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excel
Double Axel
Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Another 4 star review from Edinburgh
http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Cinderella-On-Ice-Edinburgh-Playhouse.4896475.jp
| Quote: | Cinderella On Ice, Edinburgh Playhouse
Published Date: 21 January 2009
By THOM DIBDIN
Cinderella On Ice ****
Edinburgh Playhouse
CUTTING smoothly through their reworking of the Cinderella story, The Imperial Ice Stars might take their time to build up to it but they eventually achieve a truly spectacular piece of entertainment.
The opening scene is relatively conventional – looking back through the gauze of time to see Cinderella's happy home life come to an end with the death of her mother.
But it's the rest of the story which takes a great spinning triple leap into theADVERTISEMENTunknown. Fortunately, it is light enough on its feet to end up facing the way it is travelling, but there is enough that is unusual about the plot to confuse the unwary.
For starters, there's no fireplace to sleep in for Cinders, or Buttons to be her pal. Dad is a watchmaker, the wicked stepmother is the local ballet mistress and the vile stepsisters are arrogant little ballerinas who get preferred for the big roles when the prince figure – actually the mayor's son – comes to see a production of Swan Lake.
The fairy godmother figure is transformed into a fortune-teller who, confusingly for anyone looking for a higher moral to the tale, is at odds with Cinderella's father. And the Dandini role belongs to the town's dressmaker.
If the plot is a tad confusing, particularly the intrusion of the Swan Lake ballet complete with music, the performances most certainly are not. These ice-skaters know how to put emotion and character into their moves, as well as making the most difficult lifts and turns on the tight skating stage seem easy enough to emulate.
They are helped by the way that director and choreographer Tony Mercer keeps a good balance between telling a story and stringing a series of moves together. So, for the most part, the jumps, lifts and set-piece moves are all built into the story.
Fortunately, the company's request to rework Prokofiev's Cinderella ballet music for the ice was turned down. Instead, this is accompanied by a musical score which, while it might be lush and anodyne by comparison, at least fits with the rhythm of the skating movements.
It is in Act Two that this really begins to go to town – you can't go far wrong with a ball sequence. It allows the choreography to let rip, for no other reason than it wants to. So it is that a tap-style move, reminiscent of Riverdance no less, creeps into the show, and one skater even does a series of flic-flacs across the ice.
If the best is reserved for the big love scene of the finale, when the choreography literally takes off, this is eminently watchable all the way through – whether you're a skating fan or simply want a spectacular night out.
Run ends Saturday |
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witty
Double Axel
Joined: 17 Jan 2009
Posts: 11
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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From Edinburgh
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Dance-Review-Imperial-Ice-Stars.4900738.jp
| Quote: | Dance Review: Imperial Ice Stars
Published Date: 22 January 2009
By KELLY APTER
THE IMPERIAL ICE STARS: CINDERELLA ****
PLAYHOUSE, EDINBURGH
WATCHING ice-skating can be a stressful affair. Each time those blades leave the ice, it's heart-in- the-mouth time until they execute a safe landing. As Cinderella progresses, however, you learn to disregard the perils and settle into life on icADVERTISEMENTe, thanks in no small part to the incredible performers of Russia's Imperial Ice Stars, who make highly complex moves look as effortless as breathing.
Gliding gracefully across the ice, the men are deceptively strong, holding female skaters high above their heads – sometimes with one hand – as they spin. For their part, the women know no fear as they're thrown from one man to another, or traverse the ice wearing a single skate during the search for Cinderella.
Having been turned down by the Prokofiev estate to use his score, artistic director Tony Mercer was forced to commission something new. Which appears to have been a blessing in disguise, as Tim Duncan and Edward Barnwell's score evokes a real sense of drama and romance. It also gives the show a modern feel, making the love between Cinderella and the Lord Mayor's son (Mercer's version of the Prince) far more believable and at times genuinely touching.
Special effects such as falling rain, jets of fire and a beautifully lit carriage give Cinderella the 'ooh' factor. Ultimately, though, it is the ability of the performers that steals the show. |
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elina
Double Axel
Joined: 05 May 2007
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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From Milton Keynes
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice: Milton Keynes Theatre
4:52pm Wednesday 4th February 2009
By David Bellan »
This is not a panto, it’s very much an ice-ballet with a touch of real ballet in the middle. The basics of the well-known story are there – young girl loses her mother, father remarries and she is bullied by her stepmother and stepsisters. Arriving at a ball for which her invitation had been stolen she falls for her host who also falls for her. Dashing off at midnight she leaves behind one slipper (well, a skating boot actually) which leads her lover to discover her identity. Why couldn’t he just recognise her? I always wonder, without all this boot-fitting stuff.
