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Tuesday, October 21, 1969 The Flint Journal, Flinty Michigan IMA Arena With Good Filled Skates By RICHARD B. CHILDS Journal Editorial Writer This era's successor to the minstrel show came to town Monday night and it was big, bold, bouncy and beautiful. "Holiday on Ice" was a perfect introduction to the public of the show potential of the Industrial Mutual Association's great new ice skating palace, the IMA Sports Arena. They fit each other like two sides of a zipper. What does one say in a review of a first class production of something as familiar as an :ce skating show, anyway? As we already did say, it was big and beautiful. One could also say it was glittering, gorgeous, glamorous and most definitely graceful. One could say it was colorful, carefree, | clever and comic, and certainly add it was on the corny side. You could call it lively, lovely and lilting. IF YOU MUST have a message with your entertainment, forget it! If you must have your humor on the dark side and somewhat less broad than a pratfall, don't go for laughs. If you are looking for sophistication or relevancy or originality, save your money. Not that it is simply for "square." It is simply too smooth and polished and profes sional for that. "Holiday on Ice" can trace its antecendents a long way back in America's entertainment world. It's the current offspring of the medicine show, the minstrel show, vaudeville, the circus and the supercolos- sal musical of filmdom's golden age, starring Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. LIKE ALL THESE others, it has its formula, which may be adapted and modified and painted different hues, but must never be deserted. If you don't know the lights will go out and the costumes glow; if you don't know the cop on the sidelines will turn out to be a comic in the busted routine; if you don't know the star will end with an unbelievable series of breathtaking spins; if you can't see the big finale building ?╟÷ it's just because you never saw a big ice skating show before. Like most of our successful popular entertainment, i t thrives on familiarilty and feeds on movement, color and belly laughs. It's fantasy land, pure and simple. If ancient Rome wasn't really as it appears in the "Roman Holiday" scene, that's the Romans' hard luck. If witches don't wear costumes as scanty as those of the "Holiday" darlings, it is undoubtedly because they haven't got the figures of those dollies. THIS SILVER anniversary edition of the national company "Holiday on Ice" is proof that the producers have learned their lesson well. They know their medium for what it is, an! element apart from land, water\ or air. If they use pratfalls freely, it is because nowhere else can one fall on one's prat for 30 feet. If they spin a lot, it is because a ballerina may whirl two or three times at a leap, but Ronnie Robertson has been clocked at more than 400 revolutions per minute. They have learned that absolutely gorgeous costumes, extravagant, imaginative and immaculate, are as important as the ice itself. They know how to use lights and props to heighten the illusion of effortless motion. What of the acts? Well, if we were an adult member of the cast, we are sure we would share W. C. Field's malevolence toward all youtful performers if we had to follow Kim Cook and all the talent and grace combined so amazingly in so young and small a pack- |age. ONE KNOWS why Ronnie Robertson is billed as the star. He does little different from the others, but he jumps a little farther, flies a little faster, twirls at greater speed and does it all with a little more flair. But nobody can say he really overshadows the other soloists such as cos tar Marei Langen bein, Grete Borgen, Paul Andre and Johnny Leach. We were never really soft touches for animal acts, but we'll have to admit the Muller chimps are champs on ice skates. We would have been as happy if Kossmayer's mules had remained in the Europe they are directly from?╟÷but our companion thought they added to the show because they provided a break from the Whisper of skates cutting ice and that's a point' too. For our own tastes, we think there is one particular act that is so wedded to ice skating that, done even well, it stands out, and done superbly, it becomes the crowing glory of this art form. We mean the skating couple. "Holiday" has superior duos ?╟÷ Tommy Allen and Juanita Percelly, Alice Quessy and Ray Balmer, Alf- rendo Mendoza and Carolyn Prior ?╟÷ and so we were happy. BUT THE REAL charm of any ice show is not any one of two acts but a blending of color and motion and music. The effect is like looking through a kaleidescope that makes not only; sensations but also sense. Because it's fashionable these days to "rate" entertainment, mark "Holiday" with a big G ?╟÷ not only for general interest, since it is sure to please most from 4 to 94, but also for Great. That is, if you are looking for fun and relaxation without any effort on your part. "Holiday" will be presented through Sunday at the arena at Lapeer Street and S. Averill Avenue. Shows are scheduled ?╟≤for 8 p.m. daily, through Friday, for 1, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 and"5 p.m. Sunday. "Holiday" opened to a full house. All seats for Monday night were bought by the Flint. Industrial Executives Club.