Oakland, CA January 6, 1998
From Don:
It was an interesting night. My plan to elope with Elena Bechke fell through --- again. Everything else went well {:-)).
--- I didn't think I would be able to go because I am "light in the pockets," if you get my drift. I arrived 15 minutes before showtime, and a young man was getting rid of tickets that the cast had donated to the S.F. Aids Project. He was giving them away, so I will send $55 to this important cause. I sat in the second row at about the 20-yard line.
Procrastination isn't always a bad thing.
--- The show was being taped by NBC. I hear it will be broadcast this weekend. One of the reasons I had a second row seat was that there were no on-ice seats on my side of the arena. There was a long track used by the "traveling" camera. For over three hours, two men pushed the cameraman's rig back and forth the length of the ice. For all that time the cameraman had to keep the skaters centered and viewed from the angle that shows the action the way WE want to see it. As much as I (we) have complained about camerawork --- with justification, IMO --- a lot of intelligence and skill goes into filming a show like this. It became instantly clear to me why TV needs routines that are set in concrete. Comps must be nightmarish for them. And ad-libbing in shows is unlikely.
--- It was great to see Brian Orser back with SOI. I just love the way he looks when he is skating. I love the way Kat looks ALL the time. Her solo numbers were two of the high points of the show to me. The version of Man of La Mancha that she skated to is sung by Linda Eder, with whom I was unfamiliar. Her voice is magnificent, with more range and power than even the new arena's new sound system could handle. The acoustics in this renovated structure are vastly improved, however. They rated a D- in the past, and are now C+, not bad for a building that will be hosting a tractor pull this week (or whatever those things are called). Kristi skated to a
number by Tricia Yearwood that is not listed in the program. The twist was that Tricia sang live. Not being a fan of achy-breaky music, I had not listened to Ms.Yearwood before. She was obviously added for the TV broadcast and was a pleasant surprise. I liked Paul more than I have in the past, especially Sleepers. His skating was magnificent to Go the Distance, but Michael Bolton's voice makes me want to stick icepicks in my ears.
--- To say I miss G&G in this show is an understatement. I also miss Rahkamo & Kokko and Hough & Ladret. Kovarikova & Novotny is not in SOI this year (no big deal), and T&D are doing their own tour (very big deal). The
result is that the show is light on what I like best. What they do have is terrific. Roca & Sur's Time to Say Goodbye is very good, though the choreography by Shanti Ruchpaul (I don't know his/her work) has some oddities --- like a couple of awkward "crotch shots" as a friend calls them. But Renee and Gorsha are beautiful together and their choice of this song was inspired. If any of you have yet to discover Andrea Bocelli, get with it. His Romanza CD is number one in the world. Considering that Pavarotti discovered this blind Italian genius just a couple of years ago, his rise has been spectacular.
--- The best number of the night came early in the show (obviously this is MY opinion). Lea Ann Miller choreographed Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love for B&P. Could it miss? It's like combining cookie dough, lard, and sugar. You can't mix those three elements without producing a delicious result. While I think everyone knows how I feel about Elena, I feel even more strongly as a fan about Denis Petrov's skating. With the single exception of Sergei, Denis is the best male pairs skater I have ever seen. He must also be the most underrated, or at least under-noticed. B&P did not do SBS jumps because of Elena's injury, but they did very difficult lifts, drops, and throws. Their other number was choreographed by Tamara the Trickmeister.
--- Scott told the audience that they wanted to perform for us so badly that they made intentional mistakes during the show. So for the first time, I got to see re-skates. Paul missed his first re-jump, and during the waiting periods, fans made it clear that they do not want him to retire. When he finally hit the jump, the audience erupted in cheers. Listen for it.
--- I have never seen Kurt better. I know of no one who has better contact with audiences. After his re-skate, Scott came out and said, "I hope you appreciate what you have just seen. Kurt Browning has everything --- athleticism, artistry, footwork, jumps, and spins. He is the best skater I have ever seen."
--- As if to demonstrate how much of a family this troupe is, Doug Ladret is listed as the Performance Director, Lara Ladret is in therapeutic management, and Lynn Plage continues to handle publicity.
