Anwari (BMX bicycle), Pafo (basketball), Dan Price (cyr wheel or hoop), and two Bboys, Links and Sette. Each performed their skill on their own, and the exciting finale featured an integration of them all.
One miscalculation was a rather overlong rap poem performed by Peterson and Fay-Parker.
I guess it gave them a chance to show their skills as rappers, but you could feel the audience grow restless.
This tour was apparently the 10th anniversary of the company so this eclectic mix of tricksters has clearly found an international audience. It certainly was unique in the performances that it offered.