Review: Classy Creativity From Strike & Adam Page

Photo: Dominika Zielinska

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It was a rollicking, rowdy, heart pounding party last night at Downstage when Strike and Adam Page got together to deliver a thrilling performance of energetic and stylish percussion and creative music making. It was glorious. There were no boring bits, no barriers between audience and the onstage party, we were all in it together. It was spectacular theatre.

The first half was of Strike’s making. It began wildly and suddenly, it was six go mad in the workshop. Except that it was serious stuff; disciplined, composed, choreographed, controlled, and intelligent. Strike is an all virtuoso group and endearingly enthusiastic and lively with it. Theirs is a class act. Adam Page at the side of the stage in yellow knitted hat seemed to be a jolly swagman busker observing the precocious Kiwi kids he didn’t quite understand.

There are six percussion whizzes in Strike and they and their gear fill the stage. There are drums cymbals and bells of all shapes and sizes, sheets of metal are hung out on scaffolding, drums are flown in, there is a bit of an old car, a long pipe, and whirling drumsticks and the flying mallets on the vibraphone. It is action everywhere. There is booming and crashing, pinging, clacking, ringing and dinging. From a conventional drum kit to the wash tub of sloshing water it is all exhilarating sound. And Downstage’s good old capacity for theatrical surprise is used to great effect.

Adam Page announced that the second half was his. The hobo turned out to be a consummate creator, conductor, technician, musician, magician and comedian. Strike and indeed the whole audience were part of the act he led. There was a witty little rhythmic piece at the table with cans of Speights, and a spoons competition. They could have happened on a rainy day at the bach but with this talent were something else. The first half was composed the second half was said to be improvised. Tricky looped recordings included audience contributions and Strike’s percussive musicality.

It was an evening of pace and originality, it was exciting from the crescendos of the early numbers to the charming elegance of the quiet lullaby piece towards the end. The Gene Krupa Golden Wedding drum break of my youth didn’t prepare me for this.

You will not need the earplugs provided. Strike Session with Adam Page is classy creativity.

Sharon Ellis is a Wellington based theatre reviewer.

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