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Stars on Ice Japan Review - Tokyo, JP - April 10, 2010
written by Tina
When I heard Kurt was going to be performing in the Stars on Ice Japan
tour this year, I had the brief crazy thought of going to see him, but
dismissed it as an obviously silly idea. But then, as the cast list
expanded and more and more amazing Japanese skaters were added to it,
the idea became more and more appealing. Couple that with the fact
that I've never been to Japan but have wanted to visit, and the
realization that the show fell right around cherry blossom season, and
the crazy thought became reality. I planned our trip so that the Stars
on Ice show would be one of the last things we did after a weeklong
trip in Japan.
It's interesting seeing the show with a Japanese audience. They really
love Daisuke and Mao in particular, but seemed to recognize all of the
Japanese skaters (as well as Jeff, Joannie, Virtue & Moir, and Kurt).
The arena was interesting - this big vast wave/boat looking structure.
The ice surface was narrow and long - I kept getting nervous about the
skaters who did jumps close to the edges. A number of the skaters had
issues with their jumps, falling or stumbling or popping them. The
audience clapped along enthusiastically with the music, and to the
skaters' moves, and ooh-ed and ahh-ed, especially in the beginning, at
the various tricks (including Kurt's fast spinny footwork).
The opening number and closing number seemed to be what the Canadian
tour opening and closing will be. They featured all the Canadian
skaters plus Takeshi Honda and Shen & Zhao, I'm guessing taking the
place of Shawn Sawyer and Sale & Pelletier. It was, to be frank, a
really dull opening number with pretty dull music. The skaters
basically came out one by one as the announcer called their names
(only Virtue & Moir had their titles listed), and then went away while
the next skater did their thing. I was amused but enjoyed that the
audience gasped and ooh-ed at Kurt's nimble feet. Kurt seemed to be
having a great time during the show, totally playing to the crowd and
really getting into the finale footwork in particular. The end of the
opening had the skaters all out doing stuff at the same time, but not
for long. Definitely not my favorite opening ever. Possibly bottom of
the list, but I'd have to see it again, and maybe it'll improve by the
time the Canadian tour starts.
After the skaters skated off the ice, Kurt came back out with a
microphone and exaggeratedly panted into it for a while, earning a
laugh from the audience. He basically thanked the audience on behalf
of the Canadian cast, saying they were honored to be performing in
front of the best skating audience in the world (definitely one of the
fullest I've seen in a while - expensive tickets, but sold out to the
rafters), said he knew they loved their skating and their skaters, and
introduced their "queen", Olympic Gold Medalist Shizuka
Arakawa.
Shizuka skated to a combination of dramatic music I recognized but can
not remember the name of, and then soft, lyrical Ave Maria. The
graceful floating numbers really suit her, and show off her
flexibility and grace.
Next was Kanako Murakami, who got a sigh of pleasurable surprise from
the audience and cries of "cute! cute!" in Japanese (my boyfriend
speaks a little). She skated to a fun show tune that I absolutely did
not recognize (something about Miss Baltimore something I couldn't
make out) but was humorous and mentioned lots of dances (cha-cha,
mambo, rhumba, etc), which Kanako acted out. She was charming and
sweet, and quite a flexible little performer with a big presence on
the ice.
Akiko Suzuki followed, skating to a West Side Story that included
Maria, I think the Jets/Shark rumble song, and Tonight. It was a nice
skate.
Jeff Buttle did a voiceover intro of Cynthia Phaneuf, who skated to
Barracuda. To be honest, I don't think she brought the energy or the
moves that song warrants - the program felt a bit empty and slow
between the jumps, even though she did try to project the
personality, and really perform the program.
Daisuke introduced Takeshi Honda in Japanese, so I don't know what he
said. He skated to a song that seemed to be "That Girl's a Genius"
(based on the repeated lyrics). Takeshi was unfortunately having quite
an off night, having fallen in the intro and again in this program. He
may have hurt himself or broken a skate or lace or something after the
fall because his energy level went way down and something seemed off
after that - his landings were all heavy and labored and kind of
awkward, and he skated quite slowly.
