Varone's choreography defies the popular romanticized portrayal of marriage and challenges the conception of the easy, complacent life, unfolding behind closed doors. Bel Canto , a world premier, was similarly perceptive. A work of bright colors and spirited music, Varone's choreography reaches a high point by capturing without banal imitation the humor involved in, what is in this case, a gay couple's flirtatious interactions. However, like Home , the work succeeds because of its ability to portray the larger and universal aspects of such a relationship. Possession and Mercury , the opening and closing works of the program respectively, are exciting explorations of the dance medium.
Possession is riddled with soft lines and a melting quality.
Both are representative of the wide range of movement types in which this choreographer is able to work. At times, with the numerous duets, trios, quartet and quintets counterposed to each other in the stage space, as well as the movement quality, the pieces seem to drift off into obscurity. There is simply too much going on and it is overwhelming. This characteristic serves to give the works an unfocused feeling. Nonetheless, Doug Varone is certainly one of the more interesting choreographers to have emerged in the past two decades.