Disney on Ice—100 Years of Magic
By James E. Roberts
Staff Writer
Sleep Train Arena (formerly Arco Arena, then Power Balance Pavilion) is hosting the spectacular Disney on Ice, and a magical treat it is for the whole family. Opening night was crowded with boys and girls and children of all ages. Dozens and dozens of little princesses were in attendance along with their families, mouse ears were worn by many, including crown with mouse ears on them, and a wonderful time was had by all.
The show was hosted by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, with the able assistance of Goofy and Donald Duck. The opening consisted of Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy welcoming the audience while Donald drove a Zamboni around the ice, towing one of the chipmunk pair of Chip and Dale behind like a water skier. At one end of the rink a castle reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty’s castle was erected, and its several doors, gates, and draw bridges served as the primary entrance and exit point for the acts. Courtesy Photo: Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse
Never having been to a Disney ice show before, I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out that the format was simple and very familiar—they told the stories of many of their famous animated movies through song and dance, the dance being ice skating. If you’re familiar with the figure skating programs in the Olympics, this had some of that flavor, as well as some of what’s called “ice dancing,” a slightly less athletic exhibition of the same skills, but where the dance is choreographed to help tell or enhance the story, rather than simply using the music to string together a series of triple Axels, sit-spins, Salchows and the like.
The talented performers of Disney on Ice displayed a uniform excellence in their abilities, and the skating required the precision of Broadway musical choreography, often done by large groups. The first story told was Aladdin, featuring Aladdin and the Genie. As with all the stories told, this was an abbreviated version, featuring one large production number, and then moving on to the next story, “Finding Nemo.” Mickey and Minnie then came out and introduced the next tale, “Beauty and the Beast,” featuring many of the characters from that movie (ever see a tea cup ice skate?).
After the beast was transformed into a handsome prince, he and Belle danced an elegant pas de deux. When their dance ended, Cinderella and her prince entered and likewise danced, then followed by the Little Mermaid and her Prince, Aladdin and Jasmine, Pocahontas and John Smith, and Snow White and her Prince. After all the duets were finished, they all came together for a big finish. Next came the toy soldiers from “Toy Story” doing close order drill, and Woody, Buzz, and Jessie from “Toy Story 2” performing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The first act ended with the castle transforming into the “It’s a Small World” exterior, with the cast singing the theme to Small World in the styles of the various cultures represented—Russian, Hawaiian, Balinese and the like. Finally, various parts of the castle broke off and turned into floats, and the whole thing turned into an ice skating version of Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade, with flying carpets and Mickey Mouse in a hot air balloon.
Act two picked right up with the Mickey Mouse Club March, with the audience standing and stomping their feet to the music, Then on to Jiminy Cricket and Pinocchio, with the Blue Fairy being flown in a bubble to center stage, where she danced a solo dance and was joined by 6 other fairies. The Blue Fairy appointed Jiminy as Pinocchio’s conscience, with the admonition “always let your conscience be your guide,” a lesson that Pinocchio had trouble learning.
In an abbreviated telling of the story, Pinocchio is led astray, and his father Geppetto searches for him, and Geppetto and Pinocchio are swallowed by Monstro the whale. That may be simple to say, but imagine a giant ice skating whale if you will. It was pulled off with style, and swallowed Pinocchio and Geppetto whole. “Pinocchio” was followed by “Mulan,” in which the invading hoards were buried under an avalanche, and then came “The Incredibles” featuring costume designer Edna “E” Mode describing the costumes of Mr. Incredible and his family. Next came “The Lion King,” which featured the performer skating the part of the warthog Pumbaa in a costume that had to be one of the most demanding to wear.
The grand finale went from the entire cast on stage for “The Circle of Life” which segued into “When You Wish Upon a Star” and then to “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” from “Song of the South,” and ending with the Mickey Mouse March. It was a tremendously entertaining show, and a reminder that dozens of decades of Disney cartoons have brought us some of the most memorable songs the movies have ever produced. At Sleep Train Area through November 4th. To learn more about Disney on Ice Productions or upcoming shows, visit them on the web at www.disneyonice.com
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