DCist: Art and Athleticism in Synetic's Carmen At Kennedy

YesIam

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:50:35 -0500

Okay so Icossette is way off the mark here. Synetic THEATER is a not a dance company. Point in case when you purchase your tickets at the Kennedy Center it is listed under Theater. In fact there is only one person in the cast of Carmen aside from the Choreographer (Carmen) who is a trained dancer the rest are all, yes you guessed it, actors. As for racist part did you happen to notice, IN THE DIALOGUE, that Carmen's husband is named Garcia? Funny name don't you think if the aim was to stereo type a race. Perhaps that is an issue Icossette needs to work out on their own. And what do you mean no choreography there are three dance numbers where the entire ensemble are, let me hear it, yes...DANCING. Aside from that very nearly the entire rest of the show from the bull fights, the gypsy robberies, the staged fights, and the sex scene between Don Jose and Carmen are all, again, choreographed. So you tell me when the entire cast is out of breath and sweating up a storm that it is not athletic...you try it and lets see how your stamina holds up. Further this production is based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée not the French opera by Georges Bizet and yes the stories do vary significantly in parts. Therefore most people even if they happen to be familiar with the popular story the opera of Carmen presents (which I have found not to be the case) are not that familiar with the Novella. And finally if you think it is so bad you are in the minority, read the reviews, and on top of that it has just been extended for another two weeks by popular demand. Not bad for a “horrible” production wouldn’t you say.

lcossette

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:24:26 -0500

Also, athleticism? No. None. You can't really comment on the choreography because there was none.

lcossette

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:21:10 -0500

This production was horrible. The stage set was not a bad idea but the "dancers" (they weren't really dancers as there was virtually no dancing at this dance concert) used the set like monkey bars. They kept twirling around and hopping on top then on the floor, top, floor, top, floor. No dancing at all. The worst part was when they spoke. These are supposed to be dancers, not actors and the very worst part of the show was when they spoke. As if we don't know the classic story of Carmen? Also, this production is racist. There was this entirely superfluous tangent in which Carmen's husband is released from prison -- a coke dealer. Black, of course. All the black dancers had to play drug dealers. I cannot express how dissatisfying this performance was. Don't go, don't pay.

steveballmer

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:28:00 -0500

I've seen this guy, he's pretty good! http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com