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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style><span style="color:windowtext">Doug Elkins and Friends delight in THE SOUND OF
MUSIC take-off</span></b><span style="color:windowtext"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Roy Berko</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Member, Dance Critics Association)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">As evidenced by FRΔULEIN
MARIA, his take-off of the musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which was recently
presented by DanceCleveland at the Hanna Theatre, Doug Elkins may well be the
crown prince of comic dance choreography. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"><br>
THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a stage musical based loosely on the von Trapp family who
escaped Europe at the onset of World War II after being harassed by the Nazis.
The musical is inspirational, fairly serious and contains Rogers and
Hammersteins usual social message of what it means to be part of a community.<br style>
<br style>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">Elkins in noted for
deconstructing and then reconstructing concepts.<span style> </span>THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a perfect vehicle for him, for, in
fact, the musical is about the various phases of construction.<span style> </span>Maria, flees to the abbey in order to
escape from her life and build a new persona.<span style> </span>When she comes to the von Trapp she takes on a dysfunctional
family, deconstructs it and then makes it anew.<span style> </span>The same process happens when the family flees Austria to
come to America.<br>
<br>
Youve seen the movie?<span style> </span>Youve seen
the play?<span style> </span>Now, picture the
goings-on as envisioned by Elkins.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">Lets start at the very
beginning, a very good place to start.<span style>
</span>You think attending a dance concert is a passive experience? Not in
Elkins creative hands. You will--yes, you will--take part by singing
Do-Re-Mi, in three-part harmony.<br>
<br>
The dance, itself, is introduced by Richard Rogers. Well, its a spotlight on
the center of the stage which represents the song writer and is supplemented by
a tape recording of the great man, who probably rolls over in his grave every
time Elkins and Friends does a take off on his beloved musical score.<br>
<br>
Since the story takes place in the hills of Austria, we need hills. These are
created by dancers encased in and waving green and tan strips of fabric. A
snow-capped mountain is formed by Elkins (who not only choreographed the
performance but dances in it as well) leaping off the stage, snatching a white
shawl off the shoulders of a woman in the front row, running back onto the
stage and tossing it on top of one of the hills. <span style> </span>Voila, snow! This is done while hip hop, classical ballet,
contemporary and modern dance, martial arts moves and improvised maneuvers are
exploding on stage to the entire score from the musical.<br>
<br>
Then there is Maria, the singing nun turned nanny, turned dressmaker, turned
mommy, who is simultaneously performed by three dancers, one a male, of course,
in a dress.<br>
<br>
Elkins is not your usual run of the mill choreographer. He started his
performance life as a B-boy, a break dancer who toured the world with groups
like the New York Dance Express and Magnificent Force. And, with that
background, as you watch the madcap antics on stage, you will surely note that
his work is inventive, eccentric and compelling.<br>
<br>
Even Elkins choice of dancers is not traditional. While most dance companies
go for thin woman and muscle toned males, Elkins favors sturdy, often fleshy
men and women, with lots of power. There's nothing exotic, about this company,
but, they are talented. And, as can be expected, their backgrounds dont fit
the usual company description. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">Even the curtain call was
fun.<br>
<br>
<i>Capsule judgement: . FRΔULEIN MARIA was an evening of dance not to be
missed! Too bad Elkins has announced that this is the last go around for this
program.<span style> </span>No, no, <span style> </span>say it isnt so. Lets hope that Pam
Young, Executive Director of DanceCleveland, can convince Elkins to change his
mind and bring the production back again and again.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br><span style="color:windowtext"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff">Roy
Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on <a href="http://coolcleveland.com">coolcleveland.com</a>,<a href="http://neohiopal.com">neohiopal.com</a>,<a href="http://artsamerica.org">artsamerica.org</a>,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff">and
<a href="http://broadwaynews.com">broadwaynews.com</a>.<span style> </span>His blog is:
<a href="http://www.royberko.info">www.royberko.info</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Console";color:#0071ff"><br></span></p>
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