NANDA is coming to Evanston

Don't miss the upcoming NANDA show happening on April 26 in Lyman, and April 27 in Evanston.  Here are what people are saying about it-

Seattle Times arts writer, Michael Upchuch

"Nanda isn't an act. It's a whole four-man vaudeville show.

Its members juggle, dance, sing, fight, do magic, do acrobatics, do mime, fight some more, make films, steal a suitcase, drive a tank, stop time (while fighting), jump rope, make amusing spelling mistakes, acknowledge they're creating a dramaturgical mess and — did I mention? — fight. In their new production, "The Jacket," they blend the slapstick aesthetics of the Monkees, the Three Stooges and Jackie Chan into a single frenetic package. The show parodies "The Lord of the Rings," the legend of the Holy Grail and just about any other Sacred Quest myth you can name. The plot concerns a silver-lamé jacket that bestows super-powers on whoever wears it."

From Seattlepi.com, Michele Costanza

NANDA: The BEST All-Ages Live Entertainment in Seattle. WOW.

Well, if you’re looking for something that will blow your socks off, you MUST get over to the Broadway Performance Hall on Capitol Hill to see the most fun and entertaining show of the year....The Jacket by NANDA, Acrobaticalist Ninja Theater.

Acrobaticalist Ninja Theater...what does that mean??? I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my expectations were pretty high after watching the video on their website. I fully expected some juggling, maybe some dancing, and perhaps a bit of parkour/ninja acrobatics. They had all that, and so much more.

I’d describe it as a combination of: !the slick martial arts and slow-motion sequencing of The Matrix; the spirited fighting and humorous antics of Kung Fu Panda; with a bit of slapstick, á!la!Laurel and Hardy, mixed in for good measure. It is funny and intelligent, which I didn’t expect, leaving the audience laughing aloud.

The sequencing and choreography are bold and risky, and they certainly were not flawless on Opening Night. ! That said, I appreciate the local flavor those few imperfections gave the performance, which were pulled off with humor and charm...NOT an easy thing to do with a packed house.

We attended the 8pm show with two kids, ages 7 and 11, who were both tired after a long week. !I was slightly worried the younger one might fall asleep during the performance, but knew these worries were for naught as soon as the show began. Both kids (along with the entire audience) were riveted the entire 70 minutes. The storyline is clear, the fight sequences exciting, the sound effects excellent (makes a big difference in this show), and the multi-media presentation made great use of all the space onstage, offering clever versatility in the performance.

I give The Jacket by NANDA a big thumbs up for Best Family Entertainment of the year! (Ages 5 and up)