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‘Voca People’: Be prepared to move – Metro US

‘Voca People’: Be prepared to move

Some are watchers, others doers. But even doers who paid the price of
admission, one would think, might like to be able to watch a show in
peace. No such luck at “Voca People,” at least for that portion of the
audience that gets dragged onstage by the white-suited, white-faced,
ruby-lipped visitors from Planet Voca, whose spaceship crashed on Earth
somewhere within walking distance of the Westside Theatre.

Forced volunteerism is hardly novel in the theatre, but few shows are so
brazen about using the audience as unpaid labor. The premise behind
“Voca People” is that the Voca spaceship, powered by musical energy,
needs Earth’s harmonies to refuel. It’s a little fuzzy on why the
Earthlings need to trek onstage, since the most resonant singing happens
when the Vocans are alone, but whatever.

As you may have guessed, “Voca People” revels in its own cuteness,
including Charlie Chaplin walks and squeaky-voiced talks. It’s at its
best when it sticks to music. Combining a capella singing with
beat-boxing, its five male and three female singers mostly stick to pop
(Michael Jackson, Beach Boys) with an occasional bow to classical
(Beethoven’s Ninth, William Tell Overture). Their Queen mini-medley,
heavy on Bohemian Rhapsody, is among their best.

Cleverly lit by Roy Milo, “Voca People” has fun, even thrilling, moments
— but you have to slog through a field of corn to get to them.

‘Voca People’

Westside Theatre

Through Dates TK

407 W. 43rd Street

$25-$80, 212-239-6200

www.telecharge.com