By Joseph Erbentraut
By Joseph Erbentraut The Target Stars on Ice tour came to Rockford, Illinois, on Thursday, March 30, 2000. This was the first year the tour came to Rockford, and obviously the employees of the Metro Centre didn't know what to expect. A traffic jam outside the arena meant that many people were late, and the show started fifteen minutes after its scheduled start time. However, the "Stars"-Scott Hamilton, Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kurt Browning, Ilia Kulik, Bechke & Petrov, Lu Chen, Roca & Sur, Meno & Sand, and Steven Cousins put on an excellence performance, entertaining the Rockford audience. Browning opened the show with his signature antics, before the other skaters joined him for the opening number. It was fast-paced and very energetic, which was the style of most of this season's show. Next Lipinski, Kulik, and Meno & Sand danced to "Bailamos", followed by a program where Lu Chen used a fan as a prop. Gordeeva and Yamaguchi then did a duet, followed by a group Swing program by Scott Hamilton, Bechke & Petrov, Chen and Cousins. Browning drew many laughs as Rag-Gidon the clown, landing a perfect triple-triple combo. Next, Roca & Sur skated elegantly to music from "The Ghost". Their lifts are really exceptional! Next, Gordeeva skated with a ribbon to the music of Liszt. The ribbon streamer added beautiful dimensions to the program, especially during her spins. Ilia Kulik's blues program was well skated, with three triple jumps as well. Meno & Sand's "Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing" was very elegant and sexy, even though she fell on the throw double axel. Lipinski pulled off two triples to "Genie in a Bottle", after being carried onto the ice to the music of "I Dream of Jennie". Then the Simon & Garfunkel tribute began. Hamilton entertained to "You Can Call Me Al", even though HE fell on a triple salchow. Cousins and Browning joined him for "Me & Julio", then Gordeeva flirted with Hamilton to "Cecilia" before leaving him alone for "The Sounds of Silence". For that song, he was joined by the pairs and dancers. Then, the duos cleared the ice, before Yamaguchi entered wearing a beautiful white dress. She then skated to "Bridge Over Troubled Water", landing three triples, and skating wonderfully. Next, Hamilton, Gordeeva, Browning, and Cousins returned for "Old Friends". It was an emotional program, skated very well, in synch perfectly. That was the end of the first act.
The second act began with Lipinski being chased by her "admirers" Kulik, Cousins, Sur, and Petrov. Then, Cousins skated his solo to Prince's "About that Walk". He flirted with the audience and also landed three gorgeous triples. (He was really on tonight!) Next, Lu Chen struggled through "It's Not Right, but It's Okay" by Whitney Houston. She fell on the triple loop and the triple toe. Then, Yamaguchi joined the duo, skating to "Jazzin'", then Cousins was tied to a gigantic zebra-striped couch by Chen and Yamaguchi. Lots of fun! That was followed by a flirtatious number performed by Kurt Browning and Tara Lipinski. I don't know, something just seems off center through this program, but they performed it well. Next, Bechke & Petrov pleased the audience to "Czardas", having them clap along to the rhythm of the folk song. Meno & Sand and Roca & Sur then took the ice to beautiful bolero music, being joined by Katia in a beautiful red dress. Then, she was joined by Ilia Kulik, her boyfriend, and they skated a beautiful pairs program. It brought many audience members to tears. Then it was time for the final solos of the headliners. Browning ripped a hole in the ceiling to "Play that Funky Music", including a beautiful triple axel! Yamaguchi and Kulik ripped the hole a little bigger, skating to "Smooth" and "Baseball Cap", both drawing huge ovations. The hole was then left alone by Tara Lipinski's "American Woman"... no further comment there... and then the entire roof was ripped off by Hamilton. He skated wearing ballet tights to "Don Quixote". It was hilarious, and two backflips and many pirouettes later, the crowd was on their feet! The finale to a beautiful, funky version of "What a Wonderful World" was beautifully skated, and I think this is my favorite finale of any SOI show. A great night of figure skating! | |
|