--- I have a fair amount of unpleasantness in my life, as many people do. Sometimes I let my troubles get me down. Yesterday, I knew I NEEDED to see Stars on Ice. I NEEDED to see Scotty. If he had not lost some hair, and I had not known about his cancer, I would never have guessed he had a problem in the world. His problems are worse than mine, and his work is harder than mine. I NEED to have Scotty in my life. Saying he is an inspiration doesn't capture my feeling. His spirit gets inside me and changes me. That's as close as I can come to explaining it. After watching him perform, after seeing how his colleagues respond to him, after hearing the tumultuous cheers he receives just by skating to center ice, I left the Oakland Coliseum Arena with a shout in my heart --- I'M IN SUCH A GOOD MOOD!
Cheers to all of you.
Don
From Sandy:
I just got back from the Oakland SOI show and wanted to drop a quick message and say how great Scott was. He was really into his programs. You could tell he was in "such a good mood!" He told us so. :) They were taping the show for this weekend's broadcast on NBC. Scott came out to talk to the crowd while some of the other skaters were changing costumes for retakes. He was just so darned cute! A few weeks ago someone said that they think that
Scott has been chatting so much while commentating because he's so happy to be doing it. I think that's right. Scott was talking a mile a minute and just couldn't stop. He told us he knew that he hadn't been ready to tour, but he was so "selfish" that he just had to. When Brian Orser came out, Scott said that he had missed Brian when he wasn't touring on SOI the last couple of years and that he never wanted to tour without Brian again. Then,
after Kurt did his retake (who knew that was supposed to be a triple axel and not a double?) for his Antares program, Scott told everybody how lucky we were to see Kurt skate and said something along the lines of "Kurt is the greatest skater I've ever seen." Oh, yeah, there's one more thing (actually there's a lot, but it's time for bed).
Kristi skated to Trisha Yearwood singing live. (Just how many programs does that woman have?) Scott said this was the first time SOI had ever done something like that. You know this program won't be chacked.
From Renee:
Hello Everyone,
Overall comments:
I really enjoyed this show! It seems as though there are more combinations of group numbers when you add the muses' bits, and the lighting seems to really work with almost all the numbers superbly. There was more of an emotional impact this year with Scotty, and I think that has translated to a number of the cast members. Bravo, SOI!
We lucked out and were at the show being taped for NBC's broadcast this Saturday. I didn't see Verne though.
Act 1
The opener with Led Zeppelin is hot, and goes quickly. Poor Gorsha Sur tripped as he and Rene Roca were about to be introduced, but other than that, it went smoothly, and Kristi got a very warm No. California welcome. Scott got a standing ovation and seemed touched by it all.
Whole Lotta Love: Elena Bechke and Denis Petrov skated to Led Zeppelin great, it reminded me of Doug and Tuffy in style, and they had wonderful lifts in this number. I didn't see a wrap on her leg, so perhaps the groin pull is better
3 Preludes: Katia looked a bit nervous and missed a couple of jumps on this one. It doesn't quite work yet--hope that it starts to fully come together soon.
In place of Kristi's Louis Armstrong number, Scott came out and introduced a singer (sorry, she sang I Have a Love, I Have a Dream) and Kristi skated to that live. I think this was particular to this show only. It was ok, but kinda broke the flow of the show.
Sleepers: Wow! With the lighting and costuming, this is one of Paul's best numbers--totally pure skating and he landed three triples Toe, Flip, and Lutz (the first of two!) and the usually great scratch spins and footwork. Very sad to think of him not skating next year.
Scotty came back for his second of third numbers (!) With One More Look at You -- the lights came up first throughout the audience so it was clear this was in homage to all the skating fans--very sentimental, wonderfully skated. He got half a standing O. I think he landed a triple Salchow (a bit two-footed, but who cares).
Man of La Mancha: I have totally loved this performance on TV--exciting, fast, upbeat, total Katarina Witt charisma. It didn't work as well for me in the show, I think in part because of some strange lighting, which is tended to mimic dusty Spanish streets using lime green and red. It was the only number where I thought the lighting detracted from the performance. But Kat did a good job anyway.
