Bridge Dance Theatre’s ‘Truth,’ at the Least, Is Disheartening

To set out to create a 65-minute multimedia dance-theater piece based on the notion of truth, only to present a litany of cliches, a lackluster movement vocabulary and self-conscious performances, is not only disheartening but disturbing. Such was the case Thursday, when the generally enterprising Bridge Dance Theatre performed its new work, “In the Beginning Truth Walked Around Naked,” at Highways Performance Space.

Phyllis Douglass, Bridge’s artistic director-choreographer, wrote the text (based on the Hassidic folk tale “Truth and Parable”) with Bianca Rose, who doubled as videographer and storyteller. Set to Brian Gross’ aggressive techno score, the work began with Jason Matney exploring a bucket of flower petals before lying in a fetal position on a card table. This was followed by Rose’s video, projected on the wall--a parade of people voicing their ideas of truth, and a laundry list of statistics on suicide, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and pediatric AIDS.

Meanwhile, Leslie Cooke, Marla McClure, Maura Riley and Nancy Meyer stood on folding chairs spouting other views of truth--”passion,” “knowledge,” “misery”--after which Matney occasionally partnered the women. Despite plenty of leaps, spins and lots of rolling around the floor, the dancers seemed stuck in an emotionless mode.

Maria Wortham’s bland, baggy costumes further plagued the evening that could have been dubbed “Truth ... or Consequences.”

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Bridge Dance Theatre repeats tonight at 8:30 at Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. (310) 315-1459. $15.