“Interior Design” was first conceived in 2007 by Artistic Director Laura Karlin, and just now made into an evening length piece following Anna and Carlos ‘as they navigate love, loss, and transformation within their new home’. Karlin began this piece in 2007 and since then she has had 17 years of experiences helming this company, Invertigo Dance Theatre. This evening shows how she has grown and poured those intervening years into the full length version of this particular work.
Invertigo Dance Theatre – (L-R) Marco Palomino and Hyosun Choi in “Interior Design” – Photo by Luke Dakota Zender.
At the beginning the Kirk Douglas Theater audience is encouraged to take some noise makers into the theater with them to be utilized at some future point in the show. The stage is set with many moving boxes stacked up into towers and some spread out upon the floor. A man enters the space with a flowering plant and sets it on a table, a woman enters and moves the plant just so. This develops into a tour-de-force of partnering conflagration that was as funny as it was inventive. Each wants to have their way with the plant but are constantly foiled by the other. The wrestling and grappling which ensues is attentive, considerate, and single-minded. Gian Lorenzo Bernini would have had a field day with this section.
Lighting by Ric Zimmerman was specific and served to set the tone of the different scenes from comical to light-hearted, to serious and devastating. This technical aspect of the show was enhanced by the acting/dancing of Hyosun Choi and Marco Palomino who were perfectly matched in body and temperament for this duet, this movement play, with the two of them ensconced in their characters.
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Marco Palomino (seated) and Hyosun Choi in “Interior Design” – Photo by Luke Dakota Zender.
The table and boxes served as their shower, her bath, and their bed in that order. The lighting for the shower and bath was a lovely golden glow which served to bathe them in a nimbus of love. We find out that they are newly moved into this house and neighborhood and that they are settling in as best they can, leaving behind them sad memories and a powerful sorrow at the loss of a child. Perhaps that is why they moved to this new place?
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Marco Palomino and Hyosun Choi in “Interior Design” – Photo by Luke Dakota Zender.
This revelation comes about through the unwitting and insensitive questioning from a new neighbor. This person seems to mean well and wants to welcome the couple to the neighborhood but cannot seem to do it in a fully generous way. Instead asking personal questions with racist undertones until they trip over the landmine of asking if the couple have children or want children. It is at this point that Choi excuses herself to move upstage and find a box holding the dear things of an absent child. This includes a little teddy bear that evokes the child and their sad loss. This was a poignant and delicate section that was tender and quiet, the movement personal and caring.
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Hyosun Choi in “Interior Design” – Photo by Luke Dakota Zender.
The table served as their bed as they lay down for the night. At different intervals, the light would come up to show us what they were doing in their dreams, from fishing to sailing to simply watching the horizon filled with promise. This was whimsical and lovely. At one point Choi gets up and opens a box downstage left to pull out a pot of coffee and cups. She pours a cup for her husband and then herself. This was very funny and harkened back to Harpo Marx pulling various items from his coat pocket, a horn, a shovel and yes, a cup of coffee. Classic slapstick repurposed for a subtle dance show.
Invertigo Dance Theatre – Marco Palomino and Hyosun Choi (being lifted) in “Interior Design” – Photo by Luke Dakota Zender.
While rummaging through the boxes one becomes stuck on Palomino’s foot. Choi sees this and takes this cue to play. She puts boxes on her own feet and what follows is a surreal pas de deux of the boxed feet. Big and clunky yet strangely fluid as they slide across the floor and allow turns to glide more easily. A developé or arabesque with boxed feet is immediately reminiscent of a cartoon character mimicking the graceful élan of classical dancers. It was a charming visual.At this point, the audience was asked and encouraged to come down to the stage and join Choi and Palomino in a celebration circle dance which included the musical instruments and noise makers, as well as an impromptu Rhumba lesson from Palomino. This was great fun as most of the audience joined in and the house emptied. After getting the exuberant crowd back in their seats there remained one more dance with Choi and Palomino finally at peace with their new surroundings and new friends/audience in their new neighborhood. Mr. Rogers could not have done a better job.
Composers Diana Lynn Wallace and Eric Mason provided the wonderful music and Jonathan Bryant was co-choreographer. This show was a beautiful and thoughtful window into the lives of two characters who have loved and lost and yet found the inner strength in each other to continue and share their selves with the rest of the world.
For more information about Invertigo Dance Theatre, please visit their website.
This review was revised at 4:10 pm on 4/23/2024.
Written by Brian Fretté for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Invertigo Dance Theatre – Hyosun Choi in “Interior Design” – Photo by Cheryl Mann.
