"legends on ice"...anyone see it???

[blades]

8-)

just wondering good (or bad) show was...

[BarneyBear]

I didn't take notes and didn't even recognize most of the music, so I can't help with that, but I can tell you it was, in general, a good show.

There was an ensemble that were on the ice a lot. The chorography looked good to my eyes anyway and I thought the costumes were some of the best I've seen. The idea behind the first act was a tribute to the skaters in the Hall of Fame and I think the whole idea of the show was as if it were an old time ice show from the 30s or 40s. I don't think that concept worked as well as it could have. And they had a mime or a clown or something that I think was supposed to tie the show together that, to me, did not fit at all. JoJo Starbuck and Ken Shelley were the hosts and JoJo in particular really over-acted, I think to get the crowd going.

After a good opening number Nicole did a better program than usual for her. It was a serious program, female singer, perhaps a flamenco influenced program. Only single jumps that I recall, but she was more into it and intense that I remember seeing her for a while.

Then it was time for the Legends, legend being a skater in the hall of fame. There were round screens suspended from the roof and they showed lots of clips of Dick Button, Sonia Henie and the other legends. I particularly enjoyed the ones of Dorothy. Dick Button did not skate but he gave a brief introduction of several of the skaters. He was probably on stage about 5 minutes in all (there was stage at one end of the ice)

Richard Dwyer, "Mr. Debonaire" did a number which I assume was one of his old classics with beautifully, elaborately costumed girls representing the seasons. He looked darn good for a 70+ man! Then (I quote from the program) "Debonaire's protege" Brad Dowd did a comedic number that involved much falling down with different beautiful and elaborately costumed girls that was quite funny. The audience liked it and so did I.

I admit I have never heard of Sonya Klopfer-Dunfield before, but she did a few minutes of skating including (I think) a waltz jump. I am going down the program and I just can't remember what Gary Visconti did. What was it???

Jojo and Ken were great, their song, like most of the songs in this act, sounded like they were from some of those old Hollywood musicals. One of the true highlights of the show were Tai and Randy, she has so much charisma! Their number was short (too short)

Dorothy was "the star" (this time I quote Jojo and Ken) and she did a pretty number in red velvet and the crowd gasped at her closing scratch spin among other great moves.

There was a charming young skater, Brigette Alanis, I am sorry they said how old she was but I forget now.... maybe 13 or so? She was terrific with tons of personality, skating in pink to a song that was something about Daddy. Her costume was a little too showgirly for my tastes but she seemed really good, very fast.

Then we had the only real clunker of the night. Something called Planet Ice. I don't know if this was something special for this show or if this is a local group, but it was, um, not good. About 30 Teddy bear/smurfy characters come out of a meteor or something and they are sad because the ice melted on their planet. Jojo invites them to use our ice. This is where Jojo really was overacting, but she may have been trying to rescue the whole thing. It would have been fine for a few minutes, but it went on and on and on. At some point judges came out in big oversized masks and there was some nonsense about them and then the smurfybears left. This number sucked all the energy out of the audience, who I think were very game to like it. I think maybe it was meant to pay tribute to Disney-type shows but it just was flat and dumb.

Elvis closed the first act with In the Middle, which, as a typical, high energy Elvis program, I loved. I believe he did the only triples (toes) of the night. This audience really liked his scratch spin too! He woke up the audience and save the first acting from ending on a real low note.

The intermission was 20 minutes, I assume because the restrooms at the Long Beach Arena are kind of hard to get to.

The opening of the second act was charming, thank goodness. It was called Currier and Ives and the ensmemble wore the best costumes of the evening and the music was The Skaters Waltz. A young boy whom my program identifies as Allen Gaghinjian was zipping around and we all liked him a lot Next, my program informs me, there was something called Gaslight Waltz couples, but I simply don't remember that one.

I do remember the next one. Scott Davis! and Marissa Micu did an excellent program. Scott's spins still look great! Another highlight.

The show really kicked into high gear when it got to this point, the novelty skaters. I know "real fans" disdain these, so I guess I am not a "real fan" I have always found them great fun and I think they deserve kudos as terrific performers, if not terrific skaters: Dan Hollander did Mrs. Doubtfire, Irina Grigorian did her hoops.

Then there was a innovative number where an adagio team: Matthew Evers and Ellicia Shepherd skated and a pair of dancers on a small round stage in the middle of the ice did a dance. It was very interesting and a great idea that worked well.

The ensemble did an excellent program to Vida Loca, I really thought the emsemble was great throughout. And somewhere in there, a synchro team, Del Sol, from San Diego performed. I am even less of an expert on synchro, but they certainly impressed me! Rudy did YMCA, again he is such a great performer, the audience loved him and with good reason. I remember several 2 axels, which were as steady as rock, no sign of the hip surgery.

Dorothy did one more number, to a female version of Unchained Melody. She was as smooth as usual, but I did nto feel her choreography suited the mood of the song. The acrobats were next and the audience roared at their program. Naturally I have seen it many times, but dang, it does make me laugh too! They always make me think of the old actor's adage, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard" They make it look easy.

They had a nice closing number which I don't remember at all (I guess I am getting old)

So if you actually read this far, you'll know it was a pretty good show. I personally think they should have omited the clown (he was on through the whole thing) and interspersed the legends through out the show instead of have them do their thing in the span of about 10 minutes. The show ran 2.5 hours but seemed longer. You can decide of that's good or bad. As I said, the smurfy-bears were a bad idea. If they HAD to do it it should have opened the second act. But I had a good time and if the audience was not exactly fired up, they were good natured and I think felt they got their money worth.

One final comment: the program had really terrific photographs but is quite poorly written and organized.

BB

[doubletoe]

Yes, it was a good show. Dorothy was captivating, and so was Scott Davis. I also enjoyed some of the novelty skaters, like the woman who did all the hula hoop tricks while skating (and the guys liked her, too; she was hot, LOL!).

To fill in a few little gaps, Gary Visconti did a little cameo to "My Way". He didn't do any real jumps since he's recovering from a minor injury, but did a very low, fast sitspin. (Pretty impressive for a 60 year old who hasn't skated professionally in years!)

A few of the local skaters that appeared are nationally ranked, including Senior Men's Regional champion Nick LaRoche (who was fantastic) and Regional Intermediate medalist Ellie Kawamura. I believe Nick LaRoche did at least one triple.

[icedancer2]

To fill in a few little gaps, Gary Visconti did a little cameo to "My Way". He didn't do any real jumps since he's recovering from a minor injury, but did a very low, fast sitspin. (Pretty impressive for a 60 year old who hasn't skated professionally in years!)



Thank you for this bit on Gary Visconti -- he was a member of our club in the '60's and had a very fun and flashy style that was fun to watch!! Sort of a "Mr. Personality"- type. Glad to see he can still do it!! At 60! (not surprising, though, actually).
:)