I went to Stars On Ice a few nights ago which was an exhilarating experience. I got to touch many skaters' hands including Ilia Kulik and Sasha Cohen! This year's show was about celebrating the 20+ years of America's favorite ice show, and the significant change between competition and show artistry.
I did a review last year, so I figured, I'll do one this year as well. * Our guest star was Jeffrey Buttle.
Act I:
Acts of Random Kindness - Cast: This number was by far the best group number out of the whole show. It had power, it had strength, and it had class. The choreography was planned out beautifully. Stunning performance to kick off this year's tour. ★★★★★
Canned Heat - Jeffrey Buttle: Can I say.. artistic? Crazy colors and lots of fun, canned up into one big introduction performance for the Olympic Bronze medalist. Facial expressions fit to the tone of the music, and choreography brought out the best there could be. ★★★★
Angel - Jennifer Robinson: Disappointing performance. This six-time National Champion may have the medals, but she doesn't have the determination or the speed to prove she is SOI material. I can see her improvement, but it is still not enough. The choreography should be a bit more challenging for her, so she's not walking around while the music is reaching higher notes. ★★
Since I've Been Loving You - Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon: Romance and elligance - the perfect recipe for Marie-France and her partner Patrice Lauzon. I don't have a partner, but for those three minutes, I felt like I was taken back to that special place called love. ★★★★
1234 - Yuka Sato: Girly, fun, and a whole lot of hip. This program shows off Yuka Sato's playful side while keeping it mature and classy. Yellows, pinks and bright oranges brightened up the arena as the World Champion strutted her stuff. Very entertaining with a speckle of flirty! ★★★★★
I'm Gonna Find Another You - Todd Eldredge: For all those heart-tugged hopeless romantics out there. Truly a moving performance that left the crowds screaming for more. ★★★★
Ramalama (Bang Bang) - Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao: Not the most entertaining, but it sure brought some chuckles! Xue sporting a blonde frizzy wig, surprised the audience by letting her hair down and forgetting about the expectations. But, did the Olympic Bronze medalists forget too much? ★★★
The Dance - John Zimmerman, Yuka Sato & Michael Weiss: Touching tribute to the partnership of Kyoko Ina & John Zimmerman. John showed his romantic and graceful side as he took the time to dance with his past. Michael and Yuka provided a unique touch to the ice fairy tale of I&Z. ★★★★★
Sixteen Tons - Ilia Kulik: Showing his sexy and handy side, Ilia Kulik loaded sixteen tons in under four minutes and left the ladies squealing for more. It brought out his best and showcased his jumps/spins. One of my favorites from the night! ★★★★
Don't Stop The Music - Sasha Cohen: More than I could have ever guessed. The Olympic Silver medalist sure brought some when she marched out in a two piece costume, bringing all eyes to her glittering finesse. ★★★★
Sock Him in the Jaw - Cast: This was my mom's favorite program. I thought it was quite creative with some great choreography. The cast shows a playful circus side that celebrates the years gone by when there were clowns, masquerades, jugglers and jokers. ★★★★
Act II:
We Got it Goin' On - Jeffrey Buttle, Todd Eldredge, Ilia Kulik, Patrice Lauzon, Michael Weiss and John Zimmerman: Not a very powerful program for such a great piece of music. I was expecting spins going this way and jumps going that way. To add on to the choreography, they wore pretty plain costumes. ★★★
Io Ci Sera - Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao: Romance and power combined to make a great performance for the Olympic Bronze medalists that is more their style than Ramalama. Better style to fit their heroes'. I was impressed and wanting more. ★★★★
Stop - Jennifer Robinson: Much better than Angel, but still not enough. This showcased Jen's talents much better, and showed off her classically sexy side. She has a great figure skating body, but she still needs to figure out how to use it to the best of her abilities. ★★★
Eclogue for Piano and Strings - Jeffrey Buttle: A chance to present the Olympic Bronze medalist's serious side, showcasing his unique style of showmanship, and mellow, soft side combined into one. ★★★
I'm Gonna Crawl - John Zimmerman: Powerful, breathtaking, and new. I loved to see the Michael Weiss side come out of John Zimmerman this year. Loosing his pair Kyoko Ina brought a new light into his eyes this season, that I'd like to see more of. ★★★★
The Long and Winding Road - Yuka Sato: Moving and emotional performance that so many people in the building could relate to. Not only did the glittering, bright red dress catch your eye, but Yuka's geniune emotion and dedication to the program stunned many. One of my favorite programs of the night. ★★★★★
You Shook Me All Night Long - Michael Weiss: Not what I expected from this true champion. The music didn't fit the choreography enough for me, and there could've been more pizzazz put into it. Overall, good. ★★★
Is Nothing Sacred - Todd Eldredge: "Is forever just another word? Is a promise something people used to keep? When love was worth fighting for.. if we can say goodbye, is nothing sacred anymore?" Truly a program that left me speechless. It made me look back on some of my most recent relationships, and really got to my heart hitting me hard. No matter what powerful song he chooses, Todd Eldredge never disappoints the crowd with his soul-sharing performances. ★★★★★
Moonlight Sonata - Sasha Cohen: A perfect showcase of the Olympic Silver medalist's glides, spins and jumps. ★★★
A Song for the King - Ilia Kulik: Wordless, effortless beauty the Olympic Gold medalist brought to the ice that night. There were flowers all bundled up left in the corner with the spotlight shining on them, some of the most cleanly landed jumps of the evening, and a hand floating up to the sky. This tribute left me speechless and emotional. ★★★★★
Roll with the Changes - Cast: Fun, funky and well choreographed ending number. The red reflecting off the costumes was contagious and lit the arena. As the skaters took their place in the final bow, a standing ovation began, signifying another Stars On Ice tour successful. ★★★★
* The numbers not reviewed include Michael Weiss's "Open Arms" and Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon's "Desire".
