|
|
|
Holiday Festival on Ice - Langley, BC - Dec. 1, 2012
written by Tina
Every year, Holiday Festival on Ice brings a little holiday cheer and
a lot of great skating to a few cities in Canada. This year, the
mini-tour kicked off in early November with a show in St. John's, NL,
that was taped for CBC. While that show featured special musical guest
Measha Brueggergosman, and will be aired on Dec. 12 (8-9PM EST), the
show that came to Langley, BC on Dec. 1 was a bit different. Special
guest Kaetlyn Osmond replaced Nicole Bobek in the cast, and without a
musical guest, several of the skaters did different programs.
As a Kurt fan, the change was all to my benefit. To my delight and
surprise, Kurt skated to three different solos, all new for this
season. The holiday theme was also more muted, which disappointed
some, but worked well for me, since I'm happy to celebrate the
holidays a bit closer to the holidays.
Act 1
O Come All Ye Faithful/Joy to the World (Measha Brueggergosman)
- Cast
Dressed in festive red costumes, the skaters, led by Jeff Buttle,
Elvis Stojko, and Kurt Browning, took to the ice to kick things
off. The number flowed between the three guys, to Kimmie Meissner and
Joannie Rochette skating together, to Shawn Sawyer, Sinead Kerr, and
John Kerr. It alternated the group skating together with individual
intros and highlight moments for each skater, and got the audience
ready for a great night of skating.
Gwendoline/Mambo No. 8 (Perez Prado) - Kaetlyn Osmond
Kicking things off was the night's "special guest", Canadian
wunderkind Kaetlyn Osmond, 2012 Skate Canada and Nebelhorn Trophy
winner. While the ice wasn't kind to Kaetlyn on jumps (and later
wasn't kind to some of the other skaters, especially the ones who had
to sit or lie on it), it hardly made a difference. That girl has a
definite spark and incredible charisma, great audience connection, and
some super-quick, exciting choreography that just kept moving, even
out of a fall or two on jumps. The number, her short program this
year, has a very upbeat Latin beat, and she kept up with it very
well.
Tropical Christmas (Bobby McFerrin/Daddy Lion) - Shawn Sawyer
It was a rainy, chilly night outside in Langley, but Shawn Sawyer, in
his dreadlocked wig, would have us believe we were warm in the
tropics. His program, to a medley of "Don't Worry Be Happy" and a
reggae-esque song by Daddy Lion, evoked a laid-back, relaxed vibe. The
costume (though he rid himself of the wig halfway through) gave the
program a comedic touch (he looked much the same front to back),
though there was nothing comedic about Shawn's beautiful jumps.
Fairy Tale of New York (The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl) - Sinead & John Kerr
What was comedic was the Kerrs' first number. The program opened with
Sinead and John each collapsed in a folding chair. John got up,
stretching and grimacing, like he just woke up from a long night
partying, and then pulled a limp (hungover?) Sinead up, to dance
around. He basically dragged her limp, unresponsive body around until
it was like someone gave her a shot of adrenaline, and suddenly they
were both running down the ice cheerfully and quickly. I'm not
entirely sure that my interpretation is what was intended, but it sure
seemed like a very hungover couple the morning after a great Christmas
celebration, and it was fun to watch.
In This Shirt (The Irrepressibles) - Jeffrey Buttle
When I first saw this program at the Medal Winners Open in October, I
knew that the other skaters in the competition would have a long way
to catch up with this program that perfectly melded Jeff's still
impressive technical skills with wonderful artistry. Seeing it again
at Holiday Festival on Ice didn't change that impression. In my
opinion, Jeff Buttle is at the top of his game - his programs are
detailed and beautiful, his jumps clean and high, his spins incredibly
fast, his footwork lovely, and his overall performance passionate and
committed.
White Christmas (Mannheim Steamroller) - Kimmie Meissner
This program started out simply enough - Kimmie skating gracefully to
traditional Christmas music in a nice, but fairly typical holiday
skating number. Partway through, however, she disappeared backstage
and came back out with a gauzy piece of cloth, which she used to
lovely effect around the ice. She skated with it streaming out behind
her, and wrapped around her as she spun, creating a nice dreamy
effect.
