Heart Song

The Fountain Theater has long been the home, not only of new drama, but of the fiery dance known as flamenco. Since 1990 the Fountain has produced more than 500 flamenco concerts on its intimate stage, plus seven seasons at the 1200-seat Ford Ampitheater. The theater's involvement in flamenco is also highlighted in a new documentary film, “Kumpania,” much of which was shot at the Fountain's continuing “Forever Flamenco” series.

Now the Fountain's co-artistic director, Stephen Sachs, has fashioned a play about flamenco, Heart Song, which is dancing to an impassioned beat in its world premiere. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, with choreography by Maria Bermudez (who also appears as Katarina, a flamenco instructor/guiding spirit), the play seeks to bring out the universal qualities of Spanish Gypsy music and dance.

Heart Song opens with a foot-stomping, hand-clapping Katarina swirling around stage, giving the audience a swift introduction to flamenco as she waxes poetic about its origins and meanings. Then the focus goes to Rochelle (Pamela Dunlap), an overweight and overwrought New York Jewish woman who is getting her weekly massage from Tina (Tamlyn Tomita). Rochelle is so upset over the one-year anniversary of her mother's death that she can barely function in life. For therapy and enlightenment, Tina coaxes her to join her all-female flamenco class. The klutzy, wisecracking Rochelle first acts the clown, only to learn, as did the other students, that flamenco (and sisterhood) have the power to change and heal one's life.

Heart Song’s humor and warmth and, above all, its passionate, death-defying flamenco music, help Sachs’ play overcome its didactic and, at times, over-the-top emoting.

Bermudez gives the piece its soul; Dunlap its singing heart. Together with the other six actors -- and with the help of Finney's skillful direction -- they make Heart Song ring out loud and clear at the Fountain.