Sixteen years later, 'Stomp' still leaves ears ringing

Buckets, dustpans, and mops typically collect dust in broom closets. However, for the performers in the dance production “Stomp,” these objects take on new meaning.

Subway signs, metal fencing, and rusting garbage are transformed into musical instruments at the Orpheum Theatre in “Stomp,” an off-Broadway performance that creates a compelling, though clamorous, evening for audience members. Performers seem to vicariously release the audience’s tension by whacking buckets and trash cans—a fitting study break for students desperate to drown out the stress of a new semester.

Originally opening in New York in 1994, “Stomp” remains popular 16 years later, perhaps due to its unique synthesis of music and dance. Pounding a broomstick in rhythm seems difficult enough, but the added choreographic and visual elements of the show make “Stomp” especially interesting. Despite a cast of less than ten performers, the show does not lack vigor.
At one point, five performers spin at a dizzying rate, trash can lids in their hands, hitting one another’s makeshift cymbals to produce complex beats. The entire cast also chassés through piles of sand on the stage, creating gritty sound effects to accompany a combination of step and tap dancing.

The performers, many of whom have extensive dance and music backgrounds, impressively manage to create numerous sounds from everyday objects while simultaneously moving across the stage. Whether squeezing in some break-dancing moves between the percussion solos or whipping out a highly technical turn series while still drumming, the performers not only possess the rhythm of musicians, but also the athleticism of dancers and the stage presence of actors. Performer Marivaldo Dos Santos exuded energy as he pounded on plastic buckets strapped across his body, long dreadlocks slapping his arms.

Despite a number of mesmerizing segments, “Stomp” was littered with overly theatrical moments, and the repetitive sounds became dull after an hour and a half of continuous noise. It was a challenge not to succumb to a pounding headache by the end of the show—it might not be a bad idea for ushers to distribute two Advil with every program. Still, for students in search of a somewhat unorthodox stress-reliever, “Stomp” fits the bill.

Orpheum Theatre, open run, Tuesday through Sunday 8:00 pm, weekend 3:00 pm matinée, tickets $40.