Siro-A gave an energetic performance at the Haugh Performing Arts Center on March 14. (Evan Solano/Citrus College Clarion)
By Sylvia Aparicio | Online Editor
Translated from Japanese, the word Siro-A means “white or colorless.” In that case, whatever the opposite of “Siro-A” is would be the perfect way to describe the performance from the world-renowned Japanese sextet.
Formed in 2002 in Sendai, Japan, Siro-A made their electrifying North American debut at the Haugh Performing Arts Center March 14.
While one expected to see mostly high school and college students, the audience was diverse and had all age groups laughing and applauding.
Fusing visual effects onto panels and blocks, mime, lasers, impressive synchronized movements and electronic music reminiscent of Mstrkrft, Boys Noize and early Daft Punk, Siro-A surpassed their comparisons to the Blue Man Group.
Visual creator Ryosuke Sato and sound programmer Hiroyuki Iwai created a vibrant backdrop for the rest of Siro-A to perform their skits.
For those unfamiliar with the group, the techno-digital comedy is a combination of anime and “Tron”.
Act 1 featured a skit titled “Shadow Baller” in which a white screen is backlit while lighting and 3D projections create a game of catch with Toshinori Abe.
Likewise, “T-shirts Man” in Act II utilized precision movement while members of the sextet humorously danced around the stage and projected recognizable logos such as Chanel and Nike onto their shirts and white screen.
Overall, if you are not impressed with the music, there is no denying the perfectly synced timing with the music and visual effects throughout the show.
Those who are not fans of interactive shows may want to avoid Siro-A as audience participation was a huge factor in the performance.
From jumping into the crowd to choose show-goers to come up on to the stage, to panning a camera around the venue and projecting the audience onto the white screen, at a Siro-A show everyone has a role.
One highlight of the night included the entire theater participating in Queen’s 1977 hit “We Will Rock You.”
Siro-A combines innovative choreography and video trickery to give show goers a new outlook on the theater.
For more information visit www.siro-a.com.
