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Into the Hoods: Remixed
Wolverhampton Grand
***** IN A night
filled with hilarious storytelling, modern enthusiasm and most
importantly, hip hop dancing,
Into the Hoods: Remixed
is an alternative experience of theatre that will not disappoint.
Director Kate Prince reaches out to audiences on a brand new scale.
With the impeccable
talent from ZooNation Dance Company, the show takes its inspiration from
Sondheim’s award winning show Into the
Woods. The show started at the Edinburgh Fringe festival
ten years ago. Today it still goes strong and appeals to audiences
everywhere. Keeping in tune to Sondheim’s fairy tale themes, ZooNation
tell the story of two children who become lost in the deep, dark embers
of the ‘Ruff Endz Estate’. The audience are shown what it is like for a
typical day on the estate and the children’s quest to find enough money
to get the bus back home. Before the initial show, we were treated to a
curtain raiser when a selection of young and talented dancers from
across the region performed for us a choreographed piece, inspired by
the main performance. This was a treat in itself and highlighted
considerably the impo The excitable audience added to the buzzing
atmosphere and the young performers absorbed it to make their already
impeccable performance stellar.
The production took the essence of the well known
and loved Sondheim musical and turned it into their unique version of
dance. The story follows explosive characters with big
dreams, including Spinderella, Lil Red, Prince, Rap-on-Zel and Jaxx who
lies in the basement. Each story was told individually through hip hop
dance. In the story of this estate, the dynamic cast
performed their character with sublime energy with mind-blowing talent
for the hip hop genre. No character had the lead with each cast member
contributing equally and staying true to their story to create an
overall dynamic vision. The talent of the ensemble was also second to
none as they created the backdrop of life on the estate. Through the
energetic and fantastically charged cast, beautiful sequences of hip hop
dance were created, especially during a ‘granny dance off’ in the story
of Lil’ Red. Prince creates a completely new and inspiring
world for the modern audience especially, although it appeals to
everyone who want to feel good and be completely entertained. Every element within the production gave
something that made the audience want to get up and dance, in fact, it
was achieved with a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the
show. Musical Director DJ Walde used a mix of popular
songs to drive the story forward. It was the beats that added to the
funky essence. It is fantastically upbeat and hooked the audience from
start to finish. Ben Stones’ set design was also intricately clever.
Keeping with the urban style, we saw a backdrop with a projection of the
high rise tower block that the residents of the estate live. The dancers
are enhanced by lighting of vivid colours and strobes, constantly oozing
the fun and energetic atmosphere. Into the Hoods
is a fun-loving and enhanced production. With hip hop dance at the core
of the story, the audience celebrate pure and unique talent within the
hip hop genre. Prince’s inspiration from Sondheim’s original musical
carries over wonderfully to the realm of dance and the audience are
roaring with feel-good energy at the end of the show. Prince celebrates
the new and the different. Through her faith in young talent, the
production is an inspiration to all artists. To 27-02-16 Elizabeth Halpin 25-02-16
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rtance
of the investment of art for young groups of people. Before the show
started, The MC told us that this is ‘hip hop theatre’, and gave the
audience permission to make as much noise as possible.