There's always a level of anticipation that precedes a theatrical experience. Whether it involves the actors, the stage, or the music, there's something to be expected. But, walking into
Fuerzabruta, a highly touted performance art experience, you don't know what to expect, after all, you're standing throughout the entire show. If that doesn't tell you that it's not your run-of-the-mill performance, we're not sure what will.
Upon arriving to the
Daryl Roth Theater, guests are greeted and sent into the D Lounge, a small underground watering hole that serves up cocktails while guests wait for the doors to open. Sure, other theaters also give you the option to grab a drink prior to the show, but the D Lounge doesn't feel like a "theatre" bar at all.
When the show's ready to begin, guests are rallied together and told to finish up their drinks, then lead into the performance area, where a DJ began to cultivate the experience. Playing an integral role throughout the entire night, the man behind the CDJs created an atmosphere that was similar to the legendary Club
Space in Miami. The amalgamation of sounds that can be summed up as "house," brought together tribal beats and cumbia rhythms with a salt and peppering of techno. The audience can't help, but to move throughout all of this, turning the performance area into somewhat of a nightclub.
Fuerzabruta is all about putting their audience in the right frame of mind from the moment they step foot into the theatre.
Then the show begins. Since the audience has to stand during the entire performance, they're asked to move around throughout the show, as props and stage hands shift gradually. This keeps the audience focused, attentive, and interested. The question in the back of your mind that will surface throughout the entirety of Fuerzabruta is, "What's next?"
Through the use of small-mobile stages (one's actually a massive treadmill), acrobatics, a shallow pool, audience involvement and water....yes, plenty of water,
Fuerzabruta brings to life the notion of the human being, and their relentless will to persevere against the odds and dark influences of our world. There's nothing like the fluidity expressed by the actors that took the shallow plunge in the massive display right above the audience. What resembles a shallow pool, hovers above the audience in the most entertaining part of the show. The pool was lowered up to within a foot of the audience, giving them the opportunity to reach up and connect with the actors.
If there's one aspect of
Fuerzabruta that the audience left with, it's joy. While the start of the show seemed to be the darkest in theme, there's a sense of celebration and joy that takes charge for the majority of the show. Actors come into the audience and to interact and dance as the DJ keep blasting dance sounds.
When the show ends, the party continues. The audience has the choice to leave the theatre, or stay and enjoy the music, dancing with actors and being sprayed with heavy mists of water. D Lounge was certainly a popular area once the show wrapped up.
While you normally won't find a theatre review here, there's something about Fuerzabruta that brings together the best aspects of performance art, along with the sounds and feel of New York City nightlife. This is truly great theater experience for people who don't enjoy theater.