In this version, Cinderella and her step-sisters are ballet dancers in the course of putting on Swan Lake. The bullying comes in the form of a dispute over the leading role, which Cinders gets when the leading man drops a rival ‘sister’. We actually see a bit of the performance – there is a curtain at the back of the stage which opens to show us another, painted audience, before whom the cast perform.
In the second act we go to the ball, in this case given by the mayor, with his son turning out to be the love interest.
This is cleverly thought out and it works. There is some very beautiful skating, especially from Olga Sharutenko and Andrei Penkine (pictured) as Cinderella and the mayor’s son. They have long and very expressive duets in which we see clearly their growing feelings for each other. Their skating also calls for great skill and daring; during Swan Lake Cinderella, as Odette, actually flies above the stage, and in their final duet as united lovers she flies again, with Penkine at one point hanging from her feet.
There is strength in depth here, with virtuoso jumps and spins from most of the likeable cast, among whom Vadim Yarkov as Cinderella’s lugubrious father, and Olena Pyatash as a stunningly attractive stepmother, are outstanding.
Cinderella on Ice runs till Saturday at Milton Keynes. |
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dcode
Novice skater
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 6
Location: UK
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| Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:06 am Post subject: |
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From Woking
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/cindersiceSC-rev.htm
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars
New Victoria Theatre, Woking, and touring
Review by Sheila Connor (2009)
I have watched the television show Dancing on Ice and marvelled at the amazing technical ability and quality of performance some of the participants have managed to achieve, but these people are as children learning to walk compared to the expertise and ability of the Imperial Ice Stars. They glide, they swoop, they spin, they fly – but this is not simply skating, although simple is not a word to apply to this level of performance. They present very beautifully a true theatrical experience and, without words, tell the story of Cinderella lovingly, emotionally, and with depth to the characters.
I may have been to too many pantomimes, but I was rather expecting a similar experience only on ice, so it was a surprise as the curtain rose to see something vaguely resembling an ice palace with figures gathered around a person reclining on a bed…..had we come to The Sleeping Beauty by mistake? Of course this is the true beginning – when Cinderella’s mother dies, and she is carried to bed by her loving father to cry herself to sleep.
Ten years later (time figures largely in this story, as of course it would) and the scene has changed to a bustling village square. All is colour, light and happiness as the skaters twirl and skim busily going about their business. There is a balloon seller, who hands his balloons to a young girl, and they take her off - Mary Poppins style - into the sky, while a colourful gypsy fortune teller (Olga Gmyzena) appears to have mystical powers, and it is in this setting that Cinders (Olga Sharutenko) and the Mayor’s son (a romantically wistful Andrei Penkine) first notice each other.
Cinderella’s watchmaker father has married again, but this is not to the harridan we might have expected. This lady is slim, svelte and exotic – a true fashion icon in an embellished ruby trouser suit and sporting a long elegant cigarette holder. The daughters too are far from being ‘the Ugly Sisters’, but they are spoilt and spiteful towards their half-sister, making this a much more credible and realistic interpretation of the story than the one we are used to, and there is jealousy and annoyance when Cinders is given the leading role of Odette in Swan Lake.
The most magical and wondrous scene is just before the interval with the construction of the coach to take Cinders to the masked ball, although every scene is magical, enthralling, and brings tears to the eyes with the sheer beauty and emotion of it all.
The technical expertise, strength and agility is beyond question, one long scene compelling the girls to skate solely on one foot while Cinderella’s lost ‘shoe’ is tried on one after another.
They manage to fit in a little comedy too and there is also a touch of Riverdance on Ice as they enjoy a type of Irish Jig – Russian style!
Of course true love wins through in the end, but the audience didn’t want the show to end and the skaters treated us to a spectacular finale with all performing seemingly impossible feats of skating expertise and acrobatics.
