Music, Dance Reviews : Fantasy Falters in ‘Open Doors’

At the Hollywood Playhouse for a two-weekend run, the dance-fantasy “Open Doors” reconceives the medieval morality play “Everyman” from an MTV perspective. Think of it as “Everyhunk,” perhaps, or maybe “Oberammergau 90210.”

Once again, a soul encounters false friends and values on the path to enlightenment--but here most of the episodes concentrate on stripping, mauling and groping Greg Vignolle, a youth well designed for such endeavors who works gamely to keep his character’s suffering in focus. Amid all the diversionary Hollywood raunch, it can’t be easy.

The seven choreographers who collaborated on this project provide aggressive depictions of high-risk carnal excess and various byways of kink. Significantly, however, once “Open Doors” moves from the world of the flesh to that of the spirit, none dares follow: The piece simply runs out of dance exactly where Vignolle and director Cameron English need it the most.

English himself dances the work’s sole attempt at Terpsichorean innocence: an appealing centaur solo. Otherwise, it’s up to actor Augie Blunt and the ponderous text (adapted from a play by Eric Andrew Press) to balance dozens of bodies writhing in leather and chains to high-decibel rock ‘n’ roll. They haven’t a prayer--or, rather, that’s all they have.

The evening’s most persuasively hellish dance-escapades include a pan-sexual squeeze fest by Bill and Jacqui Landrum, a deliriously anarchic orgy by Bubba Carr and, in particular, a resourceful, spirited juggling-carnival by Myles Thoroughgood. Lawrence Blake contributes a ballet duet; Adria Wilson a shadow dance. Ric Mandell supplyies whatever music doesn’t come straight from the jukebox.

Paula Venise vamps ecstatically as the Seductress but lacks the outrageous, state-of-the-art, over-the-top (and under-the-bottom) sleaze of Viktor Manoel as the Teaser. Jenna Butala makes a tepid Ice Queen, but at least washes Vignolle’s chest with proper reverence for a monument of nature.

“Open Doors” resumes its run Friday and Saturday.