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It’s been almost 20 years since I heard of a small group of performers making music out of industrial items, instruments out of anything, in their native state. Nothing has been changed, enhanced or modified to produce sounds that when played in the right manner of rhythms is magical music. “STOMP” has returned to the OC to energize your rhythmic senses with percussive language.
Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas are the masterminds behind this long standing amazing group of both percussive and improve movement performers. Bringing in 8 talented individuals with extensively different backgrounds to perform as one hypnotic show in “STOMP” is not an easy task. That doesn’t matter to Luke and Steve as they truly have a cast who can shine alone or as performed many times throughout the night, as one massive ensemble.
Leading the onslaught of ear worms of rhythms is longtime cast mates John Sawicki and Carlos Thomas. Being an avid percussionist, having the pleasure of seeing these two perform in “STOMP” again still gives me goose bumps. John’s haunting appearance and rough, “don’t f*** with me” look, is deceiving until you see him star to use his own body as an instrument of musical sounds. With a physique to rival any boxer or MMA athlete, Carlos is daunting to look at. You feel he is going to crush anything he hits, and probably does, yet he can play with the subtlety of touches to the passion of drumming like a classic violinist. They are not alone though in adding to the mystique of the show.
Ali Bradley, Eric Fay, Andre Fernandez, Cammie Griffin and Mike Hall explode with vitality on stage. Their creation of characters makes the show. But there is one individual who also stands out, Guy Mandozzi. Guy is the comedian of the group and brings the serious demeanor of the show a little lightheartedness in his comedic presence of timing.
This is an evening of desire, dynamics, and all around awe inspiring performance. Bring a date, bring he family bring everyone for a night of music that will have you doing more than just clapping your hands and stomping your feet. It will leave you wanting more.
See STOMP at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts October 9, 2012 – October 14, 2012.
Follow my adventures in entertainment in Southern California on Twitter @SCThrillsMarc.
