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Theater

'Basic North' pulls audience in many directions

By Ed Huyck Fri., Jul. 6 2012 at 8:08 AM

Categories: Dance, Theater

Photo by Bill Cameron

Related stories:
Live Action Set explores honesty and technique in 'Basic North'

Live Action Set returns with a sometimes thrilling, sometimes confounding, but almost always engaging piece that presents a trio of interlocking pieces that, true to the subtitle of the show, travel in "three directions."

In a nutshell, "Without Wax" takes a sextet of everyday people through their daily routine, using a deadpan delivery and stillness to present the disconnect that exists in modern-day life. "Start Select" sets dances to music drawn from seven games of the 8-bit era, while "Quiet Heart" pits Live Action Set artistic director Noah Bremer against a series of everyday objects in a string of absurd situations.

The pieces intertwine throughout the show, sometimes sharing the stage as one ends, while the other begins; sometimes acting as a back-row commentary on what's happening up front.

Photo by Bill Cameron

"Without Wax" has an intriguing concept and excellent performances from the actors, but there is tedium built into the concept. These characters seem to be lost within their own worlds, never directly addressing each other, more obsessed with objects and gadgets than anything around them. It can be really funny stuff, but the moments do drag on quite a while after the point has been made. The finale, as two of them finally find a halting connection, almost makes up for all that.

Bremer is a gifted physical performer and his moments during "Quiet Heart" are a real delight, whether its battles with a microphone stand or a vacuum cleaner or the exploration of the unexpected sounds of his body from a stethescope. There seems to be a bit of Blue Man DNA in all of this, but that could come as much from Bremer's physical aspect (tall and bald) than what he is doing.

Photo by Bill Cameron

The trio in "Start Select" do the evening's most engaging work, taking pieces of music that are burned into the brains of many video-game playing people in the audience. These selections offer some interesting challenges, as they were often not intended as to be full songs, but as repeating loops that would play in the background for different parts of the game. That doesn't mean the pieces, choreographed by Emily King and Ryan Underbakke, don't move or develop, it's just that they often move forward in subtle variations.

Which brings up my favorite part of the night. Using the main theme from Metroid, two dancers slide close together, intertwining themselves into shapes that would fit into the landscape of the game. That Metroid's two-pronged theme has an eerie vibe to it only intensifies the feeling.

Basic North is definitely worth checking out for fans of dance, movement, or off-the-beaten-path theater. Move quick, however. It only runs through this weekend.

IF YOU GO:

Basic North: a performance in three directions

Through Sunday July 8

Southern Theater
1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis

8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday

For tickets and info, call 612.340.0155 or visit online