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A CurtainUp Review
Between Two Worlds (Siudy: Entre Mundos)
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Dedicated to our wonderful city, Caracas, and our national treasure, El Avila mountain — From the creator's notes.
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Members of the company
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)
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Thrown into the dark, we are hurtled into a desolate world by a loud explosion. The lights come up on a barren landscape (effectively designed by Neil Patel with some striking atmospheric lighting by Jeff Croiter & Grant Yeager) where rain has stopped falling and water is scarce. Tribes roam the earth looking for water. "A pure soul" is born on a mountain top. She descends to earth like a swan wearing a stunning gown notable for its long train of white feathers. You know she means business from the first stomp of her heel. You also may surmise this is Siudy the lead dancer/choreographer).
Women seem to be the only survivors of this tribe. Defined by their passionately expressive flamenco-dancing and heel-drumming, they welcome Siudy as their leader and as their hope for survival. They are soon discovered by an urban tribe comprised mostly of fierce-looking men in war-ravaged post-apocalyptic attire (kudos to urban costume designers Veronica Porras & Joe Rolon) whose primary mode of expression is tribal-like drumming on large movable metal vats and viscerally charged acrobatic and break-dancing. The tribe's ensemble drumming and their virile dancing serve as a formidable challenge to the nevertheless undaunted flamenco tribe.
The Urban "guardian" and lead drummer (Adolfo Herrera) also communicates on occasion through electronically-distorted (purposely unintelligible) speech. A conflict arises between the tribes with the start of a romance between Siudy and Dowsing (Brian Abadia) a member of the urban tribe. As a result, there is an abduction which leads to a pursuit, rescue and an eventual uniting of the tribes for a happy ending. But this doesn't happen until we are treated to one thrillingly danced segment after another. Particularly stirring is a battle of the tribes in which all of the various dance disciplines converge in a thrilling mosaic of sound and fury.
A native of Venezuela, Siudy dominates the dances with an amazing virtuosity, intensity and graceful body language. The sheer stamina she exhibits in extended periods of heel-drumming and hand-clapping is simply breathtaking. No castanets for Siudy who uses her fingers for snapping in the style of the legendary Mario Escudero (whom I saw on stage as a child). She is often flanked by eight striking flamenco dancers who enhance the effect of their bravura stepping with swirling shawls, fans, and poles. But it is for Siudy to stir up the audience to a near frenzy more than once.
Not to be outshone, Abadia and the male dancers contrive some of the most eccentric flips and spins while others are engaged in ritualistic drumming. It may be a bit loud for some, but I found it exhilarating, as I did the impassioned canto singing/narrative in Spanish by Joaquin Gomez. The rhythmic and electronically enhanced score by Diego Franco, Ernesto Briceno and Roberto Castillo gets a little getting used to, but becomes a major and forceful component to this unique and invigorating dance drama.
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Between Two Worlds (Siudy: Entre Mundos) Siudy: Creator/Choreographer/Star Pablo Croce: Creator/Director Cast: Roberto Castillo (El Maio) Brian Abadia (Dowsing) Adolfo Herrera (The Guardian) Joaquin Gomez (Cante) The Flamenco Tribe: Anali Alcantara, Patricia Cinquemani, Claudia Gonzalez, Patricia Morean, Adriana Olivares, Natalia Novela, Daniela Rosi, Samantha Zerpa. Urban Tribe: Brian Abadia, Aquiles Acosta, Omar Amado, Celina Beach, Tomas Ruiz, Melissa Sadler. Scenic Design: Neil Patel Lighting Design: Jeff Croiter & Grant Yeager Projection Design: Jan Hartley Sound Design: Marcelo Anez Flamenco Costume Design: Siudy & Siudy Quintero Urban Costume Design: Veronica Porras &Joey Rolon Original Music: Diego Franco, Ernesto Briceno, Roberto Castillo Additional Music: Pepe Perez, DJ Leo Castillo Additional Choreography: Jesus Orta, Roberto Castillo Running Time: 2 hours including intermission New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street (212) 239 - 6200 Performances: Mondays at 8 PM; Wednesday-Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 4:30 PM & 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets: $79.50 and $59.50 ($126.50 premium) Previews began 03/04/11 Opened 03/20/11 Ends limited engagement 05/22/11 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 03/17/11 |
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Slings & Arrows-the complete set
You don't have to be a Shakespeare aficionado to love all 21 episodes of this hilarious and moving Canadian TV series about a fictional Shakespeare Company
