If you have never been to a Fringe festival, you are missing out! Fringe and Fringe-style festivals happen around the globe in a variety of cities and feature some of the most innovative, entertaining, and wiley performing artists imaginable. DrumatiX at the Hollywood Fringe filled the Broadwater mainstage theater with funk-based grooves and playful physical comedy this past weekend. Noa Barankin created this a capella tap and drumming show called Rhythm Delivered as a joyous and infectious dance treat for the Fringe goers. The audience loved it and the closing show delivered exactly what was promised in the show advertisements. It was high energy, dynamic, driving, skilled, and most importantly fun!
With only 15 minutes to transition into the space, Fringe performances have to be organized and prepared to load in and set up their show in record time. Rhythm Delivered was tightly crafted in this aspect, using the whole team to set the stage with the needed tools, instruments, and props to be utilized throughout the show. Five gallon buckets on stands, cardboard boxes, cleaning supplies and standing drums made for a great landscape to this STOMP-like show. The cast of 6 dancers (Noa Barankin, Dani Behrens, James Larose, Tara Lauritsen, Dylan Lohmeyer, and Carina York), dressed in black and yellow, evoking an urban feel to match the industrial props and scenic styling.
The dancers’ tap dance skill was clear from the beginning, as they heel dropped, scuffed, and smacked a back beat to which they added colorful flare such as pickups, wings, and speedy footwork. With no additional audio accompaniment, these dancer-musicians were able to keep time and drive the energy and flow of the show for the duration of the 50 minute performance. Acting as each others’ accompaniment at times, the dancers modeled strong musicianship in alternating solos in a friendly tap battle fashion. There were plenty of opportunities for individual performers to showcase their unique skills whether it was tricky footwork, toe stands, splits, or multiple turns. The spirit of a playful tap battle and a healthy dose of competition added to the character development and humor.
Barankin’s ability to devise interesting scenarios and setups in this physical theater world of sounds and rhythms was tremendous. Creative situations involving a casio mini-keyboard, iphone looping software, bubble wrap, and bananas allowed for performers to enter and exit the space, discover the contents of different boxes and buckets and showcase new ways of making music and fun with the unexpected body percussion, physical comedy, Boomwhackers, drum sticks, and spray bottles. It made me wonder what they could dream up next! It seems everything and anything could be a source of music and inspiration for Barankin and her company. Barankin’s fluency with both tap dance and drumming was evident from her rock solid footwork and her light hold and precise agility with drumsticks. Other dancers seemed to have evident strengths as either musicians or tappers, but her ability to switch between the worlds was particularly fun to watch.
The use of physical theater and clowning offered the transitional glue to the show as performers entered to unpack and “discover” a new item or instrument to work with. Hearkening back to Blue Man Group or even early physical dance comedians like Donald O’Connor, this is perhaps the aspect of the show that could use continued development and finesse to meet the outstanding excellence demonstrated in the dance and rhythm work. But, this change of flavor served its function as interstitial material that kept the audience interested while allowing the performers to change shoes (from taps to black boots or back again) and take a much needed breather. I, of course, was partial to the bit in which Tara Lauritsen, finding two discarded bananas on stage, offered me one to eat which I accepted and enjoyed with relish in true Fringe fashion.
Fringe audiences are best when they get involved, and DrumatiX did a great job at getting the audience clapping and stamping out an easy three part counterpoint rhythm that truly made everyone feel like they were part of the show. A great experience for audiences of all ages, DrumatiX is an excellent choice for families to enjoy a little theater and rhythm on a Saturday afternoon. Not all Fringe shows are quite so family friendly (Fringe is notorious for bawdy content), so it is nice to offer something of excellent quality that can appeal to everyone. In short DrumatiX is a guaranteed good time!
Photos by author Beth Megill.
LA Dance Review 
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