Theater Review -- Tom Titus

Watching “Blast!” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center is akin

to enjoying a humongous halftime show at a football game -- and caring

less whether the teams ever show up to start the second half.

There may not be 76 trombones in this 60-performer extravaganza, but

it certainly sounds like there could be. And when the drummers square off

for the electrifying “Battery Battle” near the close of the first act,

all Hades seems to break loose.

“Blast!” is precisely that, an instrumental spectacular with the

emphasis on brass and percussion. Born in the cornfields of Indiana in

1984, the concept has evolved into a tribute to outdoor pageantry

featuring some of the finest young practitioners of that art.

And “young” is the operative word here -- only two of the 60

performers have celebrated their 30th birthdays. The physical and musical

demands of the production require that the performers be highly trained

athletes who also are world-class musicians. Added to this talent and

agility are seemingly limitless energy and a superb sense of showmanship.

The company’s repertoire ranges from the classics, such as the opening

“Bolero,” to the contemporary, funky version of “Gee Officer Krupke” from

“West Side Story.” The only element missing is a musical tribute to

Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man,” to which the show owes an

inspirational debt.

The show’s personal professor Harold Hill, founder and artistic

director James Mason, and acting director/co-choreographer George Pinney

have assembled an entertainment package that resembles and rivals the

innovative “Stomp,” only with real instruments rather than garbage can

lids and such.

There are 61 brass instruments, 234 from the percussion section and

some 265 visual ensemble props in the menagerie. Even the lowly accordion

makes a cameo appearance.

The aforementioned “Battery Battle” is the most rousing and exciting

number of the show, with dueling drummers Nicholas Angelis and Aaron

Guidry initially squaring off for a “Deliverance”-style donnybrook.

Eventually the entire drum section joins in for a tremendous percussive

showdown.

Australia takes center stage in a piece called “Tangerinamadidge,”

which transports the audience to the outback. Aaron Copland’s “Simple

Gifts” and “Appalachian Spring” receive high honors in the company’s

100th birthday salute to the composer.

Everyday objects such as folding chairs become artistic elements (one

even descends from the ceiling with trumpeter extraordinaire Frank

Sullivan aboard). The remarkable visual ensemble turns the practice of

flag-waving into an art form, performing with banners color-coordinated

to their own costumes and furiously throwing and catching them as well as

batons, light sticks, sabers and other instantly animated objects.

The haunting “Malaguena,” which closes the program, is colored almost

wholly in red, resembling the pageantry of a bullfight in Madrid. After

receiving a standing ovation, members of the troupe duck into the lobby,

still brimming over with enthusiasm, to greet the departing audience.

You’ll have a blast at “Blast!,” which enjoys a slightly longer

engagement than other touring shows at the Center, playing through

Sunday. You’ll probably be more exhausted at the end of the two-hour show

from cheering and clapping than these indefatigable young Energizer

bunnies.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

* What: “Blast!”

* Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

* When: Closing performances 8 p.m. today and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m.

Saturday, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday

* Cost: $22-$57

* Call: (714) 740-7878