A Cause For Celebration?
Holiday On Ice 2004 | |
|  | | Celebrating 60 years of Holiday On Ice |
| | Holiday On Ice is 60 years old and still wowing audiences around the globe.
BBC Devon Online's John Govier went along to Westpoint to get a flavour of the celebrations. |
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 I think it was much better than last year,  I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Pat - Charmouth
I could've done without being encouraged to clap along all the time.
Dave - Lyme Regis
I loved it! But I was expecting a bit more excitement
Pam - Exeter
| | Holiday On Ice - In Concert
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Tues 17th - Sun 22rd Feb 2004, times vary Ticket Zone: 08705 321321
You know that sound you make when you curl your bottom lip inwards, bite down with your top set of gnashers and draw breath through your teeth? The sound you make when you're thinking "Hmmm, what shall I write?"
Well that's the sound I've been making ever since I left the Westpoint Arena last night after watching Holiday On Ice - Celebration.
It's only four years ago that I'd never been to an ice show (and didn't really expect to go either). Then I went along to review a Holiday On Ice performance and was really impressed. The colour, spectacle and utter vibrancy of the performers had me won over after the first few minutes.
Perhaps I've overdosed. Perhaps I've become blasé. Perhaps I was expecting too much.
Don't get me wrong, Holiday On Ice - Celebration was as colourful as ever, but for me it just didn't hit the spot in the way the last few I've seen did.
The costumes and lighting effects were fantastic as usual but I was left waiting for that sharp intake of breath that the highly accomplished crew normally inspire with their acrobatics and skating prowess.
I know, I know - I wouldn't be able stay upright on the ice for more than a couple of seconds myself, and I had to stop and think whether I'd be having these thoughts if this was my first visit to the show but some of the scenes just didn't work for me and there seemed to be a lot of the time when the ice wasn't dressed (lots of music, smoke and lights but no skaters...?).
FANTASTIC FINALE
We were spoilt last year with the addition of live music too, but then came the Ugly Bug Ball and suddenly everything was OK again!
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Fluorescent paint and ultra-violet lights brought the whole scene to life with the brilliantly inspired "Buggy Holly" on the mic and "The Beetles" providing the hits.
The gain was raised again with an energetic 70s disco segue opening the second half, and a very clever twist in the masked ball routine (you'll have to go and find out for yourself!).
And nobody, but nobody does a finale quite like Holiday On Ice. The lighting, costumes, pyrotechnics and dancers all bringing the evening's entertainment to an electric end.
But once again I couldn't believe how rude the British public can be. Before the encore, people were collecting their coats, leaving their seats, and racing to get to their cars so they weren't caught up in the jam to leave the carpark.
Get a life! Another ten minutes won't make a difference. Your fellow audience members could enjoy the show to the end without you walking in front of them and the cast members wouldn't be left wondering who shouted 'FIRE'.
All in all - a good night's entertainment. And another £1,000+ raised for local charity ELF but perhaps I'll give next year a miss. Then I can go back with renewed enthusiasm in 2006 when I'll probably be getting withdrawal symptoms.
I'd be interested to know what YOU thought....
Holiday On Ice - In Concert
Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Tues 17th - Sun 22rd Feb 2004, times vary Ticket Zone: 08705 321321 | | | |
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