Austinist Reviews: Cult of Color: Call to Color

The story’s plot, relying on classic, sweeping archetypes (temptation, seduction, resistance, submission, good, evil, black & white vs. color, and deception) is simple enough that a child could understand what unfolds. Which is not to say the piece itself is simple—after all, these big themes have puzzled and challenged humans forever. But how lovely to put on a show that is readily accessible to all ages and walks, a truth confirmed by opening night’s audience: the young, the old, those in the middle, folks dressed to the nines, and slackers in sweatpants all clearly deriving equal measures of joy from this riveting presentation.

Basically, the tale goes like this: there are fantastical creatures known as Vegans who live underground, in a colorless world. A priest among them, Sesom, dreams of color and is visited by a multi-colored goddess, Painter, who shows him possibilities he did not know existed. Inspired, he pursues color, recruiting other Vegans to join him. But they meet resistance in Betto, ex-member of the Cult of Color who, with his minions, strikes back at those Vegans who wish to venture beyond their bleak world.

One scene in particular, when the Vegans discover the jubilant possibilities of color via a machine that spews forth countless gem-like eggs and brilliantly hued Color Babies, is a show stopping moment that’s sort of cross between the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Stomp, and the Teletubbies. It’s outrageous and infectious.

Reynolds’ music is flawless—even with your eyes closed you could follow the plot as clearly as you would Peter and the Wolf. But unlike an annoying movie score that melodramatically dictates how you “must” feel, Reynolds’ composition complements and accentuates the emotion sweeping the stage.

Likewise, Hancock’s sets—on the surface simplistic—are highly impressive, particularly the backdrop of the colorful forest, appearing like a massive quilt bringing comfort to the characters who venture there, experiencing the world beyond black and white for the first time.

Absolutely a must-see performance. Closes next weekend at Ballet Austin's AustinVentures StudioTheater