Billed as Blue Man Group meets Glee!, the off-Broadway show Voca People is actually B-52’s meet the Coneheads. Energetic musicians meets wise-guy aliens. Huh, you ask? Actually, it’s a little hard to describe, but I’ll give it a go. It all began when eight aliens, nicely dressed in stylish white outfits, crash landed in upstate New York. They happen to be talented vocalists who can learn earthly songs which then create energy, which then can power up their transportation home. The thing is, we (the audience) really don’t want them to leave. These aliens, who name themselves based on their vocal range, i.e., “tenor,” or “tuba,” or “soprano” and the like, are enjoyable visitors who can really belt a tune. We are told at the start of the show that every sound from the stage is created vocally, and not one musical instrument is used.
Amazing.
Voca People has already won “intergalactic success with sold-out tours through Europe, South America, the Middle East, Mars and Uranus. Their videos have had over 20 million YouTube hits.” Now, Off Broadway gets to meet these creatures—the first performance on American soil. Says co-creator, Shai Fishman, “Voca People demonstrate that pure vocal sounds are more astonishing than instruments. We hope that the show will enchant the ear and bring laughter to the mind while it touches the heart.”
My theatre companion was bopping in her seat, just as the rest of the audience, aged as young as eight or nine, and up to senior years, was moving and a jumping to theirs. There was a whole lotta love in the house. Each alien had a particular talent, the two main characters were the percussion, and sounded like star DJ’s who can simulate those really cool and quick spinning record sounds, and “whooshes,” and “bum-bums,” as if they are an entire percussion section. Set in the intimate second floor space of the Westside Theatre (43rd and 9th), Voca People provided literally one showstopper performance after another. In between the many numbers, were the charming misconceptions strange visitors can have when visiting a new planet. The audience, at first, appeared to startle the aliens, bringing a chuckle to the crowd, and as the aliens learned about humans through mime and song, their energy chamber filled with power.
Favorite numbers included their interpretation of the evolution of music from “Wimboweh” to Gregorian Chants, to the Hallelujah Chorus. The entire “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a real crowd-pleaser and their clever presentation included the alien “tenor’s” vocal simulation of the electric guitar solo. These aliens also possess a sense of humor as they played around with the audience, choosing a few to stand up and become part of the show. Most were duds, but all were good sports. One gentleman, however, got into the spirit and seemed almost a part of the show. (Beware to those who sit in the front, and those who have young children who might already be fearful of clowns—these aliens can be just as startling).
The show went just right at 90 minutes, mostly because there’s no intermission, and the constant level of activity and energy, and high volume can be wearying. Plus, we found ourselves smiling the entire time, and laughing, and that, too, can get to be a bit much. I predict that this show will be around for quite a while, becoming hugely popular through word of mouth, and eventually turning into a perennial NYC classic. It’s that good.
Voca People
The Westside Theatre, 407 West 43rd Street
Opens July 12, 2011
Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets, $25 to $79.50 with premium seating available.
For more information, go to the Voca People website.