The many young children in the audience were kept totally spellbound, as were their parents and grandparents – a truly wondrous, magical experience! |
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in
Double Axel
Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 10
Location: United K
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| Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: |
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From Manchester -
| Quote: | Cinderella On Ice
By Natalie Anglesey
THE popularity of the television series Dancing On Ice has undoubtedly created a resurgence of interest in ice-skating extravaganzas and the fact that Olga Sharutenko, who dances the title role, also partnered John Barrowman in the early days of the series, may have something to do with the popularity of this production.
The Imperial Ice Stars are 25 award-winning, Russian skaters who have garnered 250 competition medals between them.
Apart from Olga, who dances like a dream, Andrei Penkine provides the love interest and skates superbly with Vadim Yarkov providing strong support as Cinderella's father.
The pas de deux , danced to a romantic love theme with lots of flying, is a delight.
The company is co-founded by Salfordian Tony Mercer who is regarded as one of the leading exponents of theatre on ice.
But his version of the Perrault fairytale owes more to Nureyev's darker take on the story and has powerful choreography worthy of a West End musical.
Mancunian Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell have composed and arranged a sweeping melodic score full of Russian folk influences.
In fact Russian musicians have been used, along with principal soloists from the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, for recording the music track here in the city.
Mercer has added new dimension to the traditional fairytale by setting it at the Palace Theatre where, because of an accident, Cinderella rather confusingly dances the role of Odette in Swan Lake.
There's also a sinister Dance of the Hours, with a brilliant cameo from Denis Balandin as Thirteen O'Clock..
Nevertheless it looks good, the skating is superb, the transformation scene is magical and I loved the happy ending...
But you may have some explaining to do about the plot to the children on the journey home!
Cinderella On Ice is at the Opera House until Saturday, February 28. £12.50 - £28.50.
Reviewed: Wed, 25 February, 2009 |
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isd
Double Axel
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:56 am Post subject: |
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From British Theatre in Manchester
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/cindersiceAE-rev.htm
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice
The Imperial Ice Stars
The Opera House, Manchester, and touring
Review by Andrew Edwards (2009)
The Imperial Ice Stars returned to Manchester after their award winning Swan Lake on Ice in 2007. Since their inception in 2003 they have performed to over 2 million people across the world and Choreographer Tony Mercer has assembled another fantastic line up of champion skaters.
This version of Cinderella is not the most familiar to western audiences. There are some recognisable characters and some not often associated with the tale. After her mother dies at the opening of the piece ten years pass and Cinderella lives with her Clockmaker Father and her Stepmother. There is a theme of clocks and time running throughout the evening. In place of a Fairy Godmother there is a mysterious Gypsy. Part of the plot revolves around a performance of Swan Lake at the local theatre with competition between Cinderella her Stepmother and her Stepsisters. Some of this was rather confusing.
The ice dancing was an engaging, highly skilled but occasionally mystifying blend of ballet, ice skating and even sometimes pantomime
A number of the youngest children in the audience grew restless as some of the scenes did go on for rather a long time though they were undeniably spectacular. This is not primarily a show for very young children given the degree of concentration which was necessary. One or two families did not return after the interval.
However there were always beautiful stage pictures on offer with a good balance between ensemble dancing and solos and duos. On balance the female skaters were more memorable than the athletic male skaters. Dry Ice and pyrotechnics were used very effectively. The lighting also conveyed much of the atmosphere. The tableau closing Act one was particularly wonderful. The dancers appeared each carrying what looked like a piece of corrugated iron. Then at the last moment they joined together in a sculpture which formed a carriage which lit up as the curtain fell. This was theatrical magic.
As Cinderella Olga Sharutenko is such a dazzling star. Her use of hand and arm gestures as well as her incredible grace and poise made her very easy on the eye. Her performance appeared to be effortless especially when flying.
In this version there is no Prince Charming instead we had the Lord Mayor's Son who finds, then loses and finally refinds Cinderella. Andrei Penkine brought an athletic yet gentle energy onto the stage. His performance reached its height in the final pas de deux with Olga Sharutenko when he held on to her as she flew on the rope and so they both flew and twirled around the stage. The dry ice faded and stars appeared on the cyclorama. This was a strikingly romantic effect.