Kurt introduced (I think as a voiceover) Marie and Patrice saying they
were smooth, sophisticated, and very sexy. I think the song was "Do I
Move You" or something like that and boy did I like it. It was a
bluesy song. It opened with Patrice reading a newspaper on the side
and ignoring Marie, who tried to get his attention and then just
pulled the newspaper out of his hands and threw it aside. She was
wearing the same costume as in her second Thin Ice number, and the
theme reminded me of it. But the program was different. It's
interesting - Patrice made a good pairs skater in Thin Ice and Marie
did a wonderful job with Michael, but after watching that, it made me
really appreciate just how smoothly they fit together and skate
together. Their choreography also contained a number of new moves,
different entrances and exits to lifts, and I really enjoyed
it. Looking forward to seeing that one again.
Honda introduced Nobunari Oda, again in Japanese. He did his Chaplin
number, with 8 or more jumps, some in combination. He really has some
very springy jumps. His choreography only sometimes evokes Chaplin
for me, but it was cute.
Miki Ando got a great response from the crowd when the lights came up
on her in her Cleopatra costume. Watching the program, I was reminded
how Sandra Bezic said she didn't do much choreographically in between
the jumps, and how I didn't understand at all why she said that. She
puts in a lot of hand movements and arm positioning, in particular, to
evoke the music, and I thought had just as good choreography as many
of the other skaters.
Kurt was next, being introduced by Kozuka, who came out with a
microphone and introduced him in a mixture of Japanese and English. It
was very cute - Kurt was being all cool in his jacket and tie and hat,
and when Kozuka started to say "4-time world champion", indicated that
Kozuka should introduce him as 14-time world champion, which he did,
with amusement. Then, when the music started, he first indicated
Kozuka shouldn't leave the ice, and then basically dismissed him. To
my surprise, he performed Luck Be a Lady (in figure skates). The
program started with a rather wonky 2-axel and an either singled or
rather open 2-sal, but then he settled in and landed two nice 2-axels
later in the program. The program was a bit more smooth and laid
back, with footwork that was more dancey than fast and nimble, and he
got oohs from the audience when he did a slow spin with one leg
outstretched and hung his hat on his skate as he spun.
Virtue & Moir came out on the ice to introduce the other 2010 OGMs in
the cast, Shen & Zhao. Their number was to a mixture of opera music
that I recognized all of, but can't put names to. She had a red fan
with trailing cloth, and he was in grey. They did their absolutely
gorgeous twist (I think triple but can't really tell) and huge throw
jump, and just performed beautifully, garnering a bit of a standing O
from some members of the audience.
At this point there was a 20 min intermission, during which I ran out
to get my program (they sold them in a tent outside the arena, with a
really long but fast-moving line to buy them).
The 2nd act opened with a quick group number to "The Way You Make Me
Feel" by Michael Jackson - Jeff, Scott, and Shizuka, skating together
down the ice. Jeff and Scott were enthusiastic and excitable, but not
quite in sync, before being joined by Shizuka. They mostly did side by
side choreography (or the two guys lifted Shizuka), but at one point,
she and Jeff did side by side jumps, quickly followed by Scott doing
that spin with her where they're face to face, his hands are clasped
behind her back and her legs and lower body are parallel to the
ground. It was a cute little number.
Yuzuru Hanyu was next, skating to U2's Vertigo, and what a little
performer he is! He was dynamic and confident on the ice, can really
move, has a nice style, and amazing flexibility (did a not-quite
Shizuka back bend Ina Bauer, Biellman spin, Shae-crusher type move). I
like a lot of the Japanese men, who seem to really move and dance on
the ice, and Hanyu seems to be living up quite well to the
tradition.
