CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER

September 18th, 2003, Arts and Life

That's right. "Stomp" is back in town.

And even though this is the sixth time the incessantly rhythmic, unforgivingly loud show has blasted its way into Playhouse Square, it's as original and mesmerizing as ever.

Brooms swish, matchboxes chicka-ticka. Hands, thighs and feet slap. Boots shuh-shuh-shuh on sand. Hollow tubes thwonk. Toilet plungers squonk when they hit the wet floor and ptwah when they release. Pots and pans and road signs and fire extinguishers tink and tonk and rink-a-dink-dink. The Plain Dealer and the Free Times crinkle and pop while their readers hack and harumph, and a pencil nervously tik-tik-tiks on teeth.

Steel oil drums worn as boots go stomp-stomp-stomp. And plastic shopping bags twish and twosh. Metal trash cans and their lids, wielded like weapons and shields, clash and bash again. Zippo cigarette lighters clank open, scratch to flaming life and clank shut again.

The current group, led by big Andres Fernandez (who wordlessly taunts the audience as he attempts to lead it in a simple, two-clap refrain), has zest and energy to spare.

Although males dominated Tuesday's eight-member cast six to two and much about "Stomp" screams machismo, there's plenty of girl power, too. With her blond dreadlocks flying and her arms pumping with wild abandon as she beats on plastic barrels, Tonya Kay exudes a wholly feminine unstoppability.

If you're an adult, all this will bring out the childlike wonder in you. If you're a kid (and this is a great treat for children because it's packed with action for a brief 90 minutes), it's a sonic experience likely to remain with you for the rest of your life.

Here's a parting hint for the audience. The right way to respond to a performer clapping his hands at you is to clap back. When he snaps his fingers, you snap back.

Let's review: clap-clap and snap-snap. It's that easy.

TONY BROWN, Plain Dealer Theatre Critic