STOMP using trash cans as drums. Photo courtesy of Junichi Takahasha/Carla Befera & Company Marketing.

Performance group STOMP exhibited perfect timing and physical prowess during its performances  Tuesday and Wednesday at the Chester Fritz Auditorium.

STOMP is an eight-person percussion group that uses the human body and everyday objects to create wonderful sounds to entertain audiences.

The six men and two women on stage wore baggy clothes, giving them a sort of “urban street” style, matching the street objects they used to create sounds.

The group used brooms, metal trash cans, dustpans, plastic bins, matchboxes, Zippo lighters, plastic bags, shopping carts, wooden rods, inner tubes, old sinks, street signs, newspapers and, of course, hands and feet.

They used minimal vocal sounds aside from short grunts, coughs and throat-clearing sounds.

The group was created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas in Brighton, U.K. in 1991.

In August 2012, STOMP was part of the musical segment featured in the closing ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

While waiting for the show to start, I noticed a colorful stage complete with street signs adorning a wall-like set. Foreign music played as the auditorium filled. I noticed a lot of families with children, and my first thought was that this was a kid-based show.

STOMP was extremely hilarious and entertaining. The group made remarkable beats using only everyday objects. They never missed a step or a beat, and I could tell that each of the members — based on their bicep muscles — put a lot of work into making their performance perfect.

The first act started out with one guy making beats with a broom. Slowly, the others appeared with their brooms and joined the rhythm. The group made short grunts at one another, signifying their presence. Right away, I found myself laughing with the audience at STOMP’s primitive communication.

What made this performance hilarious was the one member that was purposely out of sync in several acts. In one act, he had a undersized instrument. In another, he spilled something all over the stage while the rest of the group stared at him in disapproval. He even began twerking at one point.

STOMP kept everyone on their toes through audience interaction. They encouraged the crowd to repeat their rhythms and gave concerned looks when the out of sync member was being ridiculous. For the final act, STOMP even showed the audience how to make a rhythm of their own.

I give STOMP five out of five stars. Though it was two hours long without an intermission, the show was entertaining, and the time flew by. It was a bit loud at times, and I noticed a few kids covering their ears, but other than that it was flawless.

The show cost students $35 for a front seat and $25 for a seat near the back. I felt that this was reasonable based on the quality of the show. Though I opted for the less expensive seat near the back, I could still hear and see everything perfectly.

I would especially recommend this show for parents who want to introduce their children to theater, but it also is a great idea for a date.

Adele Kieger is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].