The Wicked Stepmother was more haughty than downright cruel and Olena Pyatash had charm and style as well as a nasty streak. She also looked the most elegant on the stage in her signal colour of scarlet. The two Stepsisters played by Svetlana Fadeeva and Alina Kharetdinova were not exactly ugly in this production but they were precocious and suitably mischievous in equal measure. Also worthy of note was Andrei Bannikov as a very camp and playful Dressmaker. He brought an impish sense of fun onto the stage which was sometimes otherwise lacking.
The costumes designed by Albina Gabueva were bright and filled with detail. There were beautifully matched browns and greys. Cinderella's ball gown was a mix of sparkling silver and pale blue skirt. The very clever effect of the hands of the clock dancing was brilliantly realised. The dancers wore golden all in one costumes with mini crowns and each had a number on their bodice. They moved like toy soldiers and whenever they appeared as these characters there was much in the way of acrobatics. This was particularly thrilling and, of course, highly dangerous both to those executing the expert rolls and handstands and the other dancers.
It is worth noting that to be able to perform in any way on ice is very skilled in itself. The size of the rink on the stage was much smaller than that in which the company is used to dancing. This might have been why there were one or two errors in the very early part of the first half. All the familiar ice dance moves were on offer. There were twirls and twists in various dazzling combinations. Male dancers lifted and held female dancers sometimes with just one arm whilst spinning or gliding around the rink.
The music by Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell had echoes of a range of composers. This reviewer noted elements of Strauss and Bach as well as Tchaikovsky. The finale had a clearly celtic feel to it and the dancers did an electrifying step and kick on the ice. They had to dance to a recording to ensure exact timings were maintained.
The final tableau had almost every dancer holding another one aloft in a fitting tribute to a marvellous evening of ice dancing.
Cinderella on Ice will please the families at which it is clearly aimed. However this reviewer would urge those with very young children to consider very carefully before booking.
The world tour continues….. |
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suvs
Double Axel
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: |
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From Liverpool Daily Post
| Quote: | THEATRE REVIEW: Cinderella on Ice, Liverpool Empire Theatre
Mar 4 2009 by Laura Davis, Liverpool Daily Post
THERE is no pumpkin in this frosty take on the classic fairytale and, for that matter, no fairy either, but the Imperial Ice Stars’ interpretation of Cinderella didn’t need a transmogrifying vegetable and a star-topped wand to make the show feel magical.
Instead of the traditional downtrodden servant girl, its leading lady (Olga Sharutenko) is a ballerina and her adversaries rivals for the lead role in Swan Lake.
The stepmother is played as a prima donna controlling parent, determined to see one of her daughters win the part of Odette and the hand of the Lord Mayor’s Son (Andrei Penkine) – himself a more down-to-earth version of Prince Charming.
Cinderella’s stepsisters are far from ugly, but their good looks are tainted by their bad manners as they flirt and stomp their way through their scenes.
Artistic director Tony Mercer commissioned a brand new musical score for the show, rather than using Prokofiev’s ballet, to better suit the flow of the blades. The result is a combination of traditional and modern, with sweeping pas de deux love scenes interspersed with the staccato motion of the ticking clock, represented by a team of gold clad ice-dancers.
Time is an important theme in the performance, with up to four synchronised clocks on stage at any one time and Cinderella’s father (Vadim Yarkov) given the job of a watchmaker.
Instead of a fairy godmother, there is a gipsy (Olga Gmyzina) who tells the future through a crystal ball, and the enigmatic character Thirteen O’Clock who steals Cinderella away when she fails to leave the Lord Mayor’s ball at midnight.
There are Olympic medallists and World Champions among the 23-strong cast, performing some moves that have never been attempted before. And all on a stage measuring just 15 sq m, rather than the customary arena 16-times the size.
There are delightful artistic touches – a townsperson lifted off stage by a bunch of helium balloons, stunning costumes and a series of one-footed dances as the girls of the town, one boot on and one boot off, queue up to try on the ice skate Cinderella leaves behind at the ball.
But it is the image of the couple spiralling through the air on a wire, united at last, that will endure the longest. |
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fire
Novice skater
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 2
Location: UK and...
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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From Liverpool Echo
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice Empire Theatre
Mar 4 2009 Liverpool Echo
Quite apart from the amazing supersonic action made possible by skating blades rather than conventional ballet shoes, this is not Cinderella as we know it.
So forget panto, and think bigger and slicker and altogether more technically demanding and accomplished.
