PAskate
02-08-2003, 12:00 AM
Well, I just back from the Cleveland SOI performance. This is the first time in awhile that I’ve attended the show in Cleveland after seeing it in Detroit the last couple of years. The crowd in Cleveland was disappointing to me. In the lower bowl, the sides were about 90% full with the ends less than 40%. The second level was only 10%, and the third level was only 5%. And they were offering two for one deals on tickets!!! Not sure why the story was – poor economy, fear of terrorism, disappointment with last year’s show. Now I understand why the on-ice seats were so much more expensive this year – only 1 row on ice instead of the previous 2-3 rows. I had an end seat, so my view was not the best – you really lose a sense of the skaters’ speed and ice coverage being on the end, but it is great to see them skating down the ice heading directly for you!
I had thought about skipping the program this year, but tradition won out, and I purchased one yet again. I liked the bio pieces on the various skaters, but the paper quality was much worst than last years and the photo quality suffered as a result.
Lots of people have written reviews of the earlier stops on the tour, so I’ll really just give my general thoughts. The skating seemed slow tonight, but I think that the ice wasn’t the greatest. It looked really cloudy and got very snowy very fast.
"The Great & Powerful Oz" Cast – lots of energy and multiple people on ice at the same time doing moves. It was hard to catch everything. This is definitely an opening that you can see more than once and find things that you missed the first time.
"Born to be Wild" Alexei Yagudin – Lots of trademark moves – kind of a greatest hits program that you enjoyed even though it was too taxing for Alexei physically with jumps (thank goodness – I want to keep seeing him skate.).
"Bed of Roses" Ina & Zimmerman - I absolutely love this program. :P I suddenly realized how “soft” they have become. They have really melded into a wonderful team with a wonderful relationship on the ice between them. It also made me realize how much is now missing in the US pairs scene. I could definitely see this program again and again. The audience also really appreciated the performance.
"Come Fly With Me" Sale & Pelletier – Nice, but somehow it seemed like something was left out. I actually felt this way a couple of times during the evening, so I’m not sure if it was my perspective from the end or maybe the skaters were hitting the mid-tour doldrums.
"Channel 1 Suite" Todd Eldredge – Definitely the program of the evening from a technical standpoint – great spins, jumps – including triples, footwork, and connecting moves. I think that this was also the longest program of the evening as well, so Todd definitely gets the workhorse award. Todd seems to be transitioning into a performer and I look forward to seeing him develop over the next couple of years with SOI.
"Blues in the Night" Katarina Witt, Gorsha Sur, John Zimmerman – A great flirty number that really hit the personality of the three. It was also fun to see Gorsha and John partnering someone whom isn’t a dancer or pairs skater.
"Overcome" Alexei Yagudin – A nice program, but I actually liked Alexei’s other 2 programs better. His 3-jump combo was a definite program highlight!
"I'm Your Man" Meno & Sand – WOW, I never imagined that Todd would be so good at skating comedy. I wished they had tried something like this years before. Although, I did keeping thinking of Gary Beacom’s program to the same music. However, by the end, I really enjoyed it and think that they made it their own. It can be so risky to skate to music that has been so identified with another skater. This was actually one of my favorite pairs programs of the evening, and I’ve not previously been such a big fan of Jenni and Todd.
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" Kurt Browning – One of those great “serious” Kurt programs. The Cleveland audience really loved Kurt tonight and this program was no exception. Wonderful edges, speed, spins, plus some jumps. I would have loved this even without any jumps.
"Sing, Sing, Sing" Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze, Sale & Pelletier, Todd Eldredge – When I’d heard about this program, I wasn’t sure that I would like this at all. It actually worked quite well. I was really impressed with Todd’s speaking voice – I think that he could easily have a broadcasting career if he wanted to. I mean he sounded great, skated throughout, and never dropped the mike. The two pairs skated trademark moves with nice flow and speed. There was a nice section where the 2 teams mirrored each other’s choreography.
