Went to "Kenny Loggins on Ice" Wednesday night. I have to preface this by saying my companion had to explain who Kenny was. I knew the name but was not at all familiar with his music. I went for the skating but was pleasantly surprised by the music. It really was a concert on ice. When these type of shows are on TV I only half watch, Burt Bacharach, Bocelli, these shows don't do much for me. I will be curious to see how the broadcast (NBC Sunday 1/9, 4-6 eastern) will compare to the live event.
The rink was set up with a stage area at one of the short ends. No seating in that section, it was all curtained off as backstage area. The chute was on one side of the stage. Set had twinkling lights and some interesting vertical hanging screens with texture. We sat on ice, off center, closer to the stage. Most of the big jumps were at the opposite end from where we were sitting so I had difficulty with jump ID. Also did not note all the songs due in major part to my ignorance.
Choregraphy was by Lea Ann Miller. Assistant choreographer was Steven Cousins. Costumes by Jef Billings.
Cast: Boitano, Yags, Sale & Pelletier, Eldredge, Weiss, Sato & Dungjen, Cousins, Kadavy & Bobek.
Roz did the crowd warm-up and opening remarks.
The opening group number featured the ladies in short jean skirts and the men in jeans with subdued pastel short sleeve tees. The jeans were mighty fine. Form fitting. Understated laces on the flies and zippers on the inseam. Everyone got an opportunity for highlights.
Caryn performed to some sort of medley. She looked in decent form after her surgery although her landing on the 2 axel was too far forward., but she had some lovely footwork, an ena, flying camel, more footwork and a spin combo with a good scratch spin.
Yuka & Jason skated to "This Is It." Their transitional moves on the lifts could have used some work and I saw a few kind of ooof! facial expressions from Jason but he shows off Yuka so well and she skates with such a sunny smile and so much music in those knees, it more than makes up for any tiny miscues. My scribbles say, carry lift, flying camel, star lift, "Good finish-a highlight!"
Steven Cousins did an upbeat routine to "It's About Time". He stepped on stage (which was at ice level) at one point and skated with a tambourine. There was a triple flip (may-be, hard to tell from my angle), 3 toe, 2 axel, sit change sit spin, and I enjoyed his final cross foot spin. Cute number, as is Stephen.
Michael Weiss is not one of my favorite skaters. We have often made derogatory remarks about him doing stripper-type numbers. "I Miss Us" was a pleasant change. Kenny made some remarks about the song and a dedication to fathers and children, something like that. Michael opened with a spiral, a triple of some sort (flip or toe?). There was some sort of sit spin with a delayed flying entrance which reminded me of Jumpin' Joe (axel sit spin?) which was pretty cool. I noted "the dreaded axel-a floppy double." Spin combo which seemed to get hung up on his freedom blades at the end. 2 axel, circular footwork, 3 lutz, 3 toe, a sit spin which might have turned into a combo spin because I wrote "with a nice change of edge." There was the crowd favorite backflip and a combo spin. In the midst of this I scrawled, "COP good for Mike." I believe he did a wally before the lutz and I appreciate these additions to already tough skills. This was a very good number musically and content-wise f or him. He skated it with great expression and I'd like to see him do this as an exhibition number instead of the Chip-N-Dale Dancer stuff he usually does.
The next song, entitled "One That Got Away" was a group number for Nicole, Stephen, Michael and Caryn. I felt Lea Ann's choreography was superb in this sweet, quiet number. Very interesting pairings between the skaters and juxtapositions of moves in the field with jumps and spins. Because there was so much going on I would enjoy seeing this again, very rich work and great joining of music and skating. Definitely a highlight.
Sale & Pelletier skated to a tune from Top Gun. High energy. I barely noted anything because this couple is all action. Triple twist, one hand back lift, throw triple and he in a spread eagle with her on his back. Thrilling! Whoo-whoo!
I don't know what the music was for the next group number but it's theme was femme fatales, Jamie and Yuka tempting the guys. Very cute and upbeat with one of the gals leading the block of guys with lots of comic action including Michael being distracted at the back of the back and a sort of cartwheel move with Yags and Pelletier. Very amusing.
Brian skated to "I'm Alright" in what I can only describe as snakeskin, purple, sparkly pants. That costume alone was worth the price of admission for me. Very funny and refreshingly un-Brian. These type of shows have always annoyed me on TV. The camera shows the musical performer while I'm wondering "What is the skater doing???" In this case, Brian skated to the first third of the song including the Tano lutz and footwork and then was off ice while the band performed. He returned with a double axel, more steps, a split jump and I noted some kind of amusing nod of his head that apparently cracked me up. My final comment was "FUN!"
Todd performed the last number in the first act to "Celebrate Me Home." I just noted his elements, 3 loop, camel change camel, 3 lutz (?), sit change sit, 2 axel, 2 axel, sitspin, spin combo, split, split. Good upbeat ending, left you wanting more and he looked like he was really enjoying the music and having a good time.
