Tony & Emmy Award-Winning Blast 3 Weeks At The Forrest Theatre by Gilda Morigi
Philadelphia, PA - Can you hit a perfect high C on the trumpet while doing a one-handed cartwheel? Can you execute a grand jete while beating out a rapid-fire rhythm on a snare drum? Can you spin two illuminated batons at once while performing lightning-fast choreographic combinations in the dark? Can you sing, as well? Then you might consider auditioning for "Blast," the rousing, exhilarating, music-in-motion touring show that drew 5000 hopeful applicants at first call. Sixty were chosen.
In addition to being able to sing and to twirl and manipulate various tubes, batons, stamping and rain sticks while performing athletic, ballet-based routines, about 25 "Blast" members are adroit percussionists.
And according to the program, five play the French horn; seven play the mellophone (a marching instrument derived from the orchestral horn); five play the tuba; 12, the trumpet; three, the cornet; 12, the digeridoo (a primitive Australian trumpet that makes a hollow, spooky-wind sound); nine play the trombone (my favorite in the "Flying Dutchman" Overture); five play the euphonium (originally a large, German bugle - locally, a gent plays one at Columbus Market on Thursdays); two, the piccolo; one, the fluegelhorn, one, the marimba. Not mentioned is the small accordion that shows up in Act II; a trombonium is listed (I'm clueless but its genesis seems apparent). A-a-h-h! The wonder and joy of gut-throbbing, intensely acoustic sound sans electronic amplification. Ya gotta FEEL it!
Apropos percussion, anything you can think of from a simple cowbell to castanets to big bass and kettle drums are included in "Blast." For interested dancers, the extravaganza provides a quintessential lesson in marching band instruments. You never know when you might need the knowledge! Of course, "Blast's" players don't just march. They dance, tumble, frolic, caper, cavort, roughhouse and romp. Yet sometimes, twosomes do provide a lyrical interlude with a pas de deux.
"Blast" begins with a staggering (no pun intended) rendition of Ravel's "Bolero." In toto.
Color themes are introduced. Ballerinas unfurl and swirl mammoth silk flags while naming their colors: Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Violet.
A Stan Kenton-like jazz number precedes the introduction of Turquoise via 12 musician-dancers performing on 12 Turquoise folding chairs. The stage darkens; a lone trumpeter is illuminated. He materializes out of the shadows like an apparition playing the blues. The effect is ectoplasmic because he stands on his Turquoise chair suspended in the air halfway down from the fly loft at stage left.
Vocal harmonies accompanied by yoga-like movements open Copeland's "Simple Gifts/Appalachian Spring" sequence. The melodic lines are echoed by the brasses, then danced to by ballerinas wearing huge, fluttering, pale green wings. Think giant gypsy moths.
"Battery Battle" brings together dueling drummers Nicholas E. Angelis and Christopher "Kit" Chatham. Their comic, super virtuosity electrifies cast and audience members alike.
A carefully choreographed "free-for-all" ends Act I. Silhouetted against a single fire-bright light, "Blast's" cast emerges from a murky miasma. Phantom spirits undulate in mysterious mists.
Act II opens with a reprise of the flag-bearing ballerinas. Declamation chante is added.
"Gee Officer Krupke" from Bernstein's "West Side Story" is explored to the max. While playing their various instruments, the musicians engage in numberless gymnastic contortions including acrobatics, tumbling, handsprings and somersaults completely enthralling all.
"Tangerinamadidge" and "Land of Make Believe" has soloists Frank Sullivan (fluegelhorn), Amy Sanchez (French horn), Matthew A. Banks (tuba), veering into eerie, primordial sounds with strange, jungle-like
vibrations. "Spiritual of the Earth" follows: It is introduced by the most fantastic jazz-marimba solo (Vincent D. Oliver with nicely highlighted biceps) you will probably ever hear in person. No matter how well it may be engineered, music canned through hype has yet to compare with the real thing. And watch the dancers do barrel turns while singing out loud. Then feel the pulsating, almost violent samba rhythms that lead into "Malaguena's" famous fandango and other Spanish dances including classical ballet and flamenco. The bombastic Finale entitled "Malaguena" also has trumpets and trombones, sometimes playing in thirds, fourths and fifths, turning the whole thing into swing but in the end, the original Latin rhythms prevail.
"Blast" transcends all languages, all ages. Its splendid shock of unexpected dynamics may leave you breathless and sleepless, but when it comes to your town, you must see it. Absolutely. •