Intermission – 20 minutes
"A Little Less Conversation" Cast – AKA the cowboy number. Fun, fun, fun. The audience loved it – of course what do you expect with a group of mostly women, but the guys seemed to have fun performing it as well.
"The Rest of Your Life" Katarina Witt – A really nice program for Kat. She doesn’t have the triple jumps of some of the current group of eligible ladies, but she can set a mood and draw the audience into her world. Her spins were great with lovely positions, and they were FAST! Think about it, it’s been 18 years since she won her first Olympic gold medal and she still has wonderful edging and poise. We should all look that good after 18 years.
"Miserere" Todd Eldredge – This program was great with the feel of many of Todd’s trademark dramatic programs from his eligible days. Jumps, spins, plain old good skating. This program also fit perfectly in the total program
"The Prayer" Roca & Sur – If this doesn’t convince people that they were destined to be added to the tour, I don’t know what would. This program touches my soul. I love the music and am totally captivated by their skating. And their one rotational lift where Gorsha holds and cradles Renee with only one arm is amazing. They do such difficult moves and make it appear effortless to do so.
"Slippery Side Up" Kurt Browning – The audience’s #1 hit for the evening. Kurt’s footwork is to die for and tonight he proved that he can not only do it on skates, but also in skateguards! LOL He is truly the Pied Piper on ice with the audience following his every move. At least in tonight’s audience’s eyes, Kurt is now the reigning skate god of SOI having assumed the mantle from Scott Hamilton.
"Love on the Rocks" Roca & Sur, Meno & Sand, Ina & Zimmerman – This was actually a nice cute number. I would have liked to see this expanded and turned into a full program for these 3 teams.
"Mme. T After Hours" Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze – I actually figured out the program finally – wax figures come to life. I must have been hiding under a rock since I couldn’t understand what people had been describing before for this program. I actually enjoyed it, and it was nice to see Elena and Anton skate to a fun concept program.
"Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" Sale & Pelletier - My favorite of Jamie and David’s program for the evening. Sexy, but still packed with great skating.
"Racing" Alexei Yagudin – WOW. I really had fun watching this program, and of course the footwork was just awesome. He definitely skates with such energy and certainly has a natural ability as a showman.
"Finale" Cast – The finale was nice and fun but didn’t pack a closing punch. Either the various skaters needed longer spotlights or the whole finale needed to be longer.
I had thought about skipping the program this year, but tradition won out, and I purchased one yet again. I liked the bio pieces on the various skaters, but the paper quality was much worst than last years and the photo quality suffered as a result.
Lots of people have written reviews of the earlier stops on the tour, so I’ll really just give my general thoughts. The skating seemed slow tonight, but I think that the ice wasn’t the greatest. It looked really cloudy and got very snowy very fast.
"The Great & Powerful Oz" Cast – lots of energy and multiple people on ice at the same time doing moves. It was hard to catch everything. This is definitely an opening that you can see more than once and find things that you missed the first time.
"Born to be Wild" Alexei Yagudin – Lots of trademark moves – kind of a greatest hits program that you enjoyed even though it was too taxing for Alexei physically with jumps (thank goodness – I want to keep seeing him skate.).
"Bed of Roses" Ina & Zimmerman - I absolutely love this program. :P I suddenly realized how “soft” they have become. They have really melded into a wonderful team with a wonderful relationship on the ice between them. It also made me realize how much is now missing in the US pairs scene. I could definitely see this program again and again. The audience also really appreciated the performance.
"Come Fly With Me" Sale & Pelletier – Nice, but somehow it seemed like something was left out. I actually felt this way a couple of times during the evening, so I’m not sure if it was my perspective from the end or maybe the skaters were hitting the mid-tour doldrums.
"Channel 1 Suite" Todd Eldredge – Definitely the program of the evening from a technical standpoint – great spins, jumps – including triples, footwork, and connecting moves. I think that this was also the longest program of the evening as well, so Todd definitely gets the workhorse award. Todd seems to be transitioning into a performer and I look forward to seeing him develop over the next couple of years with SOI.