Tony Mercer’s production for the unstoppable Imperial Ice Stars (last at Southport with Sleeping Beauty) is, however, Cinderella as you will definitely want to see it.
A spectacular demonstration of spellbinding physical achievement spliced with stunning fluidity from an ensemble as accomplished in previous competition prowess as they now are in presenting the beguiling magic of a full theatrical experience.
In this reworking, Cinders (Olga Sharutenko) is depicted as a dancer in a touring version of Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky’s music being worked into an otherwise wholly new and attractive specially commissioned score.
Sharutenko’s Cinderella has a wistful vulnerability, elegance and humility. A suitable contrast to the pushy, but certainly not ugly stepsisters, hot to trot with the principal suitor - not a prince, but the town mayor’s son (Andrei Penkine).
He looks like a naive preppy English college boy rather than a hunk with a mission to make the discarded shoe ( glass slipper not appropriate) fit the heroine.
But the partnership between Penkine and Sharutenko is what makes this show unforgettable,
The repeated pas de deux theme is a truly beautiful example of symphonic writing, reminiscent of the rhapsodic achievements of another cross-over composer, Mark Knopfler.
But their dancing, incorporated with seamless flying sequences, comes over as effortless . This is a show which proves itself capable of captivating the capitals of the world.
Something heroic, and with a spirit and level of expertise to confound those yet to be convinced that the conventional world of classical ballet can be reinvented, tinged with an amphitheatre sense of daring and danger , and yet emerge with breathtaking romantic finesse.
10/10 World class |
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autum
Novice skater
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 3
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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From Liverpool with 5 stars
http://www.whatsonstage.com/blogs/liverpool/?p=257
| Quote: | Review - Cinderella On Ice
March 4, 2009
3-7 March 2009
Cinderella on Ice at the Liverpool Empire is a show that’s breathtakingly brilliant.
It’s one of the most expensive and artistically outstanding ice shows ever created with 25 talented championship skaters, magnificent choreography and breakneck skating moves you did not think possible.
Performed by the Imperial Ice Stars from Russia, with artistes at the top of their game, there are many ‘oh my word’ moments when you wonder just how they manage to expedite such daring moves on a theatre stage.
The story is not the classic one we know, with buttons, mice and ugly sisters. It is much better than that. The whole show has class, with sassy costumes, all in warm muted colours, and skating to enthral.
The story briefly sees Cinderella (Olga Shgaruntenko) as the understudy of a ballet performance of Swan Lake who takes over from one of her nasty stepsisters who falls during performance. She shines, and takes the heart of the mayor’s son (Andrei Penkine) in the audience.
Time is a constant reminder in this show, with Cinders father, a watchmaker, and the arms of the clock - lycra-clad skaters in black and gold - menacingly weaving a dark undercurrent in their dramatic interludes.
There are many moments when Cinders and the Lord Mayor’s son try to connect, but the vindictive stepmother, Olena Pyatash, in bright red, with her two nasty daughters, Svetlana Fadeeva, and Alina Kharetdinova, cleverly weave their way in and out to keep them apart. Inventive and exciting skating, combined with expressive acting make you feel for the lovers, whose desire is clear.
As we all know they meet, eventually, in the ball scene, and the famous slipper – or ice skate – is lost. This leads to an interesting scene when the Mayor’s son is looking for its owner, with skaters dancing on one skate with the other foot naked
The ending, is pure magic, when the scenery lifts, and the two stars dance together with a backdrop of clouds, to the beautiful original score by Tim A. Duncan and Edward Barnwell.
As well as exquisite skating there are also aerial moments on a wire, giving the whole scene a surreal and dreamlike quality.
Its magnificent choreography and breakneck skating moves you did not think possible.
This is a show that is out of this world and will transport you to another sphere.
- Jeanette Smith |
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join
Novice skater
Joined: 23 Mar 2009
Posts: 7
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:14 am Post subject: |
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From Stoke-on-Trent
| Quote: | Theatre Review: Cinderella On Ice – The Regent Theatre, Hanley
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 09:20
THANKS to Phillip Schofield et al I was beginning to worry that my eight-year-old niece was in for a bitterly disappointing evening.
"It probably won't be like Dancing on Ice," I explained. "That lady from Blue Peter probably won't be there and I'm not sure if they necessarily have a 'props week'…"
Well I was right about one thing. The stunning performance we witnessed last night was nothing like Dancing on Ice. It was infinitely better.
