Fusebox Artist on Fusebox Artist

Allison Orr shares her favorite moments from Big Dance Theater’s Comme Toujours Here I Stand-

Just a few of my favorite moments from tonight’s performance of Big Dance Theater’s Comme Toujours Here I Stand

- Just how well done it all was. Meaning nothing was not thought about. Well rehearsed- of course well performed (which I have to say I expected). But my choreographer’s eye was so pleased by how it all was just tied up so right. No loose hanging bits that didn’t fit or seemed extraneous. Just really really thought about and edited. Thank you Big Dance folks. Thank you again.

- One of the last moment’s when the main character, played by Molly Hickock, and Ryutaro Mishima sat on stage in that beautiful light up against the back wall. Seeing the space big and clear and really appreciating the simplicity of that almost ending moment. I noticed how everything that came before made that moment so enjoyable, and I liked that.

- Every time Chris Giarmo sang. Especially the moment up against the red/pink light. I could listen to him sing all night

- Seeing props and costumes and screens get used over and over again in entirely different ways. Being surprised by those moments of seeing some object I had just seen as one thing transform into something else. The costumes were luscious!

- Seeing the video operator, stage manager, and stage hand incorporated into the story telling. Watch them get every cue perfect so that the video or props or costumes or lights lined up just like they were supposed to.

- The light on Kourtney (I think this was played by Kourtney) when she was modeling for the live drawing class that was recreated on stage. She sat there just right.

- The way it all started. Or didn’t start. How the woman if front of me was talking through the entrance of the performers. How she didn’t notice it had started when it had. How then later the titles came and it really started. How the start snuck up on me and how I felt like I was really in a movie. The opening title scene was flawless- the lighting was breathtaking.

- The use of the microphone and all of the sound design. Again- just all of that being right on.

- How all of the performers seemed to know exactly what they were doing every moment. Never doubting and completely clear. I imagined stories about how they figured it all out in rehearsal. How they came up with each clever moment. I can’t imagine how many hours it all took. But I bet they had a lot of fun- a whole lot of fun. I sure did watching it all. Merci beaucoup Big Dance!