Hot Feet, ultimately a rather good dance show conceived, directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines, throws us off by an over-zealous opening of dancers wigglin', jigglin', jumpin' and humpin' like really good cheerleaders with colorful Arabian Nights costumes (by Paul Tazewell). But a lot of it can be seen every weekend for free at Broadway and 50th Street. It takes a while for us to realize that they are doing a version of The Red Shoes and that there is a coherent show here. Ingenue Vivian Nixon is a marvelous dancer with amazing flexibility; leading man Michael Balderrama is like a Gene Kelly -- relaxed, casual, and a terrific masculine dancer (epitomized by his solo to "Oh, Love"), and their romantic pas-de-deux is quite lovely.
Wynnona Smith is strong in her comedy role, all the dancers are super, with most of the men built like body-builders. The lyrics, mostly from Earth, Wind and Fire, are banal, but the singers are good. The costumes are interesting but sometimes puzzling -- silver white for a number look like the sperms in a Woody Allen movie, black Robocop costumes for a number that look like The Borg from "Star Trek," futuristic jungle costumes. And there are some good visuals mixing light (by Clifton Taylor) and set (by James Noone). The actual "Red Shoes" number is high-level Broadway, there is a Wagnerian Opera finale, and, of course, they jump and jiggle again at the end.
I think the problem with the show is that they try to dazzle us to excess. A good show is buried in the excessive trappings.
Previews:
April 20, 2006
Opened:
April 30, 2006
Ended:
July 2006
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Transamerica Corp, Rudy Durand in assoc w/ Kalimba Entertainment, Meir A & Eli C LLC, Polymer Global Holdings, Godley Morris Group, LLC.
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Hilton Theater
Theater Address:
213 West 42nd Street (8th Ave)
Phone:
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Maurice Hines
Review:
Cast:
Keith David, Ann Duquesnay, Alan Hidalgo, Michael Balderrama, Allen Hidalgo, Wynonna Smith, Vivian Nixon, Kevin Aubin, Brent Carter, Gerrard Carter, Dionne Figgins, Ramon Flowers, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Karla Puno Garcia, Nakia Henry, Duane Lee Holland, Dana Marie Ingraham, Iquail S. Johnson, Terace Jones, Dominique Kelley, Matthew Warner Keirenan, Steve Konopelski, Sumie Maeda, Jon-Paul Mateo, Vasthy E. Mompoint, Tera-Lee Polin, Samatha Pollino, Sandra Reaves Phillips, Danita Salamida, Caesar Samayoa, Monique Smith, Daryl Spiers, Felicity Stiverson, Hollie E. Wright.
Technical:
Choreog: Maurice Hines. Costumes: Paul Tazewell.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz 5/06 ?
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
May 2006