Kurt's Song (The Tragically Hip) - Kurt Browning
Back in 1998, Kurt's favorite band The Tragically Hip wrote a song
especially for him. The program to that song, Antares, became one of
Kurt's classic programs. This year, Kurt was contacted by Gord
Sinclair of the Tragically Hip, who told him he'd been thinking of him
and wrote him a song. That song - more melancholy, more piano and
instrument-based (though still with some spacey-sounding beats over
it) - became the basis for Kurt's new program which he debuted at
Holiday Festival on Ice. The program is still in the works - there's
no costume (he wore his "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" costume),
and the choreography is shifting as Kurt works with it - but there is
a lot of potential there. The program, as performed in Langley, had a
beautiful flow to it that fit the somber feel of the music, and some
beautiful 3-toes, and a series of 2-axels in a serpentine pattern down
the ice.
For Me, Formidable (France d'Amour) - Joannie Rochette
I have seen this program by Joannie many, many times now. I've
probably seen it a few too many times for my taste, but there's no
denying that this program is a really, really good program for her. It
suits her somewhat more demure flirtatiousness to a T - that body
language that invites the audience in while still holding a little
back in reserve. She's just so solid in her jumps and spins as
well. And it's fun watching the face of the audience member she picks
out to wrap her scarf around.
Above the Northern Lights (Mannheim Steamroller) - Elvis Stojko
The problem I sometimes have with holiday shows is that there is a
finite supply of known Christmas songs, and so you often hear the same
songs over and over with slightly different variations. I particularly
enjoyed Elvis' number because it was a Christmas number, but a very
different one to music I hadn't heard before. The music was rather
mysterious, and dreamy sounding, and I thought Elvis did a really nice
job interpreting it. This is probably one of my favorite programs I've
seen Elvis perform, actually.
Before the intermission, Jeffrey came out to make an appeal for
WorldVision, very similar to the ones he did for the Canadian Stars on
Ice tour last spring.
Act 2
Blessed Assurance (Measha Brueggergosman) - Joannie Rochette,
Sinead Kerr, Jeffrey Buttle, John Kerr
Act 2 began simply - Joannie and Jeff just appeared at the end of the
ice, waited for the crowd to notice them, and then began skating to
the music of Measha Brueggergosman. I have to confess that the music
for this number was not at all to my taste - overdramatic,
overoperatic - but Jeffrey Buttle's choreography was more simple and
joyous, and redeemed this number for me. That, and his and Joannie's
charming skating alongside Sinead and John Kerr. Not to mention an
incredibly fast scratch spin from Jeff that made me gape in
amazement.
All I Want For Christmas (Two Figure Skates) (Geoffrey Tyler) - Kurt Browning
Kurt has done programs in hockey skates before, to great effect (Luck
Be a Lady, Let Love In), but usually there is no apparent reason he is
in hockey skates, except that he skates amazingly in them. This
program, however, is brilliant in finding a concept that completely
justifies *and* highlights Kurt being in hockey skates, and executes
the concept superbly. It is about a little boy who wanted figure
skates for Christmas, but, to his dismay, got hockey skates
instead. Throughout the program, he keeps trying to do figure skating
tricks in his hockey skates, struggling with the lack of toepick, and
pulling off amazing footwork in the process. His friend Geoffrey Tyler
crafted the lyrics to the song especially for this program, with
references to wanting to be like Brian Orser, and his shirt says "I
Wish I Was Toller/Taller" (with Taller crossed out). The highlight of
the program was a beautiful double axel landed in hockey skates
(highlight for Kurt as well, judging from the ear to ear grin on
landing), but the overall program was just wonderfully fun and
delightful to watch.
Reach/Hotel Nacional (Gloria Estefan) (Gloria Estefan) - Kaetlyn Osmond
Kaetlyn's second program started a bit slower and kind of generic
female ballady, but when the music switched, it went into high
gear. The girl moves so fast, with quick changes of direction, and
choreography that doesn't stop for a minute. And yet, despite moving
so quickly and having so much choreography to execute, she still made
eye contact with the audience and carried out the sassy/sexy feel of
the program with verve. I was also impressed that she didn't allow the
fact that her music started before she was barely out on the ice
(ahead of what she was expecting) or any jump issues to throw her
off.
Alegria (Cirque du Soleil) - Shawn Sawyer
I've said it before, and I will say it again - Alegria is the perfect
program for Shawn Sawyer. It's the ultimate fit of concept to skater,
from Shawn's bendy flexibility and acrobatic maneuvers, to his
passionate commitment to the music and choreography. I believe Shawn
as a strange, wild-eyed Cirque du Soleil creature. I marvel at his
balance, and strength, and flexibility. And I enjoy the heck out of
his program.
