[NEohioPAL]Berko Reviews: GROUNDWORKS, 2 HANDS/CPH, PREVIEWS

[Roy Berko]

GROUNDWORKS DANCE THEATER, , ‘2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS,’
VAUDEVILLE LIFE AND A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


GROUNDWORKS DANCE THEATER EXCITES ONCE AGAIN!

I was once asked by a reader of my reviews, "If you
had only one entertainment event to attend, and wanted
to be assured that you’d experience excellence, where
would you go?" Without any hesitation I answered,
"Groundworks Dance Theater."  Why?  I have never
attended a performance of David Shimotakahara’s dance
troupe that has been wanting.  David has the ability
and foresight to be able to blend audience appeal,
creativity, and constructive vision to insure an
evening of entertainment.  He has assembled a corps of
dancers who buy in to his philosophy and enjoy working
together and creating exciting and involving illusions
for an audience.  The company has been called
intelligent, fresh and invigorating.  It is that, and
more!

Groundworks latest event was performed at St. Peter’s
Church, in downtown Cleveland.  It was part of the
company’s Landmarks Series.  These productions take
place in settings not usually thought of as dance
venues.  Pilgrim Church in the historic Tremont
district, the Icehouse in Akron, and St. Peter’s have
all been enhanced with the company’s works.  This
format brings people to interesting locations in the
community with the possibility of experiencing dance
and music in new places.  

The St. Peter’s program consisted of the wonderful
"Major To Minor" in which a point and counterpoint of
music and dancers were evident.  Performed to five
musical recordings of different moods and paces,
Felise Bagley, Amy Miller, Mark Otloski and
Shimotakahara, all classically trained ballet dancers,
performed contemporary and modern dance movements with
ease.  They danced slowly to "I Wished on the Moon,"
and let loose and had fun with "Peanut Vendor." They
used their bodies, the floor and a banana to captivate
the sold-out audience.

"Lavender" was a musical interlude performed by Gaelyn
Aguilar and Derek Keller.  Though it was sometimes
difficult to hear the words in the vast, highly arched
cathedral, the emotional tone of the music was
involving.

"Ephemeral," precisely choreographed by Shimotakahara,
and perfectly performed by Felise Bagley and Mark
Otloski, was based on music composed and played by
Gustavo Aguilar and Alan Lechusza.   The audience,
seating no more than twenty feet from the dancers
observed powerful bodies performing slow controlled
movements, with little physical contact, doing counter
movements to the discordant sounds.   The audience
appeared awed by the performance and responded to the
conclusion with long and continuous applause.

"Take 2," in its Cleveland premier, is a collaborative
piece between the dance corps and the musicians. 
Developed through ongoing exploration, the piece’s
open structure allows both dancers and musicians to
improvise and react.  The overall effect was a visual
and emotional roller coaster ride which was met with
appreciative audience response.  

If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing Groundworks
Dancetheater perform, do so!  GroundWorks on Tour will
be at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center on November 21 and
22, and at Akron’s Historic First Congregational
Church on February 20, 21 and 22.  They will dance
their spring program at the Cleveland Public Theatre. 
  For information call 216-691-3180 or visit the
company on line at www.groundworksdance.org.

CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE HITS RIGHT KEYS IN ‘2 PIANOS, 4
HANDS’

Alex Berko is 7 years old.  He has had three piano
recitals and has been asked to participate in a piano
competitions.  He has a bright future, right?   Well,
after watching Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt’s ‘2
PIANOS 4 HANDS,’ Alex, and anyone else who has
aspirations of being a top-flight pianist might have
different thoughts.  And anyone who has ever taken
piano lessons, or knows anyone who has, will be
carried back to those glorious (?) days.

Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt are the subjects of
their own play.  They, in their own words, are "the
best pianists in the neighborhood." Neither of them
started out that way.    Much like Alex, as children
they became fascinated with the piano, an instrument
for which they apparently had great talent.  As we
follow their lives and careers in music we experience
their musical journey from adolescence to adulthood. 
A journey that is filled with laughter, euphoria, pain
and tears.

The CPH cast is composed of Mark Anders portraying
Ted, and Carl Danielsen as Richard.   The two are both
excellent pianists and actors.  Without such a
talented cast, the play wouldn’t work.  We need to see
the two actually playing, mature through the years. 
Taped music just wouldn’t have done it.  The playing
of less accomplished performers also wouldn’t have
worked.  This is not a play that will be done by
amateur groups.  The whole task would be too daunting.

The audience is confronted by two grand pianos, nicely
nestled in a room with plush royal blue walls and
busts of Bach and Beethoven.    Through flashbacks, we
watch as the two are confronted by parents, teachers,
professors and numerous others who invaded their real
and musical lives.  The two even musically and
psychologically directly wrestle with each other at
piano competitions and during their training.

The production is wonderful.  It hits all the right
keys.  It is filled with great music, covering
everything from Bach to Billy Joel, from Beethoven to
jazz.  The script, which centers around the music,
allows us to experience the fun and pain of trying to
achieve in the world of music.  

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: If you love classical music, if you
appreciate fine performances, and are willing to
expand your definition of what theatre should be,
you’ll love ‘2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS."   It runs through
October 19 in the Bolton Theatre of the Cleveland Play
House, 8500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland.

For tickets to CPH productions call 216-795-7000, Ext.
4

‘FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE: THE MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF A
VAUDEVILLE LIFE’ AT THE PLAY HOUSE CLUB

Gregg Violand, Maryann Nagle, Kevin Joseph Kelly,
Charles Eversole...some of the Cleveland area’s best
performers headline the Cleveland Play House Club’s
‘FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE: THE MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF A
VAUDEVILLE LIFE.  The show will be presented on four
Friday and Saturday nights from October 24 through
November 15.

This isn’t a wake.  It’s a party.  It honors
"Gentleman Mike," a legendary star of American
vaudeville.  With his passing, a great theatrical
light has faded to black.    Some of his fellow
troupers decided to do a special performance
celebrating his colorful career.  You are invited to
attend.

To obtain your $20 admission, call 216-795-7000.


‘THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME’

Featuring the likes of the Cleveland Repertory
Project, the Tom and Susana Evert Dance Theatre,
actress Renee Matthews-Jackson, dance soloist Jenita
McGowan, Brian Murphy of Ohio Ballet, storyteller Jim
Nagle, the Gino Raffaelli String Quartet, poet Daniel
Thompson, and actor Debra Wiener, ‘THERE’S NO PLACE
LIKE HOME’ will be presented on Sunday October 19 at 3
PM at Cuyahoga Community College’s Metropolitan Campus
Theatre.  This is a benefit concert for Esteem,
Incorporated which works to benefit homeless women and
children by enhancing their esteem and motivation. 
Tax deductible tickets range in price from $20 to $50.
 For information call 216-382-1465, mailbox 2.



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