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Holiday On Ice Is Coolly Efficient Bayfront Center, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg: "Holiday On Ice." Opened Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1969, 7:30 p.m. Performances nightly, except Sunday, through Tuesday, Feb. 25; matinees today at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at noon and 4 p.m., Sunday at 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Admission: $4 ?╟÷ $1.50. Director, THE TAMPA TIMES, Thursday, February 27, 1969 Tampa ice show red hot j By DARLENE CARTER Times Staff Writer | Holiday on Ice is red hot I with show and showmanship. I Costumes, scenery, a good t orchestra, color and beautiful /?╟≤'gals make the show. Talent .'and practice make the showmanship. CONTINUING through Sunday at Curtis Hixon Convention Center, Holiday's 24th edition is a family show to delight all ages. ; "Banana Brigade," chimps, charmed the youngsters and the skill of the children of the Cook family was impressive. ?╟?' The most spectacular of themes for creativity in cho- reorgaphy and costuming is Jungalero performed under ultraviolet lights. On the light side, Connie and Glyde, Pooch Parade and the realistic cameraman slapstick broke the would-be mono- r Review tonous pace of color and costume change. IN TEMPO with the return to the twenties and thirties motifs in movies and songs, marquee favorites of all them brought silent film memories of Charlie Chaplin, Pauline and her perils and Keystone Kops to oldsters. Star Ronnie Robertson was especially good in his inter- pretation of "Impossible Dream." His grace and creative movements make outher skaters seem stiff, awkward and unfeeling by comparison. Robertson was not the only singular performer. Some of the skaters seemed to be oblivious to their group, partners or the audience even when the number did not demand formality. STAGING AND directing such a large cast does present problems along this line in a dance routine. Ice choreography is double trouble because skating patterns are so individual. The least a skater can do is act as if he relates to the entire performance and his partner. Donn Arden; musical director, Ben Stabler; costumes, Freddy Wittop; lights, Dorothy Morris. Cast: Ronnie Robert-, son, Anna Galmarini, Juanita Percelly,- Tommy Allen, Paul Andre. Alice Quessy, Marei Langenbein, Alfredo Mendoza, John LeDue, Grete Borgen, Helge Valle, Jorge Valle, Gal Cook, Dori Cook, Little Lito and Johnny Leech. It's amazing how predictable and efficient the Holiday on Ice show can be. It's becoming, swiftly, the only show in town to which you can take children of all ages ?╟÷ and it's also great for . foreigners, the language of grace in movement, color and line in costume and soothing music being universal. DONN ARDEN, the director, has borrowed a bit from the movies for this 1969 edition of Holiday on Ice. He starts with the credits of the staff flashed on the screen of the far wall. Then he follows with nostalgic tunes of the teens and twenties. It's sure-fire then to wave the flag and give us a touch of the old green blarney with the Cook family ?╟÷ Pa and Ma and their two boys and blond little girl. Dog acts and audience participation are always fun and if they can teach chimps to skate so well, how long will it be before a computer can do the same and turn out unheard-of variations?? Then there is Ronnie Robertson, the star of the show. If he isn't the greatest in the world, he'll fill in the time while we're looking for one. He spins at fantastic speeds in that baby-blue spotlight (or is it purple?) and reminds us of Excedrin headache No. 223. His figure many times is just a blur. THEY HAVE some beautiful tall skaters this year. I noticed the stately women first, but there are also some tall men who manage themselves gracefully on ice. I always thought the shorties had the edge on coordination. The inspiration from the movies extends to a Bonnie and Clyde scene, a hilarious sailor comedy act and a full recapitulation of Hollywood's golden years. The color, costumes, music and lights all add.to the fun and the ability of real professional performers. ?╟÷ Eric Atkins. J