Power House: 
- The Super-Ozone-Friendly-Happy-Disco-Energy-Techno-Dance-Along Show
- Reviewed by Carrie Klewin
Social experiment as theatre? With Power House, Bouncing Ball Theatrical Productions gives us a scientific experiment centered on dancing as a viable resource for energy. Is this the revolutionary new means of solving our energy crisis? The Power House executives think so. Apparently though, innovation is necessarily accompanied by a lesson in moderation, and this is no exception. The dancing employees are manipulated and exploited to a point of no return, drawing attention to our capitalistic tendencies. This ain’t your momma’s disco party baby.
For those who are abject to audience-participation type shows, this one allows you to choose your own adventure – simply observe, join the fun, or go crazy. Club attire is requested and completely justified. However, if you arrive “underdressed” the club kids will meet you at the door with glowing accoutrement to enhance the mood. Heavily steeped in enviro-friendly messages, delivered via rap songs and lamenting ballads, Shawn Northrip’s Power House mostly delivers what its multi-descriptive subtitle promises. Particularly entertaining is the short “instructional” film by Brett Cramer that tops the show. Less successful perhaps is the overall pace of the show. For those who are expecting a non-stop party train, the festivities are subtler than what may be expected.
Whatever your relationship to the club kid environment, it’s hard not to be amused when stepping into rainbow bedecked world underscored by pop lockin beats. Even in the middle of the day.
- Running Time: 50 Minutes
- Tickets: Power House
- Remaining Shows: Sun, July 20 at 7:30 . Wed, July 23 at 9:30 . Fri, July 25 at 10
- Where: Source, 1835 14th Street, NW
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