- Joined
- Oct 29, 2004
I know it's nearly a week ago, but for anybody who might be interested, here's my review:
We had a different vantage point this year, since we decided to take upper level seats, but they were in the first row, so for the first time I didn't have to do the head bob when the person in front of me shifted in his/her seat. I don't remember ever seeing so many empty seats at COI. The short sides of the arena, even down on the first level, were very sparsely populated. My mother even told me they were still advertising in the papers the day before. However, it was a very appreciative audience, and all of the skaters were well received.
Rudy has a new program, and as usual he gave it 200%. He's keeping up his technical level with great jumps, fast spins, etc. A fun, lively program (most of it to Donna Summers' "Last Dance") that got the crowd going.
Viktor's Mack the Knife program is suave and sophisticated. A good change of pace for him, and a personal favorite of my mother's due to the music choice!
Elvis has a typical Elvis program, and it works for him. I don't know how it is at the other venues, but here in NJ he's definitely a crowd favorite every year.
I don't remember Tim's COI number from last year, but this one seems like a departure for him. No rock/pop vocals this time. It almost seems like he's starting to prep a competitive program for next season.
Johnny Weir's Unchained Melody was a real highlight, and I especially like the ending combination spin.
Dan Hollander's program is a lot of fun. When he was doing the single or double jumps according to Richard Simmons' instructions, I laughed out loud. Although I think quite a few people in our section didn't quite get that part of it...
The Ukrainian acrobats' new program gets a thumbs up. Some interaction with the audience and their tricks were well received, as always.
Amber Corwin has a pleasant program ("Big Fine Daddy"?), and she really seemed to be enjoying herself out there. I'm glad she has the opportunity to do the tour this year.
Kimmie Meissner seems very tall, even from where I was sitting! A nice program. Hopefully she'll learn from experience and the veterans how to project more to the audience.
Surya is another who departed from her usual type of program. She did a total of three of her back flips landed on one foot throughout the afternoon and, as always, she was well received by the audience.
Jenny looked great! Her Madonna/Evita program was well done, with the exception of one fall, which she bounced right back up from. Gorgeous smile, and, like Amber, she really seemed to be enjoying herself.
Sasha's Streisand number is another hightlight. I think I like this one as much as, if not more than, her R&J. Very bouncy, with just the right amount of attitude. Like Jenny, one fall, but she bounced right back up and really sold the rest of it.
Irina really works that Brittney Spears program and it looked like she was having a ball out there. I think she ended up doubling what would have been a triple loop, but no worries!
Michelle's new program was, of course, a highlight for me. I've always loved that song, as I did the movie, so add in a Michelle program, and everything's good. She wore the gold Bolero dress. She did two triple flips (one out of footwork), a double axel, and she downgraded the lutz to a double. From other reports she's been doing the lutz as part of a combo, but I didn't see one here. She doubled what I believe was meant to be a triple in the opening number, and she did the four double axels in the finale. If she keeps with tradition, she'll take this into next season for her exhibition number, and I'll be happy to get it on tape.
T&M were smooth as silk, just lovely.
P&T-I was impressed with them. They did a huge throw triple, and the crowd gave them a warm reception.
O&L-I'm really liking this pair, and looking forward to seeing what they can do next season.
A&P-My mother turned to me after they skated and said "I've really missed them". She's right. I didn't realize how much I have missed them until I saw them. Interesting program, great speed, good work with the light sabers. They're throwing in quite a few of their trademark reverse gender lifts, getting positive audience response. When they were announced as Oly champs, French National Champs, etc., the uninitiated gentleman behind me said "Humph, sounds Russian to me!" Ah, ignorance!
B&A-So glad I was able to see their abbreviated Gypsy Dance in person. WOW!
G&G-Nice to see some new blood on the tour. Very pleasant program.
The ending number is high energy and all the skaters seemed to be having a blast. I even saw Irina over by the boards in the dark while others were doing their spotlight portions and she was square dancing with some of the guys with a huge smile on her face.
All in all, I think it's a very good show this year. If anybody's on the fence about going, I would recommend seeing it.
