Stars on Ice Canada Tour April 22-May 14

[TalentedButHumble]

On the other hand, the lack of show experience on the part of Tessa and Scott was clear in their numbers. ...All the other skaters made a point to skate for all four sides of the rink

Well, I was glad I got to watch the practice in Windsor from center ice 10 rows up. ’Cos my show seat was at the skater’s-entrance end, up top. That kind of spot can make me feel slightly distanced from a lot of the performances. [Of course, I’m someone who’s been spoiled rotten, able to watch top skaters close up at clubs. ]

Among the show's highlights for me were “Summertime” followed by the Mahler. Just magnificent performances by skaters at the peak of the power. Another fave - the “Intermission” program. This cast meshes well. If they secretly hate each others’ guts, they’re faking friendship superbly.

Informal practices are always fun to watch. Saw lots of cute stuff, like when Kurt was practicing footwork, and Joannie started to playfully imitate him. I just wanted to pick them both up, put them in my purse and have them with me to do charming things like that all day. BTW Dear AllSkatersEverywhere: Mr. Browning is a good person to try to imitate footwork-wise. (Also, in another thread I related an anecdote that made me think Joannie’s competitive fire might still be there.)

It took me awhile to realize some skaters were running through parts of programs, not skating to random warmup songs. [I’d thought Jeff was ad-libbing this choreo to “Sympathy …” ] At one point some skaters were doing part of the finale and Cynthia, walking along the sideline, suddenly started a bit of it too.

I liked seeing Tessa and Scott practice the Goose with the “illegal” dismount. (Got a cheer from the small audience watching practice.) And some of their even more elaborate program moves!! [I’d just put eyes back in head from viewing the eligible skaters’ JumpFest, and was all again.] And then this was followed by Dub/Lauz, running through a bit of their program, all slinky and everything. No one even has to ask if they’re sleeping together amirite?

[luckiest1]

How does one get into a practice session? I am looking forward to London tomorrow....I have seats that read "penalty box" so that should be interesting as well. Do I really have to sit on the bench? LOL

[Rock2]

Went to the Toronto show last night. My friend works at Smuckers so I was front row blue line with their seats (not on the ice...but didn't want that anyway). Also had tickets to the after party so that was cool, too. I'm not a skating stalker so I left the skaters alone even though Jamie and Patrice were standing practically next to me for awhile talking to others. Recognized and met PJ though. That was cool, chatting with her for a few mins and hearing about her new book coming out.

I'll try to give a quick download but take it all with a grain of salt. I rarely see show skating as it's not my thing so much. I need free tickets/front row to be talked into it

There is a clear separation between show and competitive skaters in terms of how they can reach out to the audience. Skaters I simply cannot take my eyes off of are MF/Patrice, Jamie, Cynthia. Yes those 4. They reach up way into the audience and have star power you can feel in the rafters. After them the next run is Scott, Tessa, Kurt and Pelletier. Clearly comfortable in front of an audience but don't rivet you the same way as the first rung. I am seriously a Kurt admirer but he's losing a step. Granted his numbers are longer but he's sucking wind by the middle so he's becoming