97 Opening - Guitar Concerto (scanned from program)

Stars on Ice, Milwaukee, 1997

Cast:

Scott Hamilton * Kurt Browning * Paul Wylie

Kristi Yamaguchi * Ekaterina Gordeeva * Rosalynn Sumners

Jill Trenery * Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov

Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean

1996-97 Stars on Ice Program

O boy! Did I have a great time!

 

Here it is:

 

When we got to the Hyatt on Thursday the big purple bus was parked by the side entrance. I was pretty sure it was the bus, but only the driver was in it--I'm sure the skaters were at the arena already. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I didn't.

We walked the two blocks from the hotel to the Bradley Arena. Got there little more than an hour before the show and while waiting to be let in, I was asked to take a short survey--mostly wanted to know if I knew what companies sponsored figure skating--my answer, at least, should prove that people remember who sponsors skating. I forgot Discover Cards though! :-P They also asked who I was the most excitited to see. Who do you think I said? ;-)

 I was happy with our seats, row - wise. It was the 6th row and you could see facial expressions. We had on-ice seats for Ice Capades and I don't really like being that close--you can't see the whole thing very well. But it was way off to the side away from the skaters entrance and everyone did their lutz at the opposite corner :-((

 

The Bradley Center has big screens hanging from the score boards in the middle of the ceiling so we saw the Make A Wish messages and when the Guitar Concerto music started they showed the same scenes that were in the NBC opening.

 Guitar Concerto - Then the skaters came out. I can't believe anyone thought this was boring. It was wonderful. Maybe I was just so excited just to be there and to be seeing these folk up close. That music will always remind me of the first time I saw this show live.

 Scott landed his 3 toe right in front of me. Crowd went wild. Kurt also did his 3 salchow on my side. I loved it when Scott, Kurt, Paul & Kristi all did axels together! Very impressive!

 During one precision section where they all needed to hook up, Roz was on the end and she couldn't quite catch them, finally she got in.

 My section was pretty quiet but I am a whoop & holler kind of person and I was whooping for all my favorites. Pretty soon we were all whooping. It was a great audience. Any music with any kind of beat and everyone would clap along. I think the skaters loved it.

 Love is All Around - Yawn. I think even Kristi is getting sick of this but is trying to make the best of it. She nailed everything.

 "Still in Love" - Nailed everything--including throw 3 toe. I also like them better in person. Rene was smiling and looking like he was enjoying himself. I don't recall seeing him smile so much on TV

 Boots--Jill must have had some fans in the audience--lots of whistling and cat calls. Audience clapped along to the music. She was on. Singled the first axel, but nailed the next one and the 3 sal. Great number.

 Faith Hope & Love-- I just love to watch Katya move over the ice. People have made note of her speed before but she is so light and effortless, the only way you realize how fast she is is the way she covers the ice. First she's here--then she's on the other side and before you know it she's back again! When Paul came out they exchanged glances and he kind of smiled at her like, "isn't this cool?"

 

T&D Cello Suite Exquisite. I just had goose bumps to think I was watching them in person. This number is like one continuous movement --everything flows so smoothly. There was one move Chris did with his shoulder that reminded me of a move Scott Williams does--no doubt choreographed by Dean!

 Concerto--Perfect for Paul. I really noticed his speed as well. He landed his 3 flip with a hand down (but at least it was a triple)

The Red Hat

Or as Sarah described it, "Nice way to pass head lice" (they teach them not to wear each other's hats in school)

I was a little worried about Kurt standing on top of the piano in his skates--seemed a little precarious to me. Kurt had 3 drops and there was one drop with an exchange between him and Chris that I'm not sure who will have to pony up. No other drops. The thing that impressed me in person was the speed with which everyone is moving across the ice and passing that hat along. When the pairs went into the double death spin, there was a loud and appreciative "ooh" from audience.

 

When Katya seduced the hat from Kurt, my daughter leans over and whispers to me "never underestimate the power of girls!"

Romance--nailed everything. Great speed and unison. She's wearing a lavender dress now, not the peach.

 

Figaro-- Scott is definitely over whatever illness or funk that had him down a few weeks ago. He nailed every jump! No problem. His delayed axel was huge!

Photo by Rebecca Patrick

The one footwork sequence where he starts from nearly a standstill and just hustles down the rink in a matter of seconds--incredible!

I was on my feet screaming before he was done, by the end of his bows, everyone else was on their feet as well. As always, he looked surprised to be receiving a standing O.

 

La Caumparisita--I don't know what is going on with her at the competitions, because there was sure no sign of any problems here. She nailed her 3 lutz and everything else--no problem. You never even doubted that she could do it.

Intermission--The line to the restrooms was incredible. I had no intention of missing any part of the show so I just crossed my legs tightly.

