LA Weekly Review of STATIONS – A Los Angeles Holiday Story
“In this modern dance narrative, director Lili Fuller offers us a holly jolly, hip-hoppy Christmas. And one thing's for sure: Your granny's creaky Nutcracker this ain't. Told entirely through balletic jazz, accompanied by Parmer Fuller's jazzy score, Stations tells a kaleidoscopic tale of holiday spirit, focused through the prism of the current dreary economy. A young husband (Andrew Dits) and his pregnant bride (Juliana Tyson) leave a gift for a kindly homeless woman (Diana Vaden) -- an act of good karma that garners future benefits when they find themselves out of work and are forced to make their home in a bus shelter. The amiable young cast assay balletic and breakdance-style moves with energy and passion: Vaden offers a beautifully jazzy turn as the homeless woman, while Nathan Parsons delights as an acrobatically shambolic drunken Santa… The work's artful mix of tight choreography and energetic performances makes for a genial, upbeat holiday mood. The finale tableau, an image of strangers coming together to help the homeless parents at their bus-barn manger, offers a powerful, Nativity-like image.”
-- Paul Birchall, LA Weekly
Tolucan Times Review of NeverWonderLand
“Never Wonderland,” a thrilling new show from Boom Kat Dance Theatre, creatively brings to life turn‐of‐the‐century England in a story about the innocence and threat of childhood. Emotionally charged and high energy, the show starts with a bang and never lets go.
Beginning with the intriguing concept that Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland are brother and sister, the production weaves the two stories together to explore the nature of childhood, imagination and growing up. The show is a study of dualities: innocence/threat, fantasy/reality and childhood/adulthood.
Similar in concept to the dance troupe Pilobolus, Boom Kat Dance Theatre explores movement and meaning, expressively mixing together dance, acting and athleticism to communicate and reveal a story and emotionally bring it to life. Acting as a unit, they organically create a fantasy world that wonderfully blends dance and production design.
The dancers possess enormous skill and ability, both in creating character and exploring movement. Leading the pack is Donald Webber, Jr. as Captain James, charismatic, fiery and threatening. Juliana Tyson brings stylish attitude to the Queen of Hearts. Lili Fuller’s Alice is full of innocence, wonderment and strength. Collaboratively the group also choreographs highly visual, rhythmic and stylish movements that often resemble striking silent movie images.
Production work is also first rate, from Kate Thomas’ elegant set design, Griffin Behm’s mood enhancing lighting and Alicia Papanek, Ryan Bolton and Kimi Lewis’ colorful costumes. A wonderfully visceral show for audiences of all ages, “Never Wonderland” exists on a high fantasy plane.
-- Mary Mallory, Tolucan TImes
L.A. Times Review of a Workshop Production of Chalet Mirabel-The Best Education in the World – A New Musical
Critics' Picks - Stage
" 'Glorious health, rigorous discipline and the best education in the world.' So runs the motto of Mirabel, presented by Ensemble Theatre Company at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. Provisionally speaking, Parmer Fuller and Narcissa Vanderlip's ambitious musical about the Swiss boarding school of their youth provides a showcase for some vivid young talents. The Maury Yeston-flavored title number introduces staff, students and parents at the start of an extremely eventful 1956, pocket histories and internecine relationships converging 'in the great tradition of our hero, William Tell.' The sprawling plot essentially follows headmaster's widow Anne-Marie Bovay (Catherine Farrington), who aims to balance discipline with compassion while keeping the school open, and movie star's daughter Serena Shaw (Lili Fuller), who embodies separation anxiety and peer identification. Director-choreographer Larry Sousa stages this labor of love with typical flair, designing an inventive white-on-white set and some beautiful projections. Viva Weber and Jessica Wheeler are funny as, respectively, upper- and lower-form teachers. Gabriel Oliva infuses various cameos with aplomb. The 10 young actors who play the students are charming, with Brian Jordan Alvarez a find as rebellious Nick. Songwriter Fuller achieves fizz in songs like 'The Mirabel Routine,' Weber and Wheeler's cat-fighting 'A Tale of Two Sillies' and the rap-tempo 'Happy Birthday Yodel'. Chalet Mirabel gets an A for effort, a promising workshop more than a finished property."
