Richard L. Sprecker
Dead On Her Feet
by Ron Hutchinson
World Premier Performance
North Wall Arts Center, Oxford, UK - September 2012
Arcola Theatre, London, UK - October 2012
Directed by Barry Kyle
Scenic Design by Alex Berry
Costume Design by Genevieve Beller
Lighting Design by Eric Scott Voecks
Sound Design and Composition by Richard L. Sprecker
Photo by Simon Annand
In the Great Depression, dance marathons became a popular form of entertainment, as people would dance for days on end for the chance to win a cash prize that could save them. Ron Hutchinson's play was a world-premier work, told from the perspective of Howard McDade, a bouncer at one such dance marathon in Palaski Falls. Six strangers come together and dance for their life. The piece pulls on parallels between the despiration of these six strangers and the current recession hitting all over the world.
This piece required a stylized classic yet contemporary dance approach. Music was revamped from its predecessor production of "Shoothorses" and new songs were written.
Trance - An introductory music selection to the play -
Waltz of Nostalgia - Underscoring for a sentimental memory -
Vicious Dance - One of the manic marathon underscores -
Film Noir Underscore -
Waltz of Lamentation - A young couple lament their situation -
Mambo - Energetic driving dance