Slick, stylish and spectacular, the Imperial Ice Stars' production was about as far from your run of the mill ice show as Cirque Du Soleil is from Barnum and Bailey.
The familiar fairytale is at its core but with a sophisticated spin: Cinders' father is a watchmaker, 'wicked stepmother' is a cruel ballet mistress and our heroine catches the eye of Prince Charming (here the Lord Mayor's son) after stepping in for an injured Odette in Swan Lake.
The ballet link is apt. Ambitious choreography, dramatic design and an expressive musical score all culminate in an exquisite lemon sorbet of a production that is theatrical rather than flashy – more reminiscent of a Matthew Bourne ballet than an ice dance stage show.
That's not to say that the production hasn't its share of magic, with fire, rain and flying skaters all realised on stage. But the real fairy dust comes courtesy of the cast. Throws, spins and gravity-defying lift sequences are perfectly executed by a cast of 25 medal-winning athletes.
Standout performances come from Olga Sharutenko as Cinders, graceful and technically brilliant even when hoisted 20 feet in the air, Vadim Yarkov as Cinderella's father, and Michael-Flatley-on-ice Andrei Penkine, whose nifty footwork brought the audience to their feet.
I feel I must warn you, however, that the production doesn't feature even one of the Nolan sisters. Or Tucker Jenkins in sequined spandex.
But come the show-stopping finale, even the most hardcore Dancing on Ice fans will be giving Cinders and co straight sixes. I know at least one eight-year-old who did.
The production runs at the Regent Theatre until Saturday. For tickets call the Box Office on 0870 060 6649.
Clare Hargreaves |
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foto
Novice skater
Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 3
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Another 5 star review from Northampton, and a riverdance video!!!
The video
The Riverdance 
The Review
http://www.whatsonstage.com/blogs/central/?p=276
| Quote: | Review - Cinderella on Ice
April 2, 2009
Royal&Derngate, Northampton
31st March to 4th April 2009
*****
Reality television has a lot to answer for. Not only does the current vogue for ballroom dancing owe much to the Saturday night schedules, but ice dance has achieved a fascination with the public that far outweighs its significance as an artform.
Or so I thought.
Then ice dance entrepreneur Tony Mercer brought his Imperial Ice Stars to Derngate. He built a square rink on a projected proscenium stage, dressed his huge team of skaters in fabulous one-off costumes and created perhaps the most beautifully expressive interpretation of the Cinderella story to have graced a theatre since Charles Perrault dreamed up his definitive version of the fairytale more than 300 years ago.
Told without words, this worldwide touring production relies heavily on a combination of Mercer’s own thrilling choreography and a sumptuous new score from composers Tim A Duncan and Edward Barnwell. There are lush melodies, vast, sweeping string arrangements and some incredibly evocative moments in the music, and it’s all reflected and intensified by the stunning performances on the ice.
More than 20 hugely talented skaters create memorable image after memorable image as the story unfolds, with a strong central theme of time holding it all together effectively. Both in individual displays of technical excellence and ensemble routines of dazzling style, the Imperial Ice Stars reveal a fluency and flair for their art that constantly catches the breath and amazes the eye.
Alongside set pieces of impressive scale – including a wonderful monochrome art deco ball – there are heartstopping moments of sheer beauty and tenderness. Flying has never looked so graceful or natural as in Cinderella’s final touching duet with her hero.
Olga Sharutenko and Andrei Penkine make a handsome couple, matching their blade skills evenly with sincerity and passion, and Vadim Yarkov as her father leads a supporting cast of highly polished entertainers to deliver a fantasy of breathtaking proportions.
Even a technical hitch requiring instant ice repairs – which allowed the genial Mr Mercer himself to chat informatively to the audience for a few minutes – only served to enhance the experience.
So even if Dancing on Ice did nothing for you, then at least allow the Imperial Ice Stars to show you exactly how powerful, elegant, majestic and moving this artform can be.
Review by Michael Davies |
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kredit
Novice skater
Joined: 04 Apr 2009
Posts: 3
Location: UK
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| Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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From Llandudno
http://www.whatsonwales.co.uk/reviews/i/13633
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice - Venue Cymru
The Imperial Ice Stars always prove a popular attraction at Venue Cymru and with their latest production, Cinderella on Ice, achieve fresh heights of perfection.