"Blues in the Night" Katarina Witt, Gorsha Sur, John Zimmerman – A great flirty number that really hit the personality of the three. It was also fun to see Gorsha and John partnering someone whom isn’t a dancer or pairs skater.
"Overcome" Alexei Yagudin – A nice program, but I actually liked Alexei’s other 2 programs better. His 3-jump combo was a definite program highlight!
"I'm Your Man" Meno & Sand – WOW, I never imagined that Todd would be so good at skating comedy. I wished they had tried something like this years before. Although, I did keeping thinking of Gary Beacom’s program to the same music. However, by the end, I really enjoyed it and think that they made it their own. It can be so risky to skate to music that has been so identified with another skater. This was actually one of my favorite pairs programs of the evening, and I’ve not previously been such a big fan of Jenni and Todd.
"How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" Kurt Browning – One of those great “serious” Kurt programs. The Cleveland audience really loved Kurt tonight and this program was no exception. Wonderful edges, speed, spins, plus some jumps. I would have loved this even without any jumps.
"Sing, Sing, Sing" Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze, Sale & Pelletier, Todd Eldredge – When I’d heard about this program, I wasn’t sure that I would like this at all. It actually worked quite well. I was really impressed with Todd’s speaking voice – I think that he could easily have a broadcasting career if he wanted to. I mean he sounded great, skated throughout, and never dropped the mike. The two pairs skated trademark moves with nice flow and speed. There was a nice section where the 2 teams mirrored each other’s choreography.
Intermission – 20 minutes
"A Little Less Conversation" Cast – AKA the cowboy number. Fun, fun, fun. The audience loved it – of course what do you expect with a group of mostly women, but the guys seemed to have fun performing it as well.
"The Rest of Your Life" Katarina Witt – A really nice program for Kat. She doesn’t have the triple jumps of some of the current group of eligible ladies, but she can set a mood and draw the audience into her world. Her spins were great with lovely positions, and they were FAST! Think about it, it’s been 18 years since she won her first Olympic gold medal and she still has wonderful edging and poise. We should all look that good after 18 years.
"Miserere" Todd Eldredge – This program was great with the feel of many of Todd’s trademark dramatic programs from his eligible days. Jumps, spins, plain old good skating. This program also fit perfectly in the total program
"The Prayer" Roca & Sur – If this doesn’t convince people that they were destined to be added to the tour, I don’t know what would. This program touches my soul. I love the music and am totally captivated by their skating. And their one rotational lift where Gorsha holds and cradles Renee with only one arm is amazing. They do such difficult moves and make it appear effortless to do so.
"Slippery Side Up" Kurt Browning – The audience’s #1 hit for the evening. Kurt’s footwork is to die for and tonight he proved that he can not only do it on skates, but also in skateguards! LOL He is truly the Pied Piper on ice with the audience following his every move. At least in tonight’s audience’s eyes, Kurt is now the reigning skate god of SOI having assumed the mantle from Scott Hamilton.
"Love on the Rocks" Roca & Sur, Meno & Sand, Ina & Zimmerman – This was actually a nice cute number. I would have liked to see this expanded and turned into a full program for these 3 teams.
"Mme. T After Hours" Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze – I actually figured out the program finally – wax figures come to life. I must have been hiding under a rock since I couldn’t understand what people had been describing before for this program. I actually enjoyed it, and it was nice to see Elena and Anton skate to a fun concept program.
"Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" Sale & Pelletier - My favorite of Jamie and David’s program for the evening. Sexy, but still packed with great skating.
"Racing" Alexei Yagudin – WOW. I really had fun watching this program, and of course the footwork was just awesome. He definitely skates with such energy and certainly has a natural ability as a showman.
"Finale" Cast – The finale was nice and fun but didn’t pack a closing punch. Either the various skaters needed longer spotlights or the whole finale needed to be longer.