Burbank Leader: December 8, 2004

THEATER REVIEW
'Modern Dance' is witty exploration

By James Petrillo, Enjoy!

BURBANK — The VS. Theatre Company hits another bull's-eye with the American premiere of Sarah Phelp's viciously witty "Modern Dance for Beginners" at the fittingly intimate Little Victory Theater in Burbank. Just as visceral and graphically appealing as their debut production "The Credeaux Canvas," this look at modern love and sex is alternately intense and funny.

A versatile Johnny Clark and a captivating Robyn Cohen play all eight roles in six pulsating scenes that each take place at various moments before, during and after private encounters. Although it's not entirely apparent at first, every character they play is comically or tragically linked to each other as their fates unfold aggressively in under 90 minutes with no intermission.

It's impossible to look away, no matter how painful or uncomfortable the circumstances become. Conflicted Owen consummates his marriage with bridesmaid Frances, a truth-spewing former lover.

Handyman Kieran turns the tables on his sharp-tongued boss, Julia, the betrayed bride. Russell wants to move on from a lifetime of one-night stands, while Eleri struggles to divulge shattering news to a complete stranger.

Clark and Cohen switch from character to character effortlessly, as the inventive set by John G. Williams allows them to stay on stage the entire time, slowly and intimately changing clothes between scenes and never breaking eye contact.

These choreographed interludes provide welcome and romantic downtime from the rest of the action, and are performed to some killer tunes including hypnotic acoustic covers of "Let's Dance" and "Like a Virgin."

Director Ross Kramer smoothly guides his fearless leads through the minefield of modern romance, and solidly drives home Phelp's point that even in an age of such extreme sexual candor, true emotional love is still hard to find.