My Stars On Ice Review:
San Antonio, TX 1.26.98
WARNING: THIS IS MORE LIKE A DIARY ENTRY THAN A REVIEW SO DON'T BLAME ME FOR IT!
This is my very first ice show and I did not want to miss a second of it but it was kinda ironic because during the show, I was more focused on the photography then the show but I missed only a few seconds out of each one.
We went in for our seats: 4th row, nearly centered and it couldn't be any closer. While waiting, I bought a few merchandise and sent my gift basket backstage. The building suddenly darkened and I saw the 11 skaters in place at center ice. I tried to tell myself not to miss a moment because this could be my only time going to the tour....
GET THE LED OUT
Bonham - The lights blinded me a little bit from the other side of the ice but the footwork sequences and percision skating was fabulous! The red halter-tops on the ladies seemed skimpier but it's a costume. Beautiful and too hot in red and leather.
Heartbreaker - I knew the exact pinpoint of where Scott Hamilton was and there he is! He reached center ice, I was one of the first few to yell with a standing ovation. He had that exact same smile and look on his face like on TBS and NBC SOI. He skating was so fabulous and we jumped up at his backflips. His double axels were amazing and solid as the ice but I was too sure that it was melting when he got out there. He had the best sit spin I've seen in a long time.
No Quarter - At the end of Scott's number, one turn around and there was Kristi Yamaguchi all in red. He approached her and comes Brian Orser, Rosalynn Sumners, Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur. I really got to notice Renee & Gorsha's lifts and spins, Brian had a nice one too, expecially his backflips! This was a good one but when the they moved out of the ice...
Moby Dick - I tried to take a photo of Kurt Browning in his hockey skates but it wasn't long enough. [I stood up and flashed my Kurt Klub t-shirt and he pointed at me.] He looked just as he always has been on TV. Had the buzzed haircut going on... very nice! Paul Wylie was amazing and mesmorizing! I love how he always follow the beat, everything was right on the spot, slow-motion, beautiful footwork. I LOVE his in/outside spread eagle across the ice, that was totally hot! Whole Lotta Love - Then comes the introduction for Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov. I love their lifts - the hand to hand press lifts were strong, especially their mid-air summersaults. Very nice side-by-side jumps. This pair was my key to prove to my mother that going to see the show in person is worth the trip!
PROMENADE DES MUSES
Promenade - The muse in this one, I knew in an instant it was Brian, already waiting in the opposite end of the opening. A lady up in front who carried a balloon that said 'World Greatest' flashed a Canadian flag and he pointed to her when he skated up.
3 Preludes - Ekaterina Gordeeva 'walks' out. Brian & Katia do a little flirting. Katia wasn't as tiny as they say she is but she was quite slim. She fell on a triple toe loop in the middle of her program but she still kept her smile and laughed it off. The audience still gave her a huge applaude because she did try. I could barely see her 'split section' because the boards sort of got in my way but it was still pleasing. Her footwork was so fabulous as always. She had a wonderful double lutz in her program.
THE SMOOCH
Topsy - The muse would be Brian, Gorsha & Sur, (?) Roz & Paul. Brian came out and stood in the middle part of one end of the ice rink. Each skater comes out and pushes the skater in front of them so that they could scoot to the center. Their little hand to hand foot moves was absolutely cute and would have made a better opening for the Prelude. Kristi comes out and gets in the middle and follows their lead. They circle her and leaves.
SWAK - Kristi nailed everything. She doubled a lutz which I might have caught on camera but everything else was great. Her costume looked like a prom dress and it was so flirtatious and sexy. I heard plenty of whistles in this one. She showed off and danced in front of the on-ice audience which was right in front of us and I got a good look at her. She is a very lovely person and it was still hard to believe that she was there.
Sleepers - Paul had everything going on in this one! This is one of my favorite Paul programs because I love how he does his spins, footwork and everything in here! He is so punctual and consistant. The flashes flew all around the rink when he went for his combination spin into scratch spin. I stared into is face throughout the program but had to look down at his skates. Can never miss that part.