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison) - Kimmie Meissner
There's a simple charm to Kimmie's Brown Eyed Girl program. Aside from
the fact that she is the brown eyed girl personified, she sings along
with the music, and generally engages the audience with the friendly
twinkle in her eye. In Langley, she particularly charmed the audience
(especially the side that could see her face) when on the "slippin'
and a slidin'" lyric, she slid down on her side and obviously
immediately regretted getting down on the wet ice. The look of rueful
dismay on her face, as she picked herself up and wiped the excess
water off, was both charming and amusing, and she won a sympathetic
laugh from the audience.
Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell) - Jeffrey Buttle
This is a program that I think showcases Jeffrey Buttle's strengths in
musical interpretation. There's a spareness to this lovely song, space
and tension between the words and verses, and I think Jeffrey's
performance really captures that feel of tension through pauses,
emotion in the quiet, as well as the build of feeling in the
chorus. He knows how to take his time, and that suits this music
well.
Pencil Full of Lead (Paolo Nutini) - Sinead & John Kerr
It's rather amusing that both of the Kerrs' programs essentially
starts with them asleep. In this case, poor Sinead had to lie down on
the aforementioned wet ice (and was clearly disturbed by this,
cringing gamefully as she carefully lay down, winning the audience's
sympathetic laughter in the process). John, on the other hand, got
away with lying on the red carpet on the floor of the on-ice seats
(lucky him!). This program is so full of energy and fun to watch, just
complete nonstop steps and lifts and dancing. There was a scary moment
when John flips Sinead up to slide down his back headfirst, and seemed
to almost lose his grip for a second, but they saved it and went right
on with the fast, frenetic program.
My Sharona (The Knack) - Elvis Stojko
Elvis' first number was possibly one of my favorites I've seen him do
live, because of the interesting music and his committed musical
interpretation. "My Sharona", unfortunately, was more typical of the
type of exhibition programs I don't enjoy from him. On the positive
side, he had solid, beautiful jumps, and the program was high energy
and fun. On the negative side, my least favorite thing in skating
exhibitions is the skater (always male) standing still for an extended
period of time and just pointing smugly into the audience and getting
a huge cheer for it. My Sharona had a lot of this, and diminished my
enjoyment of the program a great deal. The audience completely ate it
up, though, and he may have gotten one of the biggest ovations of the
night for this.
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire - Joannie Rochette
It was kind of nice to bring things down a bit with a warm, lovely
skate by Joannie to the much slower, homey feeling "Chestnuts Roasting
on an Open Fire." It was odd, though - in a holiday show, this was
one of the very few holiday programs in the second act, and actually
jarred me a bit to go from a bunch of fun exhibition programs to this
very traditional Christmas carol. Not one of Joannie's more memorable
skates, but nice and fitting for the theme.
Singin' in the Rain (Gene Kelly) - Kurt Browning
I had assumed that Kurt was only doing two programs, and so imagine my
surprise when the first few notes of "Singing in the Rain" came over
the speakers. It's been a while since I've been surprised like this,
and I was absolutely delighted. In fact, it pretty much made my
night. Seeing "Singing in the Rain" live in general would make my day,
but seeing three Kurt programs in one night? Sheer bliss. At any rate,
the performance didn't disappoint one bit. Kurt obviously loves this
program and loves performing it, and that joy just leaps off the ice
and embraces the audience. His skill with that umbrella is impressive,
not only doing jumps (including a 3-2 combination) and spins while
holding it, but also tossing it around and flipping it open and closed
with his choreography like it's part of his body. His footwork and
choreography is wonderfully matched to the music, his facial
expressions fully in character, and the whole package just
delightful.
O Holy Night (Measha Brueggergosman) - Cast
The finale led off with Joannie alone on the ice, doing some footwork
and a lovely spiral before being joined by Kimmie and Sinead. The
three ladies did some side by side footwork and choreography, and then
Joannie and Sinead went into side by side layback spins while Kimmie
did a spiral around them. They were then joined by Kurt (who did a
remarkably quick costume change), Elvis, Jeff, and Shawn, skating side
by side down the ice. Sinead and John did a turn around the ice
together, including Sinead lifting John upside down. The music flowed
into the skaters skating as a group down the ice, with lovely flowing
choreography as they swooped around in different patterns. The number
was a nice capper to the night, bringing together all the skaters
(Kaetlyn joined for the bows) and circling back to the holiday feel of
the show.
Overall, Holiday Festival on Ice was a wonderful night of skating with
some beautiful programs and amazing skaters. I enjoyed it a great
deal, and left the arena very happy.
|
|
|
|
|