This is the latest stage of the company`s World Tour which started in New Zealand in 2008 and I urge everyone to see it. Ice skating audiences have been swelled in recent years due to the popularity of ITV`s Dancing on Ice but the skills displayed by this Russian company put this programme into proper perspective.
Some of the individual and ensemble routines in this show left the audience gasping in awe and calling for more at the end. When you consider that on stage in a conventional theatre these skaters perform in an area just one quarter the size they are used to. It is little wonder that the skaters in this company have achieved more than 250 competitive medals.
The two principals Olga Sharulenko and Andre Penkine make an exquisite couple and their routines are often out of this world. There is however massive support from the whole cast who all have so much to offer in their skills. It is almost unfair to single out anyone in particular but Vadim Yarkov (Watchmaker) and Olena Pyatash (Stepmother) are quite outstanding and the Watchmaker`s Assistants Denis Balandin and Maxim Belyakov did some amazing routines.
Artistic Director and Choreographer Tony Mercer has given us a truly inspired production and although this classic fairy tale is not quite the traditional tale we all grew up with, it is very refreshing to have a new slant on it which does not disappoint.
Whilst the skill of the skaters provide plenty of memorable highspots this is a show that has no weakness in any department. The original musical score composed exclusively for this production by Tim A.Duncan and Edward Barnwell is truly inspirational and fits all the routines to perfection and in a variety of moods from the sinister clock routines to the romantic starlit finale so beautifully skated by the two principals.
The lighting design by Gavan Swift is wonderfully atmospheric whether in the moody clock sequences, the romantic dancing in the rain routine and truly hits the mark with the appearance from nowhere of the coach to climax the First Act. The sets designed by Eamon D`Arcy work superbly well and again add a lot of atmosphere to the show. Add to these factors the colourful costumes and intricate design from Albina Gabueva and you do end up with what has to be a perfect production.
Frank Sheehan |
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tapdance
Novice skater
Joined: 06 Apr 2009
Posts: 3
Location: UK
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| Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: |
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From Bradford
| Quote: | Cinders gets skates on to go to the ball
8:38am Wednesday 6th May 2009
By Emma Clayton »
There was a chill in the air at the Alhambra last night as the fabulous Imperial Ice Stars took to a frozen stage for Cinderella On Ice.
In a twist on the fairytale, the show presented Cinderella as a humble chorus dancer thrust into the spotlight, who catches the eye of the dashing Lord Mayor's son. With her jealous stepsisters out to steal his heart, Cinders enlists the help of a gypsy fortune teller to help her find the slippery path to true love.
With the Alhambra stage transformed into a shimmering ice rink, it was a thrill to see the Russian ice champions perform daring skating moves - some never attempted in a theatre before - in such an intimate setting.
Breathtaking lifts and triple axel jumps blended with tightly synchronised ensemble routines and some stunning, balletic romantic duets.
Well done to a terrific cast, especially Olga Sharutenko and Andrei Penkine as Cinderella and her hero, Olena Pyatash as the Stepmother and Vadim Yarkov as the Watchmaker/Cinderella's father.
As thrilling as they are, ice shows can sometimes become a bit monotonous once the novelty of the skating has worn off, but this show had enough going on to create an all-round spectacle. Lavish scenery and gorgeous costumes combined with dazzling special effects including falling rain bouncing off the ice, flying sequences and dramatic fire routines.
A thoroughly entertaining blend of world-class skating, spectacular sets and innovative storytelling.
Runs until Saturday. |
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cherish
Novice skater
Joined: 10 Jun 2009
Posts: 3
Location: UK currently
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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From Glasgow
http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831244673379
| Quote: | Cinderella on Ice
Venue: Theatre Royal
Where: Glasgow
Date Reviewed: 9 June 2009
Cinderella on Ice marks the Imperial Ice Stars third production, following their successful and critically acclaimed offerings of Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
The 25 strong cast of Olympic, World, European and National champions are spellbinding in their execution of lifts, spins and acrobatics, all of them breathtaking and spectacular.
In this production chorus dancer Cinderella (danced by Olga Sharutenko) is the daughter of a village watchmaker. Cinderella’s evil stepmother is the ballet mistress of the theatre where her own daughters are ballerinas. Cinderella first attracts the admiration and attention of the Lord Mayor’s son (danced superbly by Andrei Penkine) at a performance of Swan Lake, in which she replaces her incapacitated stepsister as the prima.