With One More Look At You - Everything I saw on TV was the exact same look I saw in Scott tonight. He was in center ice, everyone gave him a huge standing ovation, he has that beard thing going on. I loved his delay axel, the back flips were great, he totally nailed in his triple lutz. I jumped up with a screaming applause but sat down with embarrasement because only three did so, but I cried throughout his program. His year back and I got to see it. I really got to see a clear view of his face, no matter where he was, the best view in the world for ME was seeing HIM on center ice.
Man of La Mancha - I don't know what Katarina has that really gets everybody. She is a very seductive woman and the program was so dramatic and fits her so well! She landed a triple jump, I think it was the triple toe in this one and the guy in front of me, I could tell was a skater or once a skater because he has too much knowledge of the sport, was totally cheering for her and named every jump she landed. The double axel was the favorite and she really has a wonderful smile on her face. The camera does add ten pounds because she looked so much thinner than on TV.
FUN & GAMES
This is my favorite group essemble! As I was figuring out what was the clicking, I suddenly realized that it was Scott aka: Swifty at his laptop when I watched the skaters set up the props in the dark. He was on the opposite corner from my. I started taking photographs when the skaters got into place. I listened to the other people in the audience and it was like I knew what was going to happen. When the girl mentioned the 'Space For Rent' on the back of Kurt's jacket, that really reminded me of what I saw on TV. You should know the story if you read other reviews or seen the show but I'll tell you anyway. I used up the rest of the film in my uncle's camera on the first half of this essemble.
We all laughed at Kurt's fabulous acting and little 'mistakes' but he was so cute in this! His role of Cyril Lutz was a classic and his technique cannot be replaced. Scott went on to talk about the Golden Enchalada. The part when he had mentioned the 'kinda like a one-on-one midnight interview with Katarina
Witt', he replaced it with 'kinda like how my hometown Broncos beat the Packers at the Superbowl last night'. I had mixed feelings here but still cheered. I was for the Packers but had to give the Broncos credit. The workout sequence was very creative.
As the overbaring mother came out (Roz, aka: Ivana Medal), I also watched the other skaters warm-up at the boards, the show how flexible Kurt really is, he was turned away from me, had his right leg lifted up on the boards and then did lunges as low as he could. The part after Katia (Lily Pureheart) was lying down on the bench, petting her stuff bear, the judges comes out!
I can't believe they took this part out! Kat, Brian, Elena, & Denis do their wonderful act and I laughed when they approached the skaters and scared them. It was too cool to hear them all scream at each other! Very soon after that, they begin skating to the same music as the ending half of Oksana Baiul's program 'All That Jazz'. Very Vegas. The bench for the judges were on my side and when the lined up to slide on the bench behind each other, we knew the fun was coming.
While then, Roz constantly pinched and flirted with Kurt. This really showed the true side to ice dancing. Gorky & Park (Renee & Gorsha) were hilarious when doing their view of the South American Red Ant, and the scores couldn't be more clearer. Words came out of people's mouth when they changed into plan B, fun & sexy salsa. Everyone laughed and applauded near the end where they do their little shaker. The score was as should be expected were 5.9s and I think someone threw in a 9.9. (Me! If you bought a program for the tour, on the back was a six but I turned it upside down and give them a 9.9 using a second program I had also bought.)
Paul (Evian Merry) was the coach for the U.S. team and as he got up to comfort the skaters, Scott went on and talked about how he was part coach, part psychologist, a supporter -- like a bra. More than supporting Katia & Kristi, it seemed more like he was luring them like girls staring with dreamy eyes at a popular boy. Paul acted a little cocky here, not that it was bad but he couldn't have gotten more into his characted. I really heard him yelling during each skater's programs. In fact, during Renee & Gorsha's programs, I didn't know who to look at, them or Paul!
It's the best half hour of the sport and the warm-up was getting vicious and the girls were really going at it on the ice. Kurt was on the sidelines and cheering the girls on, actually he just yelled, "Go, Annie!" After Katia fell and got another chance, Kristi landed a triple flip, solid. Katia attempted a double axel but as she headed straight into Kristi, Kurt yelled, "Look out!" and turned around to cover his eyes. Katia was able to skid a nice one-foot hockey stop at Kristi's feet. Now for the costume change. We all slowly laughed as the took off their warm-up suits and the second Kristi turned around, we all quiet down and listed to her scream. Paul swerved around as he chased after her. Scott, "One costume, no reforce. Who could have done such a thing? Who could have taken a famous sketch? Who could have taken a VERY expensive sketch?" Roz just laughed and walked off the ice looking at the audience with that, "Who, me?" look. And then, "Unfortunately, Annie Ne'eragain had to drop out of the competition because of an unfortunate accident -- (waiting for a sound affect) apparently the accident involved someone with a spiked heel while Annie went shopping for a new costume at the mall." Roz comes back out dusting her hands and Katia skated a clean program and Roz then throws her a medal. So happy they were! And in the corner was the man in black giving them a check (I'm starting to think it's Doug Ladret).