Fun and Games:
It's hard to capture all the amusing moments of this on TV because so much is happening. If you've seen the TBS telecast you know the basic plot. Well, some of the bits that have been left out are the judges skating piece, and the offstage attack of Ivana Medal (Rosalynn) on her daughters' competitor. Paul does a terrific job as the coach, particularly in rooting for the dance team. Kurt did a triple axel and tripletoe/triple toe as Cyril Lutz, the Todd Eldredge look-alike.
Act II
The muses open the act by marching through the audience (they were fairly close to us), first coming up the lower level and going out onto the concourse (which gave us all anticipation of where they would come back). By the time they came back in the audience was all clapping to the music and they got a standing O from the nearby sections. Then they go out onto the ice and put on their skates on a bench in the center -- I couldn't see who won, but it was cool.
Time to Say Goodbye: Roca and Sur this is a powerful number, and even though it's more like a pair number than dance, it works beautifully in the show!
The Story of My Life: Great light and sound, with Brian talking on tape at the beginning, and "snapshots" mimicking the flare of flashbulbs. He skated fairly well (I think he stepped out of a triple toe, which he fixed later for TV).
Sweet Rosalynn: Rosalynn Sumners was totally hot in this, did a huge double axel and with some fun lighting the whole thing really came alive. Lea Anne Miller did the choreography and it was great.
Antares: Kurt Browning does it again. I don't know how he keeps coming up with such great music and choreography, but he does. He had great moves, a cool costume and another triple toe/triple toe.
It's a Man's Man's World: Katarina didn't sell this as well as Rosalynn did hers -- too similar and the audience wasn't all that excited.
Joue Jusqu' au Matin: I was excited that Bechke and Petrov added this number into the show, and was great. It's a traditional Russian folk melody and the choreography is by Tamara Moskvina. Great lifts, footwork, and a throw triple salchow (a bit two foot, maybe they did a retake). Really good to see them back at the top of the game.
Go the Distance: I saw this at the US PRO in San Jose, but I like it better in the show. The lighting gives it much more of an emotional impact. I think he did another triple lutz, but missed on the triple toe (fixed later). He got a standing O for this one!
Elvis Medley: This is fun! Kurt and Kristi really dig down and deliver some of their best style stuff. It's nice to see adult (not porn!) themes on the ice.
Wizard of Oz: I think Scott mentioned in the TBS show that the costume was still wearing him, but boy, does he have it down now! This was just amazing to do as the THIRD number of the show. He really interacted on all the parts, putting in the fine touches on the choreography, got the tail under control for the axel jump, and did a headstand when he had the "ruby slippers" on to click his heels three times. And he finished with the Hamilton-esque
back flip. Everyone was amazed and Immediately jumped to their feet, the whole place! And he was very pleased.
Stairway to heaven: a great finale, I liked this better than the one last year by far. They start in the muse costumes, and then at a point, Kristi's costume is pulled away to reveal a beautiful red glittery costume. (With red lights pointing out, the effect is sparkling). The spins and footwork by the whole ensemble really got the crowd going to the point of our end section standing up before the end of the number because we were so excited.
The BOW WOW was fun, and nice to see that the Bow's are done so well.
Then I wondered, are they going to ask us to stay to do retakes? Sure enough, Scotty came out, first to tell us all to sit down. He pointed to someone in the crowd saying "Take that coat off and sit down. Yes, you." He thanked the audience for being so good (saying that the Bay Area is one of the three best figure skating centers in the world!), and struck up a conversation with a couple in the first row who had come to their first SOI show, and
he asked "And will this be the last one?" He talked about how he really wasn't ready to come back (yeah, after doing three numbers) but he was selfish and wasn't going to miss this. He vamped for a bit saying how they PLANNED not to do everything perfectly so that we could all get more skating to see.
I couldn't stay for it all because my friend got tired (almost 11 pm) but we saw Paul do his for "go the distance" and for some reason had to do it twice perfectly (he might not have gotten into the scene far enough ahead). Brian Orser corrected his triple toe, and Katia was coming back for hers when we left.
Renee
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