THE HANGOVER REPORT – RENNIE HARRIS’s LIFTED puts theatrical storytelling to the forefront but only intermittently comes to life

Millie Heckler, Katia Cruz, Samantha Salters, and the company of Rennie Harris’s “Lifted” at The Joyce Theater (photo by Nikki Lee).

Last night at The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, I attended the opening night performance of Lifted: A Gospel House Musical, Rennie Harris’s latest evening length work of dance. I use the term “dance” here loosely, as the choreographer (who is responsible for creating one of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s signature dances Lazarus) and his 30-year-old company Rennie Harris Puremovment also tap into other forms of storytelling — namely theater and music — to chronicle the story of Joshua, a newly orphaned young man who rebels against his aunt and uncle (his legal guardians) and takes to the streets.

Set in a church and a vaguely suggestive urban landscape, Lifted is apparently inspired by Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, as well as the biblical tale of “The Prodigal Son”. Harris here is apparently eager to put storytelling front and center. Unfortunately, his patchwork staging only intermittently comes to life. Unsurprisingly, the most successful aspect of the show is the dancing, which features the choreographer’s signature blend of hip-hop, funk, and street dance aesthetics. Highlights included some thrilling ensemble dancing in the church scenes and some spectacularly athletic, soulful solo work from Joshua Culbreath as Joshua.

Another successful component of the evening is the live choral work of Alonzo Chadwick & Friends (led by Reverend CJ, charismatically played by Carl Robinson, Jr.), whose forceful, soaring renditions of beloved gospel songs enliven the otherwise tentative work. But even their essential musical contributions to Lifted are mired by the production’s muddy sound design. Ultimately, the production lacks specificity and its attempts at drama come across as trite and often times unintentionally comical. What’s missing is the organic, fluid sense of storytelling of other more successful pieces of dance theater I’ve encountered.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

LIFTED: A GOSPEL HOUSE MUSICAL
Dance
The Joyce Theater
1 hour, 10 minutes (without an intermission)
Through August 14

Categories: Dance

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