Wow indeed. So I tried to be productive on my train ride home (20 hours to get home!!!!)... so I rambled semi-incoherently for 4 pages single spaced on my laptop... here's the cut and paste. I'm not a huge fan of writing number by number reviews either.. but it was all I could do to look at the music list and then try to remember what I saw.
Lake Placid Stars On Ice
November 27th, 2004
2005 Tour Opening Night
“IMAGINATION”
First off, I was sitting 5th row (which was really 3rd row as the first two rows were removed for the camera pit) dead center ice. I could not have wished for better seats than that – it was a perfect view. I’ll also warn that there is a lot of gushing ahead. I admit that I have always loved SOI so I am a bit biased, but this is the best skating show I have seen yet… by far. It takes the best aspects of the 2003 tour and combines it with the best aspects of the 2004 tour – and then some. But without further ado…
ACT I
Opening – “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka – Cast
A platform on the ice provided for a centerpiece for this number in which the cast members began to hear ‘voices’ inside their heads. A cute child’s voice provided the voiceovers here and elsewhere in the show. The costumes were very pretty – purples, greys and greens. It was hard to get the overall picture of the number, as I was taking pictures at this show – but it was a very whimsical number that definitely set the mood for the rest of the show.
“Let Me Entertain You” by Robbie Williams – Todd Eldredge
The first number flowed into this one quite well as they used a custom arrangement of the beginning to introduce each of the cast members. I was excited to see Todd do something slightly out of his ‘ordinary’. He was having an off night tonight, with a couple of bad falls, though it did appear to be a bit of an ice problem which could explain one of them, but he fought through to the end. Unfortunately the falls did take away from the effect of the program for me because I felt like Todd was skating very cautiously (and rightfully so), but the song is so appropriate to get the show rolling and I can see this becoming a great number once Todd is a bit more comfortable with it.
“Naughty Girl” by Beyoncé – Yuka Sato
I found myself sitting in my seat with my jaw on the floor a LOT during the show, and this was the first of those instances. Keeping the upbeat flow moving, Yuka busts some great moves during this number. She looked like she was having a lot of fun, which made it even more fun for the audience. A cute outfit with a striped pink and black tank and a black skirt. Loved it.
“Harder to Breathe” by Maroon 5 – Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman
I don’t even know how to describe this number because it is nothing like I have ever seen before. These two really surprised me with this number – another jaw on the floor moment. There are new tricks everywhere and they just keep coming. Very Brasseur & Eisler-esque but definitely their ‘own’. Just wow.
“Jitter Bug” by Harry Connick, Jr. – Kurt Browning (Guest Star)
A box labeled “Gabe’s Toys” is on the ice, and Kurt appears wearing a bright yellow “#1 Dad” t-shirt. At the beginning, Kurt is absorbed in “Math for Skaters” – 6 + 0 = 6.0 and a voiceover comes on saying that he needs to fix a leak, which becomes the premise for this number and his Act II number. Various items appear from out of the toy box that Kurt interacts with – including a ‘Jitter Bug’ costume. Filled with great footwork, light, fun and upbeat. Kurt is always amazing so I can’t say this number came as a surprise – but it was definitely a good program.
“TKO” by Genesis – The Boys
Following in the tradition of Studz and Workin’ Time, this was the all boys number this year. Themed on old-style boxing, it certainly doesn’t beat the dancing cowboys of 2003, but it was very unique and had some great tricks including quite the amazing trick involving all the guys sitting on each other’s laps and then one by one laying down and going under the remaining guys’ legs. It looks very difficult, and the first time through, they ended up getting stuck up on it – but did it on the first try during retakes.
“Raindrops Will Fall” by Tamyra Gray – Sarah Hughes
Sarah looks happy to be back on the ice and I really wish her all the best in adjusting to tour life. She had a stunning sleeveless black dress with rhinestone outlined ‘raindrops’ on it. Sarah was only doing doubles this show – but her basic skating skills are wonderful and it more than made up for the lack of triples. Amazing spirals and spins.
“If I Could” by Michael Bolton – Elena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze
And talking about stunning – these two were breathtaking right from the first glimpse. Major props to Jef Billings for outdoing himself again this year – but these costumes were especially beautiful. A classic number to a beautiful song. I don’t really remember any specifics, I was just so drawn in.
“Radar Love” by Golden Earing – Jamie Salé & David Pelletier
This was one of the few numbers in the show I had previously seen (three times this season prior to this show) but their ‘comfortability’ level showed and they really sold this number. This number is very sexy, sassy and full of attitude. Highlights include their new handstand lift variation and their new spin/lift move.
“Passion” by Peter Gabriel – Alexei Yagudin
Alexei starts out hanging above the ice in a large white sheet (reminiscent of storks carrying babies style). The first half of the program features acrobatic feats with the ‘sheet’ – some of which had me gasping. Quite spectacular.
“The Ride of Life” – Cast Ensemble Number
The Who – Who Are You, My Generation, Behind Blue Eyes, Magic Bus, Love Reign O’er Me
Wooooooo! Themed around a roller coaster ride, it is really a fun number. Much like TGIF of 2004, different songs feature either the whole cast, or different small groups. Those that aren’t currently ‘featured’ join the ‘ride’ and trail each other around the ice. Hilarious facial expressions throughout. They use umbrellas and during the last section of the medley, it literally rains.
