Glimpse Performance, Ronald Knapp
The Dutch Group, OORKAAN, presents GLIMPSE at BAM Kids May 4, 5, 11 & 12th at 10:30am and 3:30pm at BAM Fisher.
This staged concert is specifically for kids 2-4, but I think kids up to 6 (or possibly 60) would probably have the same experience. Glimpse has been a traveling production since 2014 and already won a Young Audiences Music Award in 2015. It’s fairly short, with an official running time of 40 minutes that feels like less. This is good for kids this age, but have something else planned in the area.
If you are reading this before May 12th, get your ticket now because it may sell out. Unless you don’t like the sounds of happy children.. there is a lot of that. It’s a “no shussh” performance.
A No-Shussh.. Gleeful Performance
In the elevator on the way to the show, several of the parents didn’t know what to expect. “Music with lights,” I said. “Ah,” they answered. It was what we expected, but also not what we expected. I didn’t expect to hear a young child say, “This is the funniest thing I ever saw.” I didn’t expect my kid to say, “It’s magic. That’s what is it, magic.” The show was more playful, childlike, and whimsical than the promotional photos let on.
The show is for bass and drums. The bass is actually a six-string Violone which is a bit unusual. It was patiently played, beautiful, and understated. The real stand-out for the kids was the percussionist Rob Kloet who was a bit of a clown in the most positive sense. The kids adored him.
They kept the psychedelic potential under a lid, so there was very little to remind the parents in the audience of Pink Floyd or the old Windows music player visuals. Instead, the lights felt more like the instruments were drawing–in some ways they were. The technician told me that each show is unique and controlled by the percussionist and the audience’s reaction.
Kids and parents were invited to dance at the end of the show, but, unfortunately, not enough did at the performance I attended. I can see a different crowd having more fun with it. The kids had a great time learning about the instruments after the show. We attended this show as press, but would go again.
Glimpse Performance, Ronald Knapp