We had a different vantage point this year, since we decided to take upper level seats, but they were in the first row, so for the first time I didn't have to do the head bob when the person in front of me shifted in his/her seat. I don't remember ever seeing so many empty seats at COI. The short sides of the arena, even down on the first level, were very sparsely populated. My mother even told me they were still advertising in the papers the day before. However, it was a very appreciative audience, and all of the skaters were well received.
Rudy has a new program, and as usual he gave it 200%. He's keeping up his technical level with great jumps, fast spins, etc. A fun, lively program (most of it to Donna Summers' "Last Dance") that got the crowd going.
Viktor's Mack the Knife program is suave and sophisticated. A good change of pace for him, and a personal favorite of my mother's due to the music choice!
Elvis has a typical Elvis program, and it works for him. I don't know how it is at the other venues, but here in NJ he's definitely a crowd favorite every year.
I don't remember Tim's COI number from last year, but this one seems like a departure for him. No rock/pop vocals this time. It almost seems like he's starting to prep a competitive program for next season.
Johnny Weir's Unchained Melody was a real highlight, and I especially like the ending combination spin.
Dan Hollander's program is a lot of fun. When he was doing the single or double jumps according to Richard Simmons' instructions, I laughed out loud. Although I think quite a few people in our section didn't quite get that part of it...
The Ukrainian acrobats' new program gets a thumbs up. Some interaction with the audience and their tricks were well received, as always.
Amber Corwin has a pleasant program ("Big Fine Daddy"?), and she really seemed to be enjoying herself out there. I'm glad she has the opportunity to do the tour this year.
Kimmie Meissner seems very tall, even from where I was sitting! A nice program. Hopefully she'll learn from experience and the veterans how to project more to the audience.
Surya is another who departed from her usual type of program. She did a total of three of her back flips landed on one foot throughout the afternoon and, as always, she was well received by the audience.
Jenny looked great! Her Madonna/Evita program was well done, with the exception of one fall, which she bounced right back up from. Gorgeous smile, and, like Amber, she really seemed to be enjoying herself.
Sasha's Streisand number is another hightlight. I think I like this one as much as, if not more than, her R&J. Very bouncy, with just the right amount of attitude. Like Jenny, one fall, but she bounced right back up and really sold the rest of it.
Irina really works that Brittney Spears program and it looked like she was having a ball out there. I think she ended up doubling what would have been a triple loop, but no worries!
Michelle's new program was, of course, a highlight for me. I've always loved that song, as I did the movie, so add in a Michelle program, and everything's good. She wore the gold Bolero dress. She did two triple flips (one out of footwork), a double axel, and she downgraded the lutz to a double. From other reports she's been doing the lutz as part of a combo, but I didn't see one here. She doubled what I believe was meant to be a triple in the opening number, and she did the four double axels in the finale. If she keeps with tradition, she'll take this into next season for her exhibition number, and I'll be happy to get it on tape.
T&M were smooth as silk, just lovely.
P&T-I was impressed with them. They did a huge throw triple, and the crowd gave them a warm reception.
O&L-I'm really liking this pair, and looking forward to seeing what they can do next season.
A&P-My mother turned to me after they skated and said "I've really missed them". She's right. I didn't realize how much I have missed them until I saw them. Interesting program, great speed, good work with the light sabers. They're throwing in quite a few of their trademark reverse gender lifts, getting positive audience response. When they were announced as Oly champs, French National Champs, etc., the uninitiated gentleman behind me said "Humph, sounds Russian to me!" Ah, ignorance!
B&A-So glad I was able to see their abbreviated Gypsy Dance in person. WOW!
G&G-Nice to see some new blood on the tour. Very pleasant program.
The ending number is high energy and all the skaters seemed to be having a blast. I even saw Irina over by the boards in the dark while others were doing their spotlight portions and she was square dancing with some of the guys with a huge smile on her face.
All in all, I think it's a very good show this year. If anybody's on the fence about going, I would recommend seeing it.
Did you get any high fives on the final lap around the boards? When Rudy and/or Elvis leave the tour, those are going to be some mighty big shoes to fill.
Glad my review helped.
She did three triples (one in combination) and a double Axel. Also her four double Axel thing in the finale. The key to Michelle's success is that she always looks like she is just so tickled to be out there entertaining us that she can hardly stand it!
