Exploring ‘Terrestrial: The Sprout’ at New York Live Arts

Performance Overview

The recent premiere of Terrestrial: The Sprout at New York Live Arts, featuring Germaine Ingram, combines dance, music, and performance art in a unique narrative experience. The production showcases Ingram, known for her talents in jazz percussive dance and vocal improvisation, as she embodies a regal presence throughout the performance.

A Collective Approach

Initially billed as a solo performance, Terrestrial: The Sprout quickly reveals itself as a collaborative effort with contributions from nine additional performers, many of whom emerge from the audience. The production’s concept revolves around “invented court/ceremony dances situated in the very distant future,” though much of the execution seems to lack clarity and impact.

Directorial Choices and Costume Creativeness

The production is directed by a trio: Makini (formerly known as Jumatatu M. Poe), Nefertiti Charlene Altán, and Anderson Feliciano, all of whom actively participate in the performance. Costume design by Lou Pires showcases intriguing combinations, featuring deconstructed football pads paired with vibrant thongs, and flashy attire hidden beneath drab outerwear.

Movement and Expression

While the performers don striking costumes, the choreography often appears underdeveloped. Movements primarily consist of performers traversing the stage in a manner that lacks fluidity, occasionally wielding sticks without a clear sense of purpose. Compounding the experience, sections of video featuring Makini reciting poetry punctuate the performance, although some recitations are inaudible or unclear.

Highlights and Missed Opportunities

Despite intermittent moments of promise, particularly with veteran performer Ishmael Houston-Jones who captivates with the presence of a flowing cape, the performance can feel scattered. Houston-Jones recites personal anecdotes that eventually feel anticlimactic.

Brandon Kazen-Maddox’s interpretations emerge as the most dynamic physical expressions within the performance, showcasing their expertise in American Sign Language Artistic Performance. Moments of hope are also offered through the soundtrack, including a remix of Minnie Riperton’s “Memory Lane,” though the majority of the cast struggles to connect with its emotional depth.

Conclusion

As Terrestrial: The Sprout unfolds, hope flickers, especially at the moments when Ingram awakens, engaging in powerful vocalizations that reflect profound narratives of inheritance and emotion. Unfortunately, these impactful moments are brief, leaving the audience with an array of ideas that feel unfulfilled. Despite its ambition and a star-studded creative team, the production stumbles when it comes to delivering a cohesive and impactful theatrical experience.

Performance Details

Event: Terrestrial: The Sprout

Date: Through Saturday at New York Live Arts

More Info: Visit New York Live Arts.