For more years than most of us have been alive, Holiday on Ice has been entertaining people all over the world with each different show usually containing several set pieces, all skated beautifully, but with just a tenuous link between all of them – until now.
Under the creative direction of Olympic gold medalist Christopher Dean, and for the first time ever, Holiday on Ice has an actual storyline, and it works really well. The story is a very modern one, based on the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. In it we see Antonio (played by Canadian skater Andrew Buchanan) who lives with the other workers in a part of the city called The Under World. Down here the emphasis is on work, work, work and the workers’ leader Kurt (Thomas Sosniak) makes sure it stays that way.
The other part of the city is a place of glitz and glamour called The Upper World where the wealthy residents have nothing to do but party all day and night, an existence that Clarissa (played by Mrs Buchanan, Robin Johnstone), begins to resent. She longs for something more meaningful in her life and, after a chance meeting, it is the struggle of Antonio and Clarissa to be together that provides the storyline for the show.
On a complex, industrial themed, set which features hydraulic lifts, synthetic ice ramps, metal staircases and a huge video screen that forms the backdrop, the cast of 36 skaters provide some of the most exciting skating ever seen in a Holiday on Ice production. Despite the restrictions of the Brighton Centre ice rink, the skaters perform breathtaking spins, complex lifts, double and triple loop and lutz jumps, as well as several very spectacular back flips, with ease.
The video screen is used well to illustrate the transition between worlds but, once each scene is set, doesn’t distract from the skaters on the ice. Other special effects around the arena (coloured gas jets, flame throwers, pyrotechnics and a tremendously effective smoke machine) all play their part in enhancing the performance but, once again, are not overused so as to become distracting.
A second husband and wife pair, Evgenii Belianin and Daria Perminova, play Julius and Julia, leading figures in The Upper World and, throughout the production, perform a string of complex moves which really emphasise Evgenii’s incredible strength, with skating partners Trent Nelson-Bond and Sari Kauppinen also taking centre stage with their beautifully choreographed adagio skating.
Act one provides the backbone of the storyline where we see Antonio trying to flee his life of incessant work and Clarissa trying to find some excitement in her tedious life, where celebrity and partying rule. Although the Principals and Semi Principals lead the action it is very noticeable that this production is all about huge full company scenes where speed, skill and incredibly tight choreography are shown off to maximum effect.
Act two allows for most of the set pieces and gives the featured performers their opportunities to take the limelight. With a simply stunning pole dance routine that takes place within a waterfall, some seriously cool and very 21st century illuminated costumes, an aerial ballet that has off-the-scale beauty, together with the Holiday on Ice favourite, The Wheel, this production has a number of unique and incredibly entertaining highlights.
If giving Holiday on Ice a proper storyline is an experiment, then it is an experiment that has worked perfectly. Stephen Emmer’s music, together with some chart hits like Under Pressure, Get The Party Started and, of course, Believe, provide the perfect soundtrack to the story, and the choreography by Christopher Dean, assisted by Ben Agosto, allows the skaters to show off their incredible skills, whilst telling a tale of true love – without the rather gruesome end that Romeo and Juliet usually has!
There are only eight more performances of Believe in this country, so you will need to be quick, but go and see Holiday on Ice and give yourself a fantastic start to your live entertainment in 2017.
***** Five Stars