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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
‘Aluminum Show’ keeps ideas flowing
It was nice weather for ducts on Tuesday night, March 9, when “The Aluminum Show” opened a two-week stand at the Victoria Theatre.
Make that the Reynolds Wrap Theatre, which is what the foil and tubing-draped place looked like before the start of 75 imaginative, playful, otherworldly, eye-catching and odd minutes without intermission.
The inventive and original touring production from Israel showed its mettle quickly when two adult-sized tubes spawned a baby inchworm that crossed the stage like a Slinky with an attitude before taking a shine to a metallic puppet show with songs including “Staying Alive,” Led Zeppelin”s “Black Dog” and a slightly tweaked “Ghost Dusters,” with props to match.
A young spectator toward the front of the theater could be heard giggling gleefully at the sight of the little worm, which proved contagious.
The cast was made up of six agile and busy dancers — each one a silver metalist with a brassy personality — and a handful of assistant allies in alloy.
They manipulated or wore sections of the segmented flexible piping, sometimes humanizing it, sometimes transforming it into creatures from other worlds. There were dancing beings with wide leggings and a 20-foot-tall puppet that took a stroll up the aisle of the theater thanks to teamwork by several performers.
Members of the audience weren’t permitted to just sit back like lead weights . They were drawn into the act when long sections of ducting or giant inflated metallic pillows were extended or thrown into the crowd, at one point spanning the main floor.
As quickly as you can say Jiffy Pop, pieces of the shiny stuff were also blown into the air overhead, filtering down through the lights that were a key component of the production.
Most of the sights and antics were obvious, but small touches gleamed and glimmered if you looked closely — for example, the way one of the dancers tilted her head gently to the side without missing a stride when the big puppet’s hand touched it.
A couple of the bits began to tarnish with repetition or familiarity. For the most part, new ideas kept flowing down the pipeline.
All in all, “The Aluminum Show” was a lively and quick moving conduit that should leave people of many ages smiling. It will continue through March 21 at the Victoria, First and Main streets. Ticket information is available at (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com.
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TweetHuman Race gets to third base
The last time The Human Race Theatre Company put on a baseball play, it included naked ballplayers taking showers.
That was Richard Greenberg’s “Take Me Out” in 2007.
“Rounding Third,” which opens Friday, March 12, at The Loft, after a final preview performance on Thursday, May 11, isn’t like that, although it does contain some salty language.
As one critic put it, “Rounding Third” “is ‘The Odd Couple’ with a baseball theme.”
The comedy by Richard Dresser has been around for a few years, but the production in the Eichelberger Loft Series marks the local premiere.
Actor-director Tim Lile, who’s an auctioneer for his day job, is staging the two-man play about two very different dads and youth baseball coaches.
One is from the win-at-all-costs school of coaching. The other believes everyone deserves a trophy for participating.
Just picture them trying to run the same team together.
Jake Lockwood plays head coach Don, whose collar is blue, chosen drink is beer and vehicle is a full-size van. His son is the team’s star.
Brian McKnight plays Michael, who’s Canadian, knows more about curling than about baseball, is nurturing, undemanding and the father of a nice kid whose athletic skill is either dormant or nonexistent. He wears a suit and likes latte.
Both men evolve as the season progresses, which is not to say that Michael ever figures out how to get all of the equipment back into the bag. How they change and how that changes the dynamics between them is half of the appeal.
At right: Brian McKnight (top) and Jake Lockwood as dads and coaches
“ ‘Rounding Third’ isn’t very well known, but the combination of the subject matter and the talents of these two performers should make this a special treat for Dayton audiences,” Lile said.
The primary challenge for him, as a director, “has to do with the fact that it is a two-person play and the need to vary the flow and energy.”
The play’s run will include a special “Saturday Baseball Matinee” at 2 p.m. March 27, featuring special incentives for baseball and softball coaches, umpires, players (13 and over) and fans who wear team jerseys or other gear.
how to go
What: The Human Race Theatre presents “Rounding Third”
When: March 12-28.
Where: The Loft, 126 N. Main St., Dayton
Tickets: $15.50-$36.
Call: (937) 228-3630, toll free at (888) 228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com
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