Tom Tom Crew Interview
Written by Jemma Lanyon
Theatre In Review
Fresh from their highly successful tour of London, New York and Edinburgh, the Tom Tom Crew are finally back in their native Oz, and they’re ready to rock and roll, so hold on!
The vibe of the show is very informal and welcoming. Audiences are encouraged to be as vocal as possible and you feel as if you’ve been invited to a garage to watch the boys at play. The mix of talent in this show is incredible. Any one of the performers could hold their own and to have them all together is a little overwhelming at times, but in a good way. The emcee, musical director and wild drummer, Ben Walsh, radiates charisma. Watching him go totally nuts on a wheel of eight drums (made from PVC pipes and plastic bins) was one of the many magical moments Tom Tom Crew had to offer. Another was seeing DJ Sampology caressing his turntables and twiddling his mixers at lightning speed. Like a concert pianist with their piano, all the equipment seemed to be merely an extension of him.
The tempo picked up even more when Tom Thumb strutted his stuff. This guy has to be seen to be believed. He is the most extraordinary beat-boxer I have ever heard. Not only can he be a trumpet, a didgeridoo, a bass guitar, a crackly record and a drum kit, but he can also perform versatile vocals - ranging from selections from ‘The Sound of Music’ to ‘Billy Jean’. He can even use live samples to create a soundscape that takes you right inside a New York jazz club. Did I mention that he can do this while spinning on his head? Tom Thumb is also a fantastic break-dancer.
But wait, there was more to come. Four acrobats (David Carberry, Daniel Catlow, Jamie MacDowell and Shane Witt) suddenly make an appearance - flying, tumbling and flipping everywhere. They were electrifying, and more than once I had to close my eyes (as much as I wanted to savour every moment), certain that the four men heading straight for each other at incredible speeds would end in a crunched-up pile. Their strength, grace and precision timing were utterly beautiful to behold. Their finale was awesome. Picture a see-saw springboard with guys each side, daring each other to jump and flip higher and higher. Nothing short of spectacular. With energy levels soaring as high as the acrobats, don’t miss this dynamic, unique blend of many different styles of performance.
The ‘Tom Tom Crew’ plays at the Judith Wright Centre until Saturday December 12.
