“Pepperland”
Mark Morris Dance Group
Eisenhower Theater
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
November 16, 2019
by Arielle Ostry
copyright © 2019 by Arielle Ostry
When I first heard Mark Morris had choreo- graphed a work to Beatles music, I was surprised and a bit skeptical. There are a lot of strong feelings about the Beatles. Some people believe it is a crime not to love their work. After seeing this show, I believe it is a crime not to gain some sort of enjoyment from watching Mark Morris’ new work, “Pepperland.” His tribute to the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album was enlightening, soothing, and chock full of humor. To paraphrase the creator himself, Morris claimed that this show is for people who love the Beatles, for those who hate the Beatles, and everybody in between. The work was not meant to place the Beatles’ groundbreaking album on a pedestal nor demean the iconic collection of experimental songs by poking frivolous fun at its themes and melodies. Instead, Morris developed a remarkably witty and subtly clever hour-long dance. Decked out in neon, the dancers unraveled like a collection of Crayola crayons released from the confines of their brand new box.
Photo: Mark Morris Dance Group in "Pepperland". Photo by Gareth Jones.