Give My Regards... What Are All These Kids Doing on West 42nd Street?
Isn't West 42nd Street supposed to be the Devil's play land? Then why were all those little kids on the street at seven o'clock on one cold pre-Christmas night in 2004? The circus had come to town, or rather the Australian Circus Oz had come to the New Victory Theater. And with it, the first clown ever to be seen walking upside down on a paved slab of floor hanging from the upper reaches of the stage. He enchanted the small customers sitting below with their heads stretched back so far as to give a "crick in the neck" its rightful meaning. This was one of the many delightful attractions the New Victory Theater has imported for its growing audience base. With kids in tow, the grandmas, cousins, uncles, moms and dads come in droves to see plays, dancers, clowns, musicians, a whole diversity of tasteful productions making the New Victory New York's ultimate theater for kids and families.
Mary Rose Lloyd, the director of programming, is in the midst of celebrating the theater's tenth anniversary season of 2005-2006. For the past nine years she has organized with great care the schedule of events for the New Victory, and has filled it almost to capacity for each performance. This tenth season is no exception. It began in September with a company of men called "Black Grace" traveling all the way from New Zealand for a New York debut. The choreography was rooted in ritual themes and embellished with the dancers making their own percussive accompaniment by clapping or chanting while their compact bodies reacted to the precise beat. With the muscular grace of karate black belts and the strength of blustery Rugby players the dancers of "Black Grace" gave an insight into the Maori culture. In the aisles, some children, propelled by the insistent music, got up to try a step or two.
"One of the major goals of the New Victory is to present thought-provoking theater for young audiences," Lloyd explained. "We do not underestimate them and what they can enjoy. No pandering to children here, and we have found that the young people will accept our challenge." Lloyd makes clear the label 'kids dance' has no meaning for her and her staff. " We have found New York 'kids' to be a pretty savvy group," she said.
Each year Lloyd packs her bags and travels to children's festivals. Booking the yearly schedule often takes her to Europe, and she has now developed relationships with the Scottish International Theater Festival, the London Mime Festival, London's New Vic, and in the U.S., the Seattle National Children's Theater, dependable sources she has used many times. "They have tasteful, original programming, and we are apt to find a good fit for our stage. It is really about the best work I can find to connect to a young person's imagination, and I can usually tell in about ten minutes if a particular performance will do the trick. Of course," she said, rolling her eyes heavenward, "I have watched about 250 performances in order to make a short list of -- say, thirteen."
Aside from physically trekking to see various productions, Lloyd and her staff read hundreds of press releases, reviews, and periodicals. "The most fun for us is discovering a completely new event," Lloyd said, "like James Thierry (Charles Chaplin's grandson) and his 'The Junebug Symphony,' or 'Dance Cuba," a lovely dance company of women. Thierry's company, began in sublime zaniness combined with vaudeville and magic tricks, and reached a high point with daredevil acrobatic feats. Watching the lovely females of "Dance Cuba" the young audiences were introduced to clattering castanet rhythms and the fastidious finger work and pattering heels of flamenco style. Both of these shows brought new adventures to eager and receptive children.
Closing out the anniversary festivities in the spring will be performances of a popular American dance company, "Complexions," labeled suitable for ages eight and up. "If parents want to bring a three-year old to "Complexions," that is their choice," Lloyd cautioned. "But all our programs are clearly marked with age suggestions. Our education department books programs for school visits. It is a serious responsibility. We explain an age and a content variety on each one."
Cora Cahan, President of The New 42nd Street, Inc. the umbrella organization that has overseen the New Victory since its opening in 1995, stated that it was their mission to discover a place for children that could not be found anywhere else in the city. And this was to be "a presentation house where kids could come and see a range of art forms in a theater that was not painted red, yellow and blue." The New Victory is hardly a painted nursery school playroom. It is an intimate space with 499 seats and a stage 30' by 30'-- an elegant jewel-box, with access to carefully supervised restrooms, souvenir stands with reasonably priced mementos, and often a hands-on meeting with performers where the kids can obtain autographs. After some matinee performances there is a question/answer forum with the artiss on stage. The ambiance in the theater is always one of an inviting but safe, fun neighborhood. On leaving one can't help but notice the kids on the street laughing and imitating what they had seen.