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| Victoria Mooney and the stop/time dancers. Photo by Curt Henderson |
Sated (and perhaps a bit depressed) by the angst and anxiety in many current
“Rockin’ the Forest ” is a
stop/time Dance Theater production, which serendipitously found a home at
Playhouse on Park over a decade ago. The “child” of choreographer Darlene
Zoller (she is a co-founder of Playhouse on Park), stop/time features 15 dancers
who by day are engaged in other pursuits but by night are consumed by the
“Gotta dance!” mantra. In other words, they’re not necessarily pursuing a
career or a paycheck via Terpsichore, they’re pursuing what they love to do…and
it shows. In the program bios, one dancer has written that she “loves to dance
– plain and simple.”
The book (such as it is) for the show finds Little Red
Riding Hood (an engaging, multi-talented Victoria Mooney) lost in the
proverbial woods. Soon she is confronted by the Wolf (Rick Fountain), who once
was a star on Broadway but, alas, has been cursed (due to his philandering) to
wander the forest in his present lupine form. She also encounters a Broadway
producer (don’t demand logic – just accept it) who wishes to cast Miss Riding
Hood in a show. Some may find it a silly premise, but these are the same people
who won’t clap to bring Tinker Bell back to life.
Conceived, directed and choreographed by Zoller, with
musical direction by Eric Larivee (who also tinkles the ivories in the six-piece
orchestra), this exercise in song and dance draws on multiple references to
Hollywood movies, Broadway shows and pop and Rock songs going back to the 60s,
which is part of its charm. It also covers multiple dance forms, from
interpretive and ballet to the tap-intensive, synchronous Broadway chorus line
(the only thing missing is a dance-number allusion to “River Dance”). In other
words, it’s an engaging mash-up.
Favorite numbers that tickled my fancy? Well, when the Wolf
first meets Miss Hood he sings “L’il Red Riding Hood,” (do you remember Sam the
Sham and the Pharaohs?). Then there’s “On Broadway” and a rewriting of
“American Pie.” And how about the “Lip Sync Battle” between the three bears and
the three little pigs? Mooney nails “Lotta Livin’ To Do” (from “Bye Bye
Birdie”) and the First Act ends with a production number, “I Can’t Be Bothered
Now,” that’s a tap extravaganza.
Special mention should be made of costumer Lisa Steier’s
efforts. There are just about as many costume changes as there are musical
numbers (the dressing room must be a scene of controlled chaos), and the
costumes are dead-on to support said numbers, especially in the Second-Act
opening number, “Some Day My Prince Will Come,” with Snow White (Meredith
Atkinson) complete with a little bird on her wrist to gladden her heart. It’s
an impressive effort.
There were a number of children in the audience on opening
night (attendance only hampered by the threat of sleet, snow and the wrath of
March), and this is appropriate, for if you have a budding dancer, singer or
thespian in your house, then I urge you to bring them to Playhouse on Park
(perhaps bribing them with the offer of an ice cream sundae at next door’s A. C
Petersen Farms Restaurant). They will be entranced, as will you if you are
young at heart. At intermission, a woman spoke to one of the ushers: “I use to
tap dance…not well…when I was young. I’m impressed.” You will be too, and
you’ll leave the theater with a smile on your face.
“Rockin’ the Forest ” runs
through April 9. For tickets or more
information call 860-523-5900, X10, or go to www.playhouseonpark.org
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