Stomp - Off-Broadway

Not so much a story as it is a situation, Stomp takes place in a fenced-in, junkyard environment where custodial-type workers in coveralls and tank tops appear one-by-one onstage, all sweeping the bare stage with push brooms. Slowly, all those dissonant sweeping noises lock into a syncopated rhythm, as the cast proceeds to milk funky-funky beats from a number of workaday objects: Zippo lighters, industrial-sized garbage cans, newspapers, plastic jugs, hubcaps, running water, even the kitchen sink! There’s no traditional storyline, per se, except maybe a running gag involving a character who marches to the beat of a different drum, literally. Instead, Stomp works its narrative magic with profound sounds, and the inspired sight of everyday Joes and Joannes becoming artistes with the most boring ol’ materials.

Should I See It?

What Is Stomp Like?
Not big on speaking real words, the cast limits all communication between each other and the audience to grunts, nods and facial expressions. (The closest they come to using a formal language is by shouting, “Yeah!”) In addition to its innovative drumming, the show works in some very funny sight gags. The charming cast also knows how to work a crowd, often poking fun at latecomers and front-row attendees, then helping the entire room embrace their latent percussive tendencies. Amazingly, that alone adds up to a swift, intermission-less, 105-minute show. But keep in mind: Toward the end, the performers bang on bigger and bigger objects, and the noise level gets louder and louder. Those with sensitive ears and heads may want to pack earplugs and Advil, just in case.

Is Stomp Good for Kids?
Yes, yes, yes indeed. The only moment when this super-engaging show even hints at something possibly inappropriate comes after four kitchen sinks filled with water are used in a funky jam. (The male players empty the sinks, you see, and the running water looks as if they’re relieving themselves.) Ultimately, this is totally harmless, and fully-loaded with the kind of tiny yet world-rocking discoveries that kids never forget. (“You mean that trash-can lid is a musical instrument!?!”) Just don’t be surprised when you get home and the kitchen gets raided by aspiring tin-can composers.