ent000828-028

26 Citizen-Journal **** Wed., Sept. 25, I9&8, Cols., O. Jhm Morning After * . ?╟≤ holiday7 Is Deep-Freeze Spectacle For Everyone By GENE GERRARD Citizen-Journal Staff Critic While thumbing through our well-worn dictionary the other afternoon, for lack of anything more informative to read, .my forefinger chanced to brush over the word "specta / Webster defines the term as "a re- ;able or noteworthy sight; an impres- lisplay, especially for entertainment." ?√ß I FEEL CONFIDENT that the majority Of last night's capacity audience for the ' Columbus premiere of "Holiday on Ice" at the Ohio Exposition Center Coliseum would agree that this 24th unabashed assault ori the senses qualifies under that definition. \ With flashing blades and colors flying, "Holiday" reminds me of Radio City Music Hall?╟÷ON THE ROCKS. It is also more than vaguely reminiscent of those innocently vulgar movie musicals of the 30's when everyone was splashed with sequins and staircases ascended into the clouds. I SAW MY FIRST "Holiday on Ice" back in 1945 shortly after the spectacular's birth. Since then it has gotten, big and fat and rich./'Somehow it all looks' he dream you have in glorious color after putting away a midnight pizza. It's ?√ß real j as the faint tinkling of laughter 5 and1. "Holiday on Ice" speaks a universal age?╟÷the language of motion, the' y of movement on a mirrored floor. as subtle as a circus and as orna- tal as a birthday cake for a queen, it all works marvelous Jy well, thanks to the fluid staging of Donn Arden who be some sort of: organizational genius.. AFTER A SPLASHY tribute to 111 tie old New York, "Holiday" gets rolling (or should 1 say "gliding") and doesn't stop until you're bug-eyed and ear-weary/ Along the way, there's something for nearly everyone ?╟÷ the inevitable super- patriotic number (with Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty projected on-a rear screen), an avalanche of nostalgia for those wtho believe we can't improve on the "good old days," carloads of animals and clowns for the kiddies (bless "em), a refrigerated stage full of guys and dolls who look like mannequins in Lazarus' window, and three or four really accomplished skaters. RONNIE ROBERTSON, the show's star, doesn't come on until the first act finale. But I assure you he's worth waiting for. He is an absolute poet of the blades, a dazzling pro who is as fine a dancer as he is a skater. There's an excellent chimpanzee act (The Cummy Chimps) who work for their "Big Daddy" and bananas. YOU'LL LOVE THE trick car that Johnny Leech and Paul Andre use in their rowdy parody of "Bonnie and Clyde." It's an absolute triumpt of gimmickry. ."Jungalero" isn't supposed to be funny, but I had a difficult time stifling a giggle and a yawn. IN "HARRIGAN'S Hooligans" there's an adorable little girl (Kim Cook) who looks and skates like a' minature Sonja Heme. Since that old devil deadline was breathing down my neck, I didn't get to see "Star Time," a frosted tribute to mar- . quee favorites of all time. J may go back and see it later in the week. "Holiday on Ice" is quite possibly the most entertaining show of its kind for the money anywhere in the world today. COSTUMING SPECTACULAR (gplroabiifl Itgpatfb 23B Ice Show Dazzling By SARA WISEHART Of The Dlspafch Staff Fabulous, stunning, spectacular, breathtaking beautiful, stupendous, overwhelming, brilliant . . . all these superlatives can be applied in describing this year's edition of-Holiday On Ice, currently at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. The only dull thing about the spectacular is the monotonous regularity with which reviewers must annually search for new adjectives that will do justice to this splendid presentation. EACH YEAR audiences must say to themselves, "Well they've finally done it. They've attained perfection. This one can't possibly be topped." Yet each succeeding year they seem to outdo themselves and give us a production even more lavish and exciting that the previous one, This year's spectacle was created, staged and directed by Donn Arden, who is responsible for so many highly successful Las Vegas Club productions. ARDEN'S DEFT touch has moved the presentation up from being merely great to simply sensational. And the strong, sure artistry of the skating principals and chorus provides the main ingredient for sure-fire success. And the costumes! Wait until you see the costumes. You think you have' seen some, outstanding costumes in previous years? TO PARAPHRASE an old Al Jolson expression: " You ain't seen nothin? yet." Designed by Freddie Wittop and made in France by Turpin, Vicaire, Marinette and Landrieux, the budget for this absolutely indescribable wardrobe is reported to be nearly a million dollars. I believe it. Incredibly luxurious and brilliant, it's impossible to even partially describe how lovely they are. You'll just have to see it to believe it. THEY ALONE ARE worth the price of admission. But that's not all you get for your money. New and talented performers have joined favorite stars and the result is nearly three hours of the best entertainment you'll find anywhere. Ronnie Robertson is to ice- skating what Gable was to films . . . undisputed king. This man gets better every year. This year he makes his first solo appearance rather late in the first half of the show, but it's well worth waiting for. AMAZING, WHAT he does on ice! The most difficult executions were performed with such precision and grace as to seem effortless. Italian Anna Galmarini is back again and she probably is the strongest of women skaters to appear on the scene for some time. The Cook family are also Music School Announces Fall Slate with us again and little Kim Cook darn near stole the show from everyone. THIS CHILD CAN'T be much over seven or eight years old, but she skates like a young Sonja Heine. Looks something like her, too. Prima ballerina Alice Quessy, was in rare good form and gives us the perfection we have come to expect. Ditto Tommy Allen, Greta Borgen and Juanita Percelly Newcomer Marei Langenbein was also impressive in her debut. The sequence with the Chummy Chimps was outstanding and the take-off on Bonnie ad Clyde by Paul Andre, Jonny Leech and Little Lito, hilarious. COLOSSAL AND gigantic are perhaps the two most over-worked adjectives ever applied to the world of entertainment. Nevertheless, they seem in this case to be the only words to define the terrific finale which features the entire cast. Again, you have to see it to believe it. And even then you may doubt what your eyes are telling you. THIS REVIEWER has seen a number of Holiday On Ice presentations, so the obvious enthusiasm is hardly that of a neophyte. Readers please keep that fact in mind as I reflect . . . they can't possibly top this one. It's the greatest.