Sunday Times, South Africa
By CHRISTINA KENNEDY
WHAT does the Imperial Ice Stars' Swan Lake on Ice have to offer that we haven't seen before in countless ballet incarnations? Quite a lot, actually.
This ice-dance show with Russian performers adds a new dimension to the classic tale about a prince falling in love with a beautiful woman who has been transformed into a swan by a curse. In short, it reinvents ice skating as an art form.
The Imperial Ice Stars' Swan Lake on Ice is a breathtaking spectacle that combines dizzying dexterity and high drama with the heartbreaking beauty of the piece. It is a truly theatrical show, and audience members sit transfixed, bewitched by the story but with their hearts lodged firmly in their throats as the skater-dancers attempt an array of dangerous-looking moves. As they twirl, spin,lift, cartwheel and fly, often al breakneck speed, one half expects them to wipe out at any moment.
These gasp-inducing feats of athleticism are balanced by moments of quiet wonder and awe, enhanced by the gorgeous sets and costumes and the crowdpleasing gimmicks such as snowflakes, skaters on stilts and even a ring of fire.
This 25-strong cast of iceskating champions - with a pile of Olympic, world and European championship medals among them - seem to delight in their artistry.
According to producer and artistic director Tony Mercer, Tchaikovsky originally intended the roles of Odette and Odile to be performed by different dancers, instead of by one ballerina, as is the norm in the classical ballet interpretation.
Mercer has separated the roles again, to make the prince responsible for his own actions in being seduced by Odile and betraying Odette, instead of merely being confused by their physical similarity and making an innocent mistake. There other departures from the conventional tale, but I won't spoil the surprise.
The dancers' acting is as important as their skating, and they truly breathe warmth and life into the choreographed ice manoeuvres. Olga Sharutenko is a fairy-tale dream as Odette, with Vadim Yarkov also impressing as Prince Siegfried. Anton Klykov makes a devilishly accomplished Rothbart, and Olena Pyatash is mysterious and beguiling as Odile.
However, my favourite is the flamboyant, devil-maycare Andrei Penkine as Benno, whose every move is exciting and daring and who, grinning roguishly, looks as if he's having the time of his life.
Adults and children alike will be beguiled by this magical slice of ice drama, which has transcended mere figure skating to become an artistic and theatrical triumph.