Epoch Times International
By Erin McWhirter
SYDNEY - A chill lingers in the air as the curtain rises to reveal elegant ice-skaters gliding one-by one across a fog-filled stage in a captivating setting. This is just one dramatic scene bought to life by world class troupe the Imperial Ice Stars, whose new production, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, has its world premiere in Sydney tonight.
For Englishman Tony Mercer, the show's artistic director, this high-class act, presented by 26 Olympic, world, European and national championship skaters, has been two years in the making. Mercer, a retired soccer player, says in showcasing a production of this calibre he likens it to winning a sporting event. "It's this mentality that the only place you want to be is first and second is nowhere," Mercer said at a media call for the show at Star City's Lyric Theatre today. "Second place is great, but that's not what we set out to do, we set out to be winners."
Mercer began his career in lighting and production management for acts such as the Supremes, Kool and the Gang and Four Tops. His transition to ice came in 1993, joining Britain's Wild Rose Ice Theatre and producing ice versions of classics such as Sleeping Beauty and Phantom of the Opera. He created the Imperial company in 2004.
Working closely with Ukraine's Evgeny Platov, the only man to ever win two Olympic Gold medals in competitive dance, and Alexei Nemov, Russian multiple Olympic gold medal winning gymnast, Mercer admits the production is a league of nations.
For Platov, who is on his first trip to Australia and working on his first theatre project, it's been a welcomed challenge. "Olympics and everything is one thing," Platov smiles. "But this is completely different and has opened my eyes and given me greater perspective. "The ice in the production is one-tenth of the Olympic rink and it amazes me that people can do tricks in a small space. "It can be so dangerous ... I was there yesterday shaking in my seat because I know how close it can get at times."
By danger he means blisters, burns, stitches, broken bones, cuts and bruises, all of which are bound to happen when the group trains for more than four hours a day perfecting high lifts and tricks. The elite cast of Swan Lake includes Vadim Yarkov, Olga Sharutenko, Olena Pyatash and the duo of Stephan Eremine and Vladislava, who state on stilts.
Mercer's talented ice-skating wife, Russia's Maria Orlova also makes an appearance and lends her hand as co-creator. "While producing this you are trying to achieve something that no-one has done before," Platov said. "The first time I saw them on stilts figure skating I near drop dead. How can they do that on stilts? It's amazing."