Jeff introduced his good friend Joannie Rochette who not only won the
silver at Worlds but inspired a nation with her bronze at the
Olympics. Joannie skated a somber dramatic program to "My Immortal" by
Evanescence that brought a bit of a lump to my throat. It was
heartfelt and gorgeous, and at the same time absolutely solid in all
the jumps and technical elements. No bobbles from Joannie at
all.
Kurt came out on the ice to introduce Kozuka as one of his favorite
men skaters, shh don't tell the others (didn't get much of a laugh,
not sure the audience got it). Kozuka skated to Closer by Ne-Yo, which
was a really fluid, fun program, with that outsized performance
quality and fully committed choreography that so many of the top
Japanese men seem to possess. At one point he took off his outside
shirt (getting kind of gasps from the crowd rather than whoops as he
would in North America), only to flip it inside out and put it back
on, not sure why. Nice program.
I was confused by the next couple - Kathy and Chris Reed, who weren't
in the program or any cast list I'd seen (apparently they were added
in the last week). They were ice dancers, and did a Japanese themed
number, both with fans in hand. It was a pretty good, very
side-by-side patterns of footwork and edges down the ice ice dance
number.
Joannie then introduced her good friend Jeff Buttle in turn. Jeff
skated to "Good Mother", which I think was a Jann Arden song, but he
didn't use her version. This was a very fluid, smooth, pretty program,
and Jeff oozes confidence in his rapport with the audience, and
charisma on the ice. The audience certainly ate it up, and I really
enjoyed it.
Daisuke Takahashi was next, and landed a whole slew of jumps,
including a 3-axel, what was evidently a 4-flip, and combinations. He
is ultra charismatic on the ice - I really enjoy watching him
skate.
Kurt came out and said in a very admiring tone of voice "wow that
guy's kind of good", which drew quite a laugh from the audience,
before he introduced Virtue & Moir as the youngest couple ever to win
an ice dance gold medal. They did their ballerina/hockey player
number - I have to admit, I saw this at the Olympics gala too and both
times I felt like the number both didn't really exemplify their skills
as ice dancers, and wasn't the most interesting execution on the theme
(I've seen many similarly themed numbers in the past). It's a shame,
b/c I think they're awesome, lovely skaters. But still, it was fun and
cute and did entertain.
Mao Asada came last, garnering a huge response from the crowd. She did
a number with a pink fan, and her demeanor was bouncy and exuberant
and cute, which didn't exactly jive with the much more serious music,
but there's no denying her enthusiasm or connection with the
crowd. She did pop what seemed like a 3-axel attempt (from the long
and careful build up) but quickly put it behind her and put in a nice
performance.
Last came the closing number to "I Got the Music in Me", featuring
just the Canadian cast + Takeshi & Shen & Zhao again. I didn't
realize V&M weren't out for 1/2 the number (I guess they go last in
the Canadian tour and need time to change) and was thinking the
Canadian cast looked absolutely tiny. It really isn't that big,
especially compared to the massive Japanese cast. The finale was a lot
better than the opening, especially when watching Kurt, who seemed
really into it and having a great time with the choreography, and I
quite enjoyed it. It's still not a stunning number, but way better
than the opening, in my opinion.
The skaters went off the ice, but then came back on for a curtain
call, led by Kurt shoving the junior skaters out on the ice to take a
turn for themselves, before all the skaters came out. Marie-France and
Jeff broke away from the group to do a cute bit with each other while
the other skaters watched, before everyone came together for a final
bow.
Overall I quite enjoyed the show, and the opportunity to see all these
dynamic Japanese skaters I usually only get to see on TV. I wish there
were more group numbers, but the Japanese skaters seem to all be busy
with a variety of other shows around this one, while the Canadian
skaters only arrived in Japan a few days before the show, so I'm
guessing they didn't have time to put anything together. The skating
was wonderful, though, and I'm really glad I went.
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