Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

           “Stories that make you laugh also make everyone more open, more vulnerable in fact, to the truth behind the story being told.” –Company Artistic Director Emily Vartanian.  To this extent, Rascals Cavorting – a new dance show in two acts from General Mischief Dance Theatre, a “playful dance company [which] combines aerial dance with contemporary movement, Body Music and Lindy Hop” – is a modest success.  The evening features five segments (four in the jarringly brief first act; one in the second) that range from humorous and original to dull and disjointed.

             Act One is titled As You Wish, directed by Dawn Hampton, who was recently featured in a PBS documentary.  The first dance is “The Shell Game,” choreographed by Emily Vartanian.  Six dancers enter the playing space and the audience is instructed “Ladies and gentlemen, follow the red hat.”  We see one dancer start with a hat that looks like the rest except that it boasts a red-lined inside.  As rascals Gia Lisa Krahne, Satomi Makida, Emily Vartanian, Troy Barnes, Andrea Steiner and Carlos Taylor Jr. playfully slink about the stage, it’s an amusing, wise launch as you’re called upon to pay attention and engage with what's happening.  The piece is enhanced by the recognizable “Pink Panther Theme,” which perfectly matches the sneaky mischievousness of the dancers.  The only thing that took me out of “Shell Game” was a noticeable lack of energy from some dancers.  They hit the moves but at times their facial expressions and bodies registered as sleepy over actively involved.

             Up next is “Coney Island,” choreographed by Lisa Natoli and featuring the song “Coney Island Baby.”  This piece, performed on aerial silk, “pays tribute to circus performers of a bygone era.”  I was impressed by Natoli’s flexibility as she dangled -- sometimes by just one foot -- from the silk.  Her solid work is not enhanced by a bizarre costume selection – reminding me more of summertime by the pool than a circus – nor the unusual directorial choice to have her stuff a long piece of fabric into her mouth.  The costume and the fabric, unfortunately, allow me to focus on random, unnecessary aspects besides Natoli’s talent and elasticity.

             An old-fashioned, jazzy duet to “Alright, Okay, You Win” is an unengaging entry which bears no relevance to the game-like structures of the first two dances.  Things get back on track with “Duel,” which closes out Act One and is the finest section of the evening.  “Duel” features rascals Andrea Skurr and Emily Vartanian (with John Kruth on guitar and Ely Spivack on banjo).  Similar to the opening number, this piece is fun right off the bat because we recognize the song (“Dueling Banjos”) and it calls for further audience participation: we are handed wiffle balls to throw at the dancers.  This duet on bungee chords is clever and original – a Yankees vs. Red Sox battle – while allowing audience members to get out their aggression.  On this night, 99% of the balls hilariously landed on the poor Red Sox gal.

             I felt like I had been in the theatre for ten minutes before the lights went up for intermission; I recommend cutting it because a break is not necessary.  Act Two is called Leap: A New Dance Story.  This lengthier piece has a salsa vibe that makes the dancers’ urban clothing dissonantly unfitting.  There is again a lack of pizaaz and energy that creeps its way onto the stage about halfway through – it’s not a problem with every dancer, but it’s more alarming when you notice one or two people looking tired or forgetting to smile. 
 
             “Leap” comes up short in terms of cohesive storytelling.  I was unsure as to the relationships between numerous ‘characters.’  There is some awkward dialogue between a male dancer and someone he calls ‘Boo.’  Who is Boo“  His daughter?  I thought so (he gives her a bedtime) but when he goes with her to a performance by a band, it becomes a muddled, confusing ‘party.’

             The show concludes quite adorably as each dancer bows in a different fashion, displaying how each brings his or her individual flair to General Mischief.   Rascals Cavorting could use some clarifying (and some members could use some coffee!) but this company’s mission statement is a clear one that can undoubtedly be seen throughout the evening.