I
am putting pen to paper..well...fingers to key board... in an attempt to
bring up-to-date all the new guests to the Lord of the Dance phenomenon.
There are always the questions being asked as to what is/has actually happened
and why Michael Flatley is not be dancing the role of "Lord of the Dance"
in the performance you are be attending. On
Saturday July 25th, 1998, in Hyde Park, London, Michael performed his last
scheduled performance in "Lord of the Dance". This was not actually "Lord
of the Dance" as we know it, it was in fact a dance spectacular, called
"Feet of Flames" -- an expanded LoTD that involved dancers from both troupes
T1 and T2 and included 8 new segments, involving 3 new dance numbers, 3
new songs, new flute number (Michael solo) and no intermission! T1 and
T2 you ask? What is that about?Michael
Flatley`s Lord of the Dance World Tour Americas leg ended in the north
Americas (an 8-9 month extensive tour of Canada and the US) in San Antonio
in October, 1997 and recommenced its turn through other countries on November
12th, in Sydney, Australia....which had been waiting for over 4 months
since it was announced the tour would return here in November and the tickets
went on sale. It was to spend 3+ weeks in Australia, then go to New Zealand
for 10 shows, take Christmas break, then recommence in Birmingham in the
UK in January 1998 and then on to Europe. Unfortunately for Brisbane, Melbourne
and New Zealand, Michael fell ill towards the end of the Launceston stop,
struggled through Adelaide with doctors and oxygen side stage, and gave
Brisbane its opening night, which finally took its toll. Michael was taken
to hopsital before the encore, Planet Ireland. For more information regarding
this incident please go to the Healing
Page. It was the UK that saw Michael next dance, as he and Troupe 1
start their European leg....for more details on tour dates please go to
Jessica"s Tour
Dates for LOTD
With
the overwhelming popularity and success of the show in the US and Canada
Michael Flatley put together another troupe (T2) to remain on tour there,
to continue to bring the wonderful magic that is LoTD to the thousands
clamouring for more! Also due to the current inability of most to be in
two places at once, there will, needless to say be a need for a changing
of the guard.....
Why,
you may ask, is it still being called Lord of the Dance then if Michael
Flatley is not in it? How can they advertise it as Lord of the Dance? Who
will dance his part? Well, sit back for a moment, take a deep breath and
I will try to answer your questions......
John Carey is 5 times World Champion step dancer (please correct me if I"m wrong!) and has been Michael`s understudy in Troupe 1 (T1) since the beginning. From all reports, on the occasions he has stepped in to the role due to Michael being injured, he has received standing ovations, and that from a crowd expecting Michael!!! And I feel the greatest credit should go to him, because aside from all that....he is the one Michael has chosen to be the new "Lord of the Dance" in Troupe 2 (T2)!!!!!! Also sharing the role is another "Lord", Michael Edwards. Damien O`Kane, who has been dancing the "Lord" in T2 until August, 1998 has been moved to T1, alongside Des Bailey, and they too will perform the role of "Lord". So, that is the "lord" taken care of....
As for the advertising of the shows now being performed by T2, it is the local promoters that are perhaps not making it clear that it will be "Michael Flately`s Lord of the Dance" rather than "Michael Flatley in Lord of the Dance". There have been articles published in some cities of interviews with John Carey and the promotional material, whilst similar to the original material, does not show Michael in it. It is more a case of people`s expectations that leads them to think they will be seeing Michael as the "lord". For an example of the posters now being used to promote T2 please visit Terry`s wonderful site.
As for the other lead roles they are being filled with equally talented and beautiful dancers as T1. including Kelly Hendry as the `second` Morrighan with Gillian Norris in T1 (Gillian was performing with T2 as Morrighan at the start of T2`s tour, but has now returned to T1), beautiful Bernadette Flynn as Saoirse in T1 along with the also wonderful Dearbhla Lennon, the devilishly delightful Daire Nolan as Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord, and of course the sprightly Spirit, Helen Egan, the absolutely gorgeous Anne Buckley, and the fiery fiddlers Mairead Nesbitt and Cora Smyth all remaining with T1.
T2 has the beautiful Areleen Ni Bhaoill as Saoirse, she has been dancing with T1 since the beginning, the "most appropriate" brother of T1"s Don Dorcha, Cian Nolan as Don Dorcha sharing the role also with Jim Murrihy, as mentioned already the stunning Gillian Norris as Morrighan and the scintillating strings of Maire Breatnach and Theresa Heanue, both of whom have played with T1 on the US tour. Claire Carlin is the Lil Spirit of T2, and the beautiful Goddess Erin, is played by Deidre Gilsenan. Along with the touring troupe there is also now a "resident" troupe in Las Vegas. Performing at the NewYork NewYork venue T3 commenced on July 4th, 1998. Again the principals are all seasoned "veterans" of the show, bringing to the audience the spirit and energy that is Lord of the Dance!
So...where
does that leave you? If you are like me and live outside the US or Canada,
T1 and the new "Lord" (Des Bailey or Damien O`Kane) may visit for a fleeting
moment and then they are gone.....if you are in the US or Canada, you will
have the joy of your own "resident" touring troupe, T2, or if you are able
to travel to Las Vegas you can take part in the magic of LoTD with T3.....and
such fine troupes they are that I am already wanting to experience the
magic they will weave when the curtain goes up, the wind starts to blow,
the torches are a-flickering, and the lil Spirit plays her tin whistle........and
they start to tell you the tale...of when time stood still and Erin was
Goddess of all....
For the most comprehensive presentation on both troupes then Jacqueline`s Theatre is a must!