Daydreams is a tap-infused journey through time brought to stage by NYC-based company “The Call Me Crazy Dancers”. Mixing the choreographic and lyrical talents of John Curtis and Amy Smith, along with an ambitious blend of ballet, swing, modern and tap by the company’s dancers, Daydreams proves whimsical and engaging, even in its roughest moments.
The launch pad of Daydreams is a diary entry penned by a young boy, which asks us the innocent question of why the dreams we have in our childhood are so much more difficult to actualize in the grim reality of the present. While the numbers that follow don’t necessarily provide us with a thesis (some, in fact, seem completely out of the blue), the premise is abstract enough that we don’t mind.
“Waiting for the Train”, the show’s opening number, is humorous and playful. How many hours have we city-dwellers toiled away waiting for the Metro? The idea of an entire Metro station of seemingly normal patrons bursting into a lively tap number is bizarre enough to engage even those of us who aren’t fans of the dance form (though, it would also be fair to ask, what would they be doing here?)
More pop-like melodies such as “Next to You” are also easy to like. The standout piece in Daydreams is likely to be “Fear”, perhaps more due to the dark nature of its subject matter juxtaposed against the contents of such a lively show.
Ray Cook gives a real stand-out performance in Daydreams — he’s an excellent dancer whose presence has a way of filling up the entire room. Amy Smith and Michelle Conroy both demonstrate an incredible amount of finesse. While there are more than a few numbers that are rough around the edges, along with some that bleed together, the undying ebullience of Daydreams carries us to the show’s end still in good spirits.
Daydreams has 4 performances, ending July 28, 2012, at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC.
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Amrita rates this 3 out of a possible 5.
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