MOMIX took us on a journey through the looking glass for an enjoyable evening of dance, acrobatics, humor and exceptionally clever costumes and props with the recent contemporary dance production of ALICEwhich was part of the Broadway in Santa Barbara series at the Granada Theater on October 1st.
Artistic director Moses Pendleton's new creation — inspired by that of Lewis Carroll Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in a thematic rather than literal way – designed for a fabulous showcase of choreography and form, as Alice's body grows, shrinks, shrinks and grows again and again, and the dancers themselves shrink and expand their bodies using props, ropes and other dancers. , and pure showmanship and athleticism.
With so many mind-blowing visual puns and surreal storytelling scenarios still lingering in my brain over a week later, it's hard to select just a few favorite numbers to highlight. Although the finale of “Go Ask Alice”, to the psychedelic rock tune of Jefferson Airplane's “White Rabbit”, was certainly notable, as Alice's character went from many to one and grew to the rafters with the song played. .
The seemingly naked “Trip of Rabbits”; the incredibly funny baby face (literally, with enlarged photographs of baby faces on the dancers' heads) “Tweedles”; “cracked mirrors”, using their multiplying properties to good effect; and the “Advice from a Blue Caterpillar” which was created from a troupe of dancers carrying a blue exercise ball, were all memorably enjoyable in their own way. Just like the entire show – an eccentric and magical journey that left me spellbound by ALICE long after the curtain has fallen.
As Pendleton told me when I interviewed him before seeing the show, “I think MOMIX offers a bit of an escapist fantasy. We invite people to join us down the rabbit hole. I'm so glad I followed him there.
