'Blast!' excites audience

"Blast!" begins with a lone drummer under a single spotlight on a dark stage. It appears unassuming and simple. But that one drummer becomes two, then three, and suddenly the stage is leaping with the most talented, vibrant musicians ever to perform in Bloomington.\nThe performance deserves every ounce of the praise it received for its London premiere, and then some. Bloomington's audience Friday evening gave the performers three standing ovations, two in the middle of the performance, and the show deserved even more applause than that.\n"Blast!" radiated energy from beginning to end. The opening number -- "Bolero" -- included trumpeters who walked across the stage on their knees and drummers who established a personal connection with the audience through their facial expressions. Not to be outdone, other musicians leapt across the stage and played catch with their instruments, all while playing a flawless musical number.\nIt was a fitting first piece for a wonderful show, which brought the audience to its feet more than once.\n"Battery Battle," a collection of drum pieces, earned a standing ovation right in the middle of Act 1. It was more than deserved. The piece featured dueling drummers, and one who played the drums with -- believe it or not -- his nose. A string of drummers performed under the glow of a blacklight, until drum sets descended from the ceiling. The musicians capped the breathtaking performance under a strobe light; it was the show's best and most energetic number.\nThe music of "Blast!" offered something for everyone. "Everybody Loves the Blues" was reminiscent of the best in blues clubs, while pieces such as "Lemontech" were more contemporary. The performance wasn't devoid of show tunes. "Gee Office Krupke" of West Side Story was a hilarious, slapstick number that left the audience rolling in its seats. Other pieces had a more bohemian, tribal tone.\n"Blast!" is expertly staged, which was most apparent in the closing number of the first act, "Medea." The music's angry, warlike chords complemented stark lighting and cold, metal props. \nThe geometric shapes and poles appeared as sharp lines on the stage, creating a powerful and moving image of war.\nEvery single aspect of "Blast!" was in harmony. The "visual ensemble" -- the equivalent of a guard in a marching band -- wore vibrant colors to match the mood of each piece. "Lemontech" featured bright yellow flags, costumes, sabers and poles, a celebration of a single color. Other pieces, including "Color Wheel" and "Color Wheel Too" displayed and celebrated every color in the rainbow, giving each its own unique personality.\n"Blast!" also had more quiet moments, with muted colors and a more somber atmosphere.\n"Loss," for example, was a quiet piece. It featured a trumpeter suspended in air by wires, one soul hovering above a somber stage of musicians. The image was more than effective. And "Simple Gifts/Appalachian Spring" featured bell solos and a singing cast; in this piece, something as simple as a synchronized arm gesture became a beautiful art form.\nThe most striking aspect of the performance is that it wasn't confined to a stage, but rather took place at times in the very midst of the audience. One piece featured a trombone player who rode around the audience on a unicycle, and the visual ensemble waved flags over the audience members' heads during another song.\nPerformers wandered throughout the auditorium during intermission, playing on trash cans and stools, and exited to the lobby to shake hands with the audience after the performance. This close interaction with the audience was unique and engaging and drew guests into the performance in a way no other Auditorium show ever has.\nThe one flaw of "Blast!" was that it came to IU for only one weekend; this reviewer, for one, would love to see it again and again. The show led the audience through a wide range of emotion, color and music, and was truly an engaging and exciting show.\nThe cast might soon be headed for Broadway, where "Blast!" is sure to impress even the most theater-savvy. With so much talent and such a unique premise, it is certain to be a phenomenon.