Cinderella On Ice—Royal Albert Hall
If the last time you saw a performance on ice was when it claimed to have something to do with ‘Disney’ and you could barely see over the seat in front of you, then now is the time to revisit the past. Today it is an entirely different experience. Gone are the waddling Baloo-bear characters, now replaced by the Royal Albert Hall and nods to Cirque de Soleil and Riverdance.
At this kind of production everyone is always waiting for a fall. Incidentally there was only one, (and another that was choreographed, giving Cinderella her Swan Lake debut) but when it reaches the finale and one of the male ice stars is spinning another dancer around on his head, I think you are ready to forgive a small error.
The choreography was indeed daring, and Tony Mercer certainly packed a lot into two hours: rain and fire included. Now I’m not going to claim that it wasn’t a little clichéd, but being entitled ‘Cinderella on Ice’ does slightly allude to it being directed towards a younger audience. However, there is something fantastical about fellow humans performing alien feats that the rest of us mere mortals can only watch with mouths agape. This kind of gormless, ignorant bliss might have also had something to do with the standing ovation at the end.
The costuming was done extravagantly, and according to the programme 10 of the outfits cost over £4,000 to make. It seems that the entire production was pretty costly and it is said to be one of the most expensive sets created for a theatrical ice show anywhere in the world. Indeed, this is only the second time in history that the Royal Albert Hall has been turned into an ice rink, so the show is sure to prove exceedingly popular.
A quick word of warning: you might be tempted to go home and ask your partner if they would be able to lift you up by one hand over their head (men included—the male ice stars can fling each other about just as easily) because the amazing thing is that these men aren’t particularly beefy. Just be prepared that you might come up against stubborn resilience to give it a go, or get instead a gruff reply of hurt pride. Just a warning.
Cinderella on Ice is running from Wednesday 24 February – Sunday 28 February 2010
By Gabriella Patterson.
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP 0845 401 5045, tube: South Kensington Tickets: £15.50–£52.00 www.royalalberthall.com
