It’s party time with DJD. Shasta (Sabriana Naz Comǎnescu ) is hosting a party and has invited all her friends, including you. There will be a grand entrance and introductions, libations, and a lampshade or two. This is the premise of DJD’s Party Time, a performance of immense energy and wild creativity. It’s a bit odd, but it’s groovy and highly theatrical.
Shasta introduces the audience to the guests. They mingle on the couches and mobile furniture on a set designed by Scott Reid. Things start to get restless, so they play a card game called Cats and Dogs, and the performance feels like it tips into the absurd just a bit. DJD performs with a live band, with musical direction by Carsten Rubeling; the band fills the space with the sounds of keys, trombone (Rubeling), trumpet (André Wickenheiser), and drums (Luis ‘El Pana’ Tovar). The music swells and soars while the dancers groove and fold to the beat. The production explores many scenes in the first half, including a puppet show and a vivid dream that includes a dance with blankets. Kimberley Coopers’ choreography has dancers smoothly moving all over the stage, costumed by Hannah Fisher in black and white, with knee-high nylons, sequins, and bowties, complete with jazz shoes. It all feels theatrical with a 20s vibe.
In the second half, the lampshade (Shahrzad Ahmadi) is revealed to be who she truly is, and she grants each character at the party a wish. Wishes include everything from having an inspiring scent to wanting to be a flying squirrel. All the characters are granted a wish, including Hugo (Thys Armstrong), Shasta (Sabrina Naz Comănescu), Fifi (Mara Liao Esnard), Zeus (Catherine Hayward), David (Shemar Hebert), and Leonardo (Simeon Peters). This half gets wild and wacky, but the music becomes a bit funkier, and the audience moves with the energy on stage.
Party animals are taking over the stage at DJD until May 12th. You can still catch the show, and tickets are available here.
Sabrina Naz Comǎnescu in Party Time. Photo by Laura Kleiner.