The Australian Jewish News, Australia
by Lexi Landsman
VERYTHING about Cinderella on Ice is extravagant and sure to dazzle both adults and the little ones. But what would you expect from one of the most expensive sets created for a theatre ice show?
It took 14 tonnes of ice – equivalent to the
weight of three elephants, 2500 litres of antifreeze,
and more than 140man-hours to build – and that’s just the stage.
The scenery and props, designed by
Eamon D’Arcy (designer of acclaimed Sydney
2000Olympics’ opening ceremony), took 6000
man hours to create and will need two 40-foot
containers when they are shipped from
country to country after their Australian
season.
The 77 lavish costumes, designed by
renowned Russian costume designer Albina
Gabeuva, took one year to design and create;
10 of the costumes cost individually more
than $8000 to make.
Add the lavish sets, costumes and design
to the 23-strong cast of the Imperial Ice Stars
(many of whom are former Olympians) performing
spectacular feats in one of the most
popular children’s fairytales and you have the
ingredients for a show that wows from its
opening number to its end.
Cinderella on Ice, which opened last week
at Sydney’s Theatre Royal and runs until
September 14, did not disappoint.
Artistic director Tony Mercer’s interpretation
of the classic story of Cinderella was one
with a twist: a humble chorus dancer is thrust
into the spotlight as a prima ballerina and captivates
the handsome lord mayor’s son, the
most eligible bachelor in town, with her
graceful performance. Despite rival attempts by her stepsisters to
steal his heart, the kind watchmakers and
gypsy fortune teller ensure that true love
triumphs.
Performing on a 15x15-metre stage – radically smaller to the Imperial Ice Stars’ usual arena of 60x60 metres – there were many moments when daring moves provoked unison gasps from the audience. So challenging were the skating moves that many of them have never been attempted before – not even at the lastWinter Olympics.
There were magnificently choreographed scenes where the slipper (in this case, ice skate) was fitted for amatch, while the female dancers moved with only one ice skate on. Special effects added to the drama, with fire, flying and even an aerial rope routine.
The score, by Tim Duncan and Edward
Barnwell, took nine months to compose and
arrange.
Despite the many hours that went into the
recording of the soundtrack, it seemed to lack
the dramatic tension needed for such a highenergy
show.
Perhaps this is where the show may have
been helped by some voice-over narration, as
with somuch happening on stage, it was easy
to get lost in the story and instead become
transfixed solely on the magnificent iceskating
feats and elaborate set changes.
Nonetheless, there is plenty in Cinderella on Ice to enchant the audiencewith themagic in love stories.With something for young and old, it is sure to sweep you off your feet.