This rags-to-riches story continues as Cinderella attends the Lord Mayor’s ball, with the magical assistance of the Gypsy Fortune Teller. Then the classic story of Cinderella that we all know and love really shines, climaxing in the story’s traditional happy ending. The storytelling is occasionally lost in the production’s unique take of the fairy-tale, but there’s no camouflaging a good yarn.
One cannot deny Artistic Director and Choreographer Tony Mercer’s vision and creative talents or that of the skating stars themselves. However, several elements let the production down slightly, including several ill-fitting and synthetically unpleasing costumes and head-wear designed by Albina Gabueva and the pre-recorded soundtrack played throughout, ironically recorded and produced by sound company Ambience, something which could have been heightened by the presence of a live orchestra.
The flawless and unquestionable skating prowess and visual magic effects are only part of the overall picture. With a few design tweaks here and there, this would be an absolutely top-notch spectacle.
The stage may be frozen, but the skating is sizzling hot and dazzles from start to finish with a truly sensational finale displaying some extremely impressive and dangerous party pieces, each one trying to out-do the other.
Despite some minor reservations, Cinderella on Ice is a great evening’s entertainment for all the family, although with some pretty jaw-dropping and heart-stopping stunts, it’s not recommended to those of a nervous disposition.
- David Somerville |
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linger
Novice skater
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Posts: 6
Location: UK and worldwide
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:21 am Post subject: |
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From UK Theatre Network
http://www.uktheatre.tv/
| Quote: | The Imperial Ice Stars – Cinderella On Ice - Theatre Royal, Glasgow - 9th-13th June 2009
Published by: Jon Cuthbertson on Wednesday 10th June 2009 02:06pm
On their return to the Theatre Royal the Imperial Ice Stars show why the audience have been waiting so eagerly.
Before the show even begins, the impressive scale of this production is explained in the programme. The effort to transform the Theatre Royal stage into an ice rink for these talanted performers is no mean feat. With 36 hours of solid work, including spraying the ice every 15 mins overnight to ensure the correct thickness and smoothness, it was amazing to think they managed all that, plus constructed the set and rigged up and focused the lights and still opened on time. There was one slight technical issue with a projector or screen not being at the correct position, but that can easily be forgiven when you see the work that has already taken place behind the scenes. Besides, it’s the work onstage that draws your attention.
With many different verions of Cinderella to choose from, the Imperial Ice Stars have created a clever story that allows each performer to show off their own individual talents on the ice. From acrobatics to aerial work, from leaps to lifts, from spins to splits, this show really does manage to do everything on ice you could possibly think of (and they’ve thought of even more too!). As Cinderella, Olga Sharutenko (who some may remember as the dance partner of John Barrowman on Dancing On Ice) shows that skating is in her blood (her mother was also a figure skater). With poise and beauty as the leading lady, all the audience, young or old, were enthralled with both her on ice and “off ice” dancing.
With no dialogue, it always amazes me in these productions that the story can be told so emotionally, and also with great humour. The interpretations of different dance styles in the production was ingenious and extremely entertaining. Also, in the current economic climate, it was clever to re-use Swan Lake as a part of the story and include the beautiful costumes from that last production, alongside the stunning dresses created for this show. The Stepmother had fantastically over the top, but extremely tailored creations, which allowed Olena Pyatash to show some fantastic aerial positions in the stunning lifts with both Vadim Yarkov, as Cinderella’s Father, and Andrei Penkine, who instead of a traditional “Prince” was playing the Lord Mayor’s Son.
The production numbers involving the full cast are amzing to watch, as they all move with such precision over the small section of ice, pulling off daring moves like double axels, triple flips and toe loops, and triple throw axels where the girls are thrown into a spin by their partners, and land, with only inches of ice to spare. With ice skating making a resurgance in the popularity stakes, due to the Dancing On Ice TV show, this show will tick all the boxes for fans of traditional ice shows, and also of the TV show. And seeing as the Dancing On Ice producers “couldn’t find a venue to accommodate their show in Scotland”, they’ve been majorly put to shame by The Imperial Ice Stars and their continuing tours.
Get your skates on, as it will be another 2 years before they are back in Glasgow again! |
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