THEATER

Wharton's 'Blast' brought much-needed smile
By Lamont E. Clegg

"Blast!" had the potential to bore but didn't.

Fall in Midwest university towns often means Saturday afternoons in football stadiums rooting on favorite teams. Although dismissed by many people in those stadiums, a big part of the rooting ritual belongs to the men and women sitting in the stands playing their brass and percussion instruments underscoring the game’s ups and downs. With that in mind, it was only appropriate that Wharton Center for Performing Arts opened its 2001-2002 season with a show born of that tradition. "Blast!" with its drums, brass, flags, and sabers, marched into East Lansing and when audience members left Wharton’s Great Hall, they definitely knew they had been there.

Respectful of current national sensibilities, the show began with a moving presentation of "America, The Beautiful." If it were not for the obviously sour notes played during the number, it would have been the ideal beginning to the show. However, even with a few of the notes awry, it still had its desired effect, and it was the right way to start the Wharton season.

"Blast!" is not intended to be thought-provoking theater. "Blast!" (note the exclamation mark in its title) is a full frontal assault on our visceral senses. Instead of our minds, the show is designed to stimulate our visual and aural senses. Oddly enough, after the beginning, I did find myself thinking quite heavily about the show and theater’s ability to unite an audience.

Boasting 60 brass, percussion, and visual performers, "Blast!" is appropriately named. There is very little that is subtle about the show. From the familiar marching band songs and songs never associated with that style of music, to the spinning and flying flags, sabers and other implements, to the highly stylized costumes, to the explosive lighting, it grabbed the audience and did not let go until the end. Granted, some audience members found being grabbed more than they had anticipated, but those members who let themselves were taken on quite a journey.

Somehow finding a way to blend naturally traditional marching band numbers, classical, jazz, Broadway, pop, techno, blues, folk, rock ‘n’ roll, and more, the show reminded me of how rich a musical heritage we have. If someone had told me I’d be reminded of that by what began as a drum corps, I would not have believed it. But, "Blast!" did just that.

Admittedly, a piece of theater born out of a drum corps has the potential to bore. In the wrong hands, it could become a bad half-time show. But under the helm of artistic director James Mason, that familiar genre is moved to the next generation. He deserves credit for the look, pace, and flow of the production. He understood just when the show needed some vocals to enhance the instruments; he added spectacle just at the right time (the dueling drummers had to be seen to be truly appreciated); and he knew when to bring to tone down just a bit so the audience could catch its collective breath.

However, to me the best part of the show was that about halfway through the performance I noticed something: I had a big smile on my face. Not feeling in the mood to smile a lot lately, "Blast!" provided the perfect medicine for an ailing soul.