Scott's Hat--My kids' favorite part. Scott looks great in black tights ;-) When he said he'd worn the hat to two Olympics the audience cheered like mad. Of course he had to mention the Packers. I don't even know what he said because as soon as the word Packers was out of his mouth the crowd went totally nuts Photo by Lindy Roth

Elegie--Beautiful. She had a little step out of one of her 2 axels, but other than that she was beautiful. She didn't try any triples and nobody cared.

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Serenade to Sonja. This is wonderful in person. Everyone was going on about his jumps--but what I loved was that long straight spread eagle down the length of the rink, into an outside, then inside spread eagle, with no pushes in between. When it came to the L-O-V-E part the audience clapped along. He doubled his loop--landed a bunch of huge double axels and tried the 3toe3toe combo on my side. He was still in the air doing the second triple and I was in the middle of a loud cheer and SPLAT, down he went. Only fall of the night, though my husband swears his butt didn't actually touch the ice, he was down with both hands on the ice. Sarah says, "Mom, wait until they complete the jump, then cheer, okay?"

4 Women--You know, I think "Killing Me Softly" is a dumb song for this number. If the idea is to affirm sisterhood and women's relationships, why a song about a man making love to a woman? This makes no sense to me.

Jill--landed another great 3 sal. She looked great. Roz--I just love this number. She hit everything. She skated it with real intensity. The bass was so loud I could feel it in my chair. She would do a jump or go into an Ina Bauer right on the down beat and my chair would vibrate and it was wonderful!  Katya--she had a hug or touch for each woman before they skated. It was really nice. Photo thanks to J. Barry Mittan

 

She landed a beautiful 2 lutz. The first time I saw this on TV I cried, but there was nothing sad about it this time. She flashed us a smile that seemed to say, "I know I'm not alone--I have friends and family and I'm going to be fine." She looked so happy.

Kristi- nailed everything, as usual.

Mission Impossible--When Paul came out in his mask Sarah says, "Look it's Spiderman!" He doubled his flip and lutz (I don't think he even tried to make the lutz a triple) but he looked as though he was enjoying himself. As he left the ice a bunch of girls screamed "We love you Paul!"

I Who Have Nothing. - O my gawd!

Photo by Rebecca Patrick

Nobody was laughing. You could have heard a pin drop when this started. We may be cheeseheads but we know something special when we see it. I want to see him do this in a competition. I cannot imagine anything less than straight 10s. He skated in with power and passion, but he's done bleeding emotionally. I think he has finally skated out whatever demons he was dealing with. I'm glad for him.

 Huge beautiful 3 lutz. Doubled the salchow (sigh). Hit all 4 double axels and by the last one the audience was screaming. He did his combo spin on my side and I started clapping and soon the whole section was applauding. Lots of applause for the footwork section. Some of us stood at the end but he didn't get the whole arena up this time. VERY enthusiastic applauding and cheering that went on and on.

Shameless--I would love to see this again.

Photo by Lindy Roth

Scott's dance with Jane was suburb. He is sooooo debonair! I don't think the audience got the leg-pulling part, but they did get Bolero later. Not my husband. All he thinks of when he hears Bolero is Bo Derick . Anyway--next I want to see Scott & Katya dance!

 

I tried to watch Scott, but he was mostly on the opposite end so I started watching Paul. He was fun. At one point he took his book, left the ice and sat and read it in the audience. Then he does a giant double axel, somersaults on the ice and slides on his back with his legs up in the air and lays in the corner like that with his legs up in the air, reading. He was too funny. I think there is a comedian in Paul, itching to come out!

 When Mambo Jambo started the audience clapped along and kept it up until it was over. During the group skating Scott & Katya looked as though they were enjoying some fine joke with some real hearty laughter. Scott was laughing so much he was having a hard time keeping up.

 Soon-way too soon it was over. I wanted it to last all night.

 Later on that evening we went to the hotel cafe for some dessert. The cafe is right in the lobby so you can see people walk by. So I see this very ordinary but vaguely familiar looking guy walk by. Then the eyes crinkle up into that smile I would know anywhere. "Hey!" I blurt out, "That's Scott Hamilton!" He flashed a tired but appreciative grin.

Other skaters followed. I noticed how tall Rene is. Katya was all smiles wearing a very bright red jacket. Roz was carrying so many flowers I couldn't see her face, just her long bright blond hair. Paul was wearing a based ball cap and pulling something behind that was full of flowers. Kurt came in much later accompanied by what looked like a security guy. There was a crowd outside by the bus no doubt seeking autographs, but I was happy just to gawk while eating my mud pie.

The next morning I went down for some coffee about 7:30 and asked about the skaters. They had left long before. Detroit is 8 hours away. Fortunately they had one night off before the show in Detroit.

So that's my story.

Joelle

 

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