One of the things I found pleasing was that the skaters wore the same costumes throughout the first act, except for Brian (and his costume fit the music). I felt that lent a certain unity to the performances instead of just a bunch of cold spots strung together. More focus on the the skaters and the music.
There was real energy and connection between Kenny and the skaters. Part 2 to follow this evening.
Act 2
Kenny and the band opened acapella with a gospel-like tune, "Believe in Me." They rocked.
Next came Nicole to "Alive and Kicking." She wore a large white cowboy hat, jeans and an interesting backless (except for a ribbon tie) top in irridescent gold. Her mid-section was covered by a sort of apron-like piece of fabric. It certainly showed off her ahem, attributes. There wasn't much skating content in this country western number, a single jump, a spiral, her hydroblade move and she layed on the ice. Yawn. Not my cup of tea but she's attractive to look at and she had fun and expressed the music well.
For this act the gents wore gray long sleeved turtlenecks and black pants. The ladies wore pretty gray tops which consisted of 2 rows of ruffles. Their skirts were short, straight and sparkly silver. The movement on the ice came not from the skirts but from the ruffles on their torsos, very attractive.
Yuka & Jason had a false start for "Return to Pooh Corner" due to a mis-tuned guitar. Kenny ad libbed nicely while another instrument was brought in. They opened the number sitting on a bench and did some mirror skating, a lift using her back as the hold, a beautiful throw 3 sal, a back outside death spiral, another lift, pair spin, a spiral, side by side 2 toes (I believe Jason had difficulty), a star lift and they ended back on the bench. Very sweet. I have such admiration for Yuka. I find it fascinating that she has learned these pair skills and can do them so beautifully.
I do not recall the name or lyrics for the next segment but it set a wonderful mood and started with Caryn, Yuka and Brian and gradually other members of the ensemble. There were side by side axels, blocks of 5 skaters moving down the ice, the whole number was full of wonderful flow and movement. It reminded me why I started taking skating lessons although I'll never be able to move so effortlessly. Lovely. I hope this one is on the broadcast.
The following piece featured Caryn (who was about to celebrate her 38th birthday the next day). Once again I did not catch the song or lyrics. I only noted her elements, layback, 2 axel, 2 loop, spin combo, 2 flip, spiral, spread eagle and a donut spin. I thought she did quite well considering her recent surgery and looked very relaxed.
I was looking forward to seeing Yagudin who skated to "Bit by Bit." When I see him in person I always feel he's giving 110 %. High energy. He did a 3 lutz, many twizzles in his footwork, 2 flip, spread eagle, more footwork, 3 toe and then he grabbed a guitar from the stage and "played" and mugged on the ice. Returning the guitar, he added another 3 toe, a combo spin including a pancake and ended with a knee slide. He skates with such abandon this was most definitely one of the highlights of the show.
Todd was awesome skating to "Your Mamma Don't Dance." I think SOI has been wonderful for him, he's become a terrific performer, smiling to the crowd as he runs through his bag of tricks. He had a wonky 2 sal but it didn't matter because of his speed and attitude on the ice. My hen scratchings say did a 3 toe, great footwork to notes on the piano (influence of Kurt?), barrel rolls, sit change sit, combo spin, oops-waxel, 2 axel, split, split. Kenny changed the song lyrics to include Todd's name. This was a very entertaining romp!
Once again I did not catch Jamie & David's music. Their skating is so smooth, strong, effortless and fast. I was intrigued with their transitions from one move to another. The routine is jam packed so it's hard to note all their elements. I did jot down a series of little assisted lifts, a lift with his hand using the arch of her back, a star lift with a neat drop out exit, a carry with her in a split position, a tight 3 throw, platter lift and a carry which was particularly beautiful. She was upside down and arched against his leg with her head near his ankle. He held her with one hand while his free arm was outstretched, sort of a graceful X. Enchanting. They ended with a back outside death spiral. Memorable.
The finale featured the cast and their highlights. Sorry I can not ID the music but it was uptempo and toe tapping. Stephen: split jump and some interesting spins. Yuka & Jason: lift and a back outside death spiral. Caryn and Nicole did spirals and then the whole group moved as block. Mike got to do his freedom blade move and back flip. Alexei did a 3 toe-3 toe. (The person sitting next to me came to see Kenny but was totally amazed at the 3 toe-3 toe and jumped to her feet cheering, guess Yags won her over.)
One skater was not in the finale, Brian. He came out in a royal blue and purple shirt with blue pants for "Footloose." I continue to be so impressed with his flow, edges and speed. Three strokes and he's down the rink. I wanted to go out on the ice after the show and caress the tracing for his spread eagle. He did a 2 axel and surprise, a 3 toe-2 toe, and another triple. Not bad for a guy recovering from surgery. He continues to be on my list of all time favorites.
Then the cast joined in, forming two lines a la American Bandstand and each skater or couple did their own footloose steps. What a hoot. David was esp. funny and animated. It was the perfect end to a very carefree, energetic and upbeat show.
Sharon
A SkateFan Librarian
