After staging their ice shows for more than 70 years it’s very easy to write off Holiday on Ice as a “been there, done that” event – but this year’s show, Passion, is a masterclass in how to present the traditional in a stunningly choreographed, beautifully lit, special effects filled, contemporary way.
The emphasis is no longer on sequins and glitter but, much more, on skill and talent with a new show and a new cast lifting this, already superb, entertainment to new heights. With fewer soloists and a larger ensemble, the ice is filled with some of the very best talent that the skating world has to offer and, unlike some previous shows, everyone on the ice is given the chance to shine in their own right.
You see Passion is about just that. The passion that helps every one of the skaters in the cast to get on to the rink (up to twelve times every week!) to perform stunts and tricks that most sane people wouldn’t even attempt on solid ground – let alone on solid ice!
Divided into sections that feature the traits the skaters all share we see Energy, Drive, Ambition, Destiny and, of course, Passion rubbing shoulders with other set pieces, showing the difficulties the cast face, like Tension, Sacrifice and Temptation.
The music that accompanies each section features original compositions by Stephen Emmer and Laurens Kagenaar mixed in with an eclectic playlist from Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields superb Big Spender, through to Pharrel Williams worldwide smash hit, Happy and One Direction’s Story Of My Life – with the emphasis, very much, on celebrating the art of skating. The addition of live singers, Vintage Vegas, gives yet another side to an already multi-faceted show.
Ice dancers Lloyd Jones and Paula Soma, together with soloists Adam Kaplan, Michael Solonoski and, special guest soloist, Annette Dytrt all get their chance to shine in the spotlight, as do the aerialists, who prove that just because you have skates on, it doesn’t mean that you have to stay on the ice floor to impress the audience.
Over the years Holiday on Ice has continued to succeed because it moves with the times and with effective but not intrusive lighting, special effects like snow and bubble machines, clever use of live TV cameras and pre-recorded video together with such a skillful and enthusiastic cast, Passion shows, without doubt, that the future is very bright for the world’s greatest ice show.
***** Five Stars