-- David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times
“In this modern dance narrative, director Lili Fuller offers us a holly jolly, hip-hoppy Christmas. And one thing's for sure: Your granny's creaky Nutcracker this ain't. Told entirely through balletic jazz, accompanied by Parmer Fuller's jazzy score, Stations tells a kaleidoscopic tale of holiday spirit, focused through the prism of the current dreary economy. A young husband (Andrew Dits) and his pregnant bride (Juliana Tyson) leave a gift for a kindly homeless woman (Diana Vaden) -- an act of good karma that garners future benefits when they find themselves out of work and are forced to make their home in a bus shelter. The amiable young cast assay balletic and breakdance-style moves with energy and passion: Vaden offers a beautifully jazzy turn as the homeless woman, while Nathan Parsons delights as an acrobatically shambolic drunken Santa… The work's artful mix of tight choreography and energetic performances makes for a genial, upbeat holiday mood. The finale tableau, an image of strangers coming together to help the homeless parents at their bus-barn manger, offers a powerful, Nativity-like image.”
-- Paul Birchall, LA Weekly
Tolucan Times Review of NeverWonderLand
“Never Wonderland,” a thrilling new show from Boom Kat Dance Theatre, creatively brings to life turn‐of‐the‐century England in a story about the innocence and threat of childhood. Emotionally charged and high energy, the show starts with a bang and never lets go.
Beginning with the intriguing concept that Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland are brother and sister, the production weaves the two stories together to explore the nature of childhood, imagination and growing up. The show is a study of dualities: innocence/threat, fantasy/reality and childhood/adulthood.
Similar in concept to the dance troupe Pilobolus, Boom Kat Dance Theatre explores movement and meaning, expressively mixing together dance, acting and athleticism to communicate and reveal a story and emotionally bring it to life. Acting as a unit, they organically create a fantasy world that wonderfully blends dance and production design.
The dancers possess enormous skill and ability, both in creating character and exploring movement. Leading the pack is Donald Webber, Jr. as Captain James, charismatic, fiery and threatening. Juliana Tyson brings stylish attitude to the Queen of Hearts. Lili Fuller’s Alice is full of innocence, wonderment and strength. Collaboratively the group also choreographs highly visual, rhythmic and stylish movements that often resemble striking silent movie images.
Production work is also first rate, from Kate Thomas’ elegant set design, Griffin Behm’s mood enhancing lighting and Alicia Papanek, Ryan Bolton and Kimi Lewis’ colorful costumes. A wonderfully visceral show for audiences of all ages, “Never Wonderland” exists on a high fantasy plane.
-- Mary Mallory, Tolucan TImes
L.A. Times Review of a Workshop Production of Chalet Mirabel-The Best Education in the World – A New Musical
Critics' Picks - Stage
" 'Glorious health, rigorous discipline and the best education in the world.' So runs the motto of Mirabel, presented by Ensemble Theatre Company at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. Provisionally speaking, Parmer Fuller and Narcissa Vanderlip's ambitious musical about the Swiss boarding school of their youth provides a showcase for some vivid young talents. The Maury Yeston-flavored title number introduces staff, students and parents at the start of an extremely eventful 1956, pocket histories and internecine relationships converging 'in the great tradition of our hero, William Tell.' The sprawling plot essentially follows headmaster's widow Anne-Marie Bovay (Catherine Farrington), who aims to balance discipline with compassion while keeping the school open, and movie star's daughter Serena Shaw (Lili Fuller), who embodies separation anxiety and peer identification. Director-choreographer Larry Sousa stages this labor of love with typical flair, designing an inventive white-on-white set and some beautiful projections. Viva Weber and Jessica Wheeler are funny as, respectively, upper- and lower-form teachers. Gabriel Oliva infuses various cameos with aplomb. The 10 young actors who play the students are charming, with Brian Jordan Alvarez a find as rebellious Nick. Songwriter Fuller achieves fizz in songs like 'The Mirabel Routine,' Weber and Wheeler's cat-fighting 'A Tale of Two Sillies' and the rap-tempo 'Happy Birthday Yodel'. Chalet Mirabel gets an A for effort, a promising workshop more than a finished property."
-- David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times