ACT II
“Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra – The boys plus Sarah Hughes
I don’t remember much about this one. It really tied into the act I closer.
“Amazing Grace” by Hayley Westenra – Yuka Sato
This song can be quite ‘heavy’, but this version is quite good as is Yuka’s interpretation. In all white, she looked simply angelic and this was a perfect showcase of her grace. It was a good contrast with her first number as well.
“Come Back To Bed” by John Mayer – Steven Cousins
I love that Steven is skating to this song, I think it suits him really well. That and the transition into this number includes Steven's shirt 'magically' appearing and him having to put it on in front of us all.
“Step-Sisters” – Medley of “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin – The girls plus Steven
Steven’s number transitions right into this one, as the girls come out in these dresses circa 1950s. They later strip into these beautiful black dresses. Such a fun number.
“Super…” by Harry Connick Jr. – Kurt Browning
Dressed in the same costume as the first act, with the toy box again and all, Kurt is still trying to fix the leak. More things come out of the box and cause some amusement – a hockey puck Kurt jabs the toe picks of one foot into and skates around with, boxing gloves he jumps with, a skipping rope he skips with, etc. The highlight of the number is Kurt’s double axel OVER the box.
“Dance Mix” by Various (including Yeah by Usher, The Chicken Dance, etc) – Elena and Anton
This is my new favourite upbeat number of theirs ever. Can Elena ever dance and Anton just gets right into it and hams it up so much. Hilarious. The medley of songs is so random and definitely a ‘mix’… but they pull off all of them perfectly. Retakes for this number were so funny – Anton serenaded us all by singing into his thumb.
“Shout” by Otis Day & the Knights – Alexei Yagudin
I enjoy it when Alexei does lighter numbers and this was definitely a ‘get the crowd going’ kind of number. Some great footwork, but I don’t really remember a whole lot.
“Who Wants to Live Forever” by Queen – Jamie Salé and David Pelletier
The transition into this number is just awesome. Four people come out in red monk capes with their faces hidden under huge hoods. They form a circle and one of them shoots out smoke from under their sleeve while they all stir it around… reminiscent of witches stirring a secret potion. Out of nowhere, there is lightening and thunder. All the lights go out for a split second and when they turn back on, the red creatures are gone and Jamie and David are standing there in their starting positions for WWTLF. They have new deep purple costumes, which are gorgeous. The program has a few slight choreography changes, including starting side by side instead of at opposite ends of the ice. I don’t know what it was exactly – the new costumes, the adjusted choreography, the overall atmosphere, or a mixture – but this is the best I’ve ever seen this program performed. Intense.
“Over the Rainbow” by Eva Cassidy – Sarah Hughes
Very fitting number for Sarah to do but I must admit that this number and her first number are really blending in my head right now – so I don’t really have any specifics.
“Forevermore” by Alessandro Safina – Todd Eldredge
A more ‘typical’ Todd number… the beginning almost sounded like flamenco from last year, which kind of threw me off for a second and made me really take notice – but of course, it is completely different. This might be a number I have to see a couple of times to really appreciate it, as like many of the numbers, I’m not remembering it well at all.
Finale – “Dream On” by Aerosmith – Cast
There is just not an ugly costume in the whole show this year – so I guess it won’t surprise anyone if I say I loved these ones too. It really takes me a couple of times of seeing group numbers for me to remember them in any detail at all… but I do know I let out a (rather loud) “It’s snowing!” squeal near the end of the program… when yes, it actually snows.
Hopefully when I get my photos back it will spark some more memories, as right now overall impressions are pretty much all I can vouch for. And let me say that this year’s tour can be summed up in one word, and that is “WOW”. When intermission was announced, we literally turned to each other with our mouths wide open, not even sure where to start. Much the same reaction also occurred after the show – until they started playing “Happy Trails To You”, at which point we all burst out laughing.
One thing I couldn’t really convey properly in a number by number review is just how well things flow. There are tons of transitions again, though they are not listed on the program like they were last year. Magic tricks throughout, as well as comedy pieces – that are really, honest to goodness funny. I laughed so much. Last year’s humour was ‘slap your knee’ corny, but this time around it was smart, witty humour. My favourite transition is Jamie as a fortune teller near the beginning of the show. She plays the part so well and at one point in the little voiceover, it goes “and you, sitting in the front row – I know you didn’t pay for these tickets, you just snuck down once the lights went down” or something close to that effect. Our entire row cracked up. (We’ve NEVER done that!!
Really!) In another transition, some cast members including David come out audibly crying (not a voiceover) and just as they are all about to leave, Dave turns around and wrings out his hanky and a stream of water shoots down. So random, but too funny.
Anyways, that's all I've got for now - I took about 150 photos which I'll be getting developed this week; however, I've got a paper to write before I can take the time to scan them all in - so I'll probably do two rounds, the first of which will be the best of them.... hopefully by thursday.
by Cantabridgian on Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:09 am 
) , and *sigh* its just wonderful. *Gush mode completed*
(That one of Jamie the Gypsy cracks me up. Looks cute.)
I WANNA GO!!
