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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1998

Sara Krutwioh/The New York Times

1e different drums arid drummers of the ensemble known as Swarm, at the New Victory Theater.

THEATER REVIEW

Belly Like BudcTha, Spine Like DinosaurBy LAWRENCE VAN GELDER SWARM

To the periodic table of entertain-ment elements that contains nameslike SPECTRE and M*A*S*IrI maynow be added SWARM The initialsstand for Symphonic Work Assemblyof Rhythm and Movement, which hascome thumping, twanging and twirl-log out of Canada and into the NewVictory Theater in the reborn TimesSquare for a stay through Feb. 22.

In human form, Swarm consists offive trained and talented musicians,four men and a woman, literallyheating their way through - and outof - commonly accepted expression.By the time their 90-minute show hasended, they have evoked the primi-tR'e, embodied the hip and reachedout toward an almost extraterrestri-a avant-garde. All in all, Swarmproves to be a novel, lively curiosity.

Because the ensemble's primaryinstruments are drums, Swarm'srhusic especially in the first half ofthe show - can tend toward themonotonous, despite the neatly syn-

The Symphonic Work Assembly of Rhythmand Movement, a Canadan-based percussionhand Co-founders, Gregory Kozak and BillWallace; director of art, Mr. Wallace; direc-tor of music and composer, Mr. Kozak; instru-ment designer, Mr. Wallace. Presented by the

New 42d Street. At the New Victory Theater,209 Vest 42d Street, Manhattan.

WITH: Scott Bishop, Dave Hatfield, GregoryKozak, Robin Reid and Bill Wallace.

chronized, highly energetic move-ments that send the players leaping,swaying and hopping while they per-form, emitting an occasional yelp orchant and wheeling their drumsaround the stage.

Like their players, outfitted in or-ange coveralls or overalls andadorned with beards, head wraps orknitted caps, the drums are off the -no pun intended - regularly beatenpath.Among others, there are the Bud-

dha belly, a 95-pound wearable drumsuit looking like armor and beaten by

the performer; tuned exhaust hoses,and a mandala drum with curvedattachments. There is also an undu-lating marimba that looks fromsome angles like a section of dino-saur spine and ribs.

In the second half of the show, themusic becomes more complex andinteresting. On the stage at the outsetare the 24-foot-long string, a stainlesssteel nine-string instrument resem-bling a laser gun, played with rosin-covered gloves; nearby is an instru-ment that looks like a lunar landet-with dish antennas, thin cables andstruts. It can be bowed, plucked andthumped in conjunction with the longstring.

In this piece the performers arecostumed like space travelers, andtheir music possesses an other-worldly quality.The innovative, inventive intel-

lects and inexhaustible bodies behindSwarm are Scott Bishop, Dave Hat-field, Robin Reid and the ensemble'sco-founders, Gregory Kozak and BillWallace.