It's Kurt's turn and instead of just bending down to his knees, he was really struggling with something that I won't get to and it did have something to do with a new pair of short. He kept collapsing on his knees at the bench. One the music lightened up, he brought out onto the ice. I took a few photos and watched as each skater came out to wish him good luck. That cast on Kristi was huge! We all went hilarious at his opening and totally cheered when we "knew he won the gold". I had never seen the judges in sync during Saber Dance. When Scott said, "... it's not up to the standards of the great Scott Hamilton, mind you, but the best you see these days." Kurt made faces at him and went back to skating. Nailed the triple toe, triple toe! Soon he won the gold. Then came the kick line. When Kurt ran up the stairs, followed by Scott, he got knocked down. A few seconds later, Kurt was climbing back up and Scott tried to help him but couldn't do so and dropped him. Hillarious and classic!
ACT II
AMUSING
The Strut - I missed about a minute or two of the opening muses because my uncle refused go get something for himself but I came back in time to see them change into their skates.
The Diva Dance - This reminded me of Guitar Concerto last year because they begin skating around and and the ladies did figure 8s, filling up the whole ice rink. The guys were in the back, removing props, Denis pushed the bench which had Elena sitting on it along with the shoes. Renee was brought out by Gorsha who was still in black and layed her on the ice. This was a little bizarre having her laying down while the muses skated around her.
Time to Say Goodbye - This is the best ice dancing program I have ever seen, tied to Torvill & Dean's Hatrick. It had great choreography, lifts and moves that crosses over to pair skating and mid-way of their spins, I took a few pictures there. Most people applauded them for their lifts, I was fascinated by every single step, spin, waltz jumps, I can't even say more for this program.
The Story of My Life - It was so odd and everyone was confused to why the lights kept flashing in the opening. Time really moves slow because every single flash was long enought to see the whole world and Brian on ice. When the lights came up completely, the guy in front of my screamed, "Go Brian!" Which was cool because he did happen to look our way with the softest smile I have ever seen! It was so dramatic as he is and very emotional. His double axels were fabulous here.
THE HIP
Guitar - Scott Hamilton was the muse in here. You seen it on NBC when he does his hippie, guitar playing stuff. In here, he has so much energy, you thought it's just another year and something new popping up with him!
Sweet Rosalyn - Scott is down at the edge of the rink and Roz looking down at him. He was doing push-ups for her! We all clapped along to the music, some of us got up and danced. Rosalynn looks so beautiful and it was so good to see her so upbeat and hyped up! I love watching her dance and spin in this and she landed her double axel right in front of us! She sure is one sweet Rosalynn.
Antares - I love the Tragically Hip and Antares is their best creations yet - especially since it's personally written for Kurt. The best part was doing his spread eagle across the edges of the rink. A way upclose look at Kurt. He looked like he was having so much fun, he nailed two double axels. One where his triple was suppose to be and another one right in front of us. I could watch this over and over again if he's willing to perform much longer.
It's a Man's Man's Man's World - I could barely hear the music because all I heard were whistles, "Go Katarina", hoots and shouts. This really brought the mood out to the arena. She also had the double flips going around. Someone almost thought that it was Kristi. Probably because her costume was a mix of Rosalynn's and Kristi's. A group of guys from the other side of the rink gave her a standing ovation when she performed her beautiful spiral.
Guitar - the muse here were Renee & Gorsha. They came out doing the same rock n' roll guitar thing and then performed an adorable Irish dance to introduce Elena & Denis.
Joue Jusqu'au Matin - I really love this program and the costume couldn't have been anymore traditional! There were plenty of lifts going around and Elena two-footed on a throw triple salchow. I think I almost strained my neck when I looked up at Elena's face when Denis lifted her. Man! Look at the muscles on this guy! They are a fabulous pair and are wonderful together. Maturity delivers.
Go the Distance - I cried in this one. It was so emotional having to be able to watch Paul's last performance at the SOI tour. I could actually see the inscriptions on his shirt. It blended in very well because of the strong lighting but it was visible enought to see something. He nailed his triple lutz had tons of fabulous spins. He really delivered the goods tonight! We all yelled out to him, "Don't give up!", "We miss you!" and "We love you!"
FEVER
Fever - The windows came out and each skater was totally sexy here! For a minute, a spot light was missing for Kristi but we could still see her. Three skaters all spread out and I wanted to watch each one of them and I did. When Kurt moved out right in front of us and faced out way, he really moooved it! I love the part where the they rubbed their stuff - Kristi, her hips; Katia, her hands, Kurt, his butt, um...
Can't Help Falling in Love With You - Ekaterina did very well in this number. She was so sweet and delicate. I was screaming when she landed her double axel because other than that one mistake of the night, I knew she was getting her jumps back. I took only one snap of her when she was setting down on the ice right in front of us. She got up and skated right across from us.
Are You Lonesome Tonight - Kurt skated out towards Katia and begins his performance. This was so sweet and romantic, you can see Katia smiling from where she was. It was like they were sending secret vibes to each other. He had a great camel spin in this number. Soon when his number ended, Katia moved down to the other side of the rink and Kurt parked himself across from her.
Trouble - Now, I had no problem with the boards nor the people's head getting in the way of the skaters but of all people, Kurt was standing in my way! Not that I have a problem with that but I had to move my head a little in order to see Kristi down on the ice. It was good when she struted her way down to our side of the rink. I noticed Kurt was really getting in the mood, looking back at the audience and snapping his fingers. If I was the lady he was blocking, I would have grabbed him! Kristi probably shook a lot more then her stuff out there but it was so energetic and she really got into the program. Her double flip was fabulous and I wished I could see more.
Surrender - All three skaters go out and have a ball. Katia really doesn't mind being sexy anymore because she and Kristi were flirting with Kurt, tremendously. They have wonderful footwork and they make a great team. 3 champions on the ice, showing a feeling that is beyond anything. They show simple yet great lifts as Kurt tangles and tries to work between the two.
The Show Must Go On - Before the show started, I looked at the lighting and tried to remember some things I watched on TV. I remembered a witches hat and found it hidden in the speakers. Scott was terrific! He was really orginized and had each character going. He did, by the way, lose his glasses in the middle of a double axel. I guess he didn't tuck it in his costume all the way. He did another axel in front of us when he tucked his tail in his mouth and everyone applauded after he came back out of the witches hat and did a head stand with his ruby slippers. We all laughed so hard and when finished, we gave him the hugest standing ovation ever!
STAIRWAY
Stariway to Heaven - The arena darkened and Kristi came out. She slowly skated toward the end of the rink and the others skated out. Perfect line formation in the dark with blue lights. Her transformation begins. Soon Scott came out and Kristi looked like she almost knocked him down when she came up to him. They were aligned and perfect as a unit until the whole cast came out. The skaters were all over the ice! When they did a circular footwork sequence putting first Katarina and then Rosalynn in the middle, that really got the audience to applaude. We looked up at every lift between Elena & Denis and Gorsha & Renee. They ended at my side of the rink and skated back to the middle for one more look at heaven.
BOW WOW - My mom kept pushing me to leave but I stayed behind and tried to take up the rest of my camera because I wanted to see everything from the beginning to the end. When they took a bow at my side, I almost jumped at Kurt but I knew I couldn't hurdle over the boards (even though there was a gap easy for me to run out of). They all swayed, back and forth to take bows and then they hugged each other, greeted the small crowd of people who sat on ice and then they went back to their end of the ice and took one last bow. It was over and I was already being pulled up the stairs to get out of the building.
For some reason, the show seemed like a dream to me. As much as I have seen during those three hours, it looked like I was watching them on TV. My thoughts were: this can't be real, this is too good to be true to even happen to me! My idols, favorites and inspiration performed for me and everyone else in the building. Maybe once I get my photos -- if it turns out very well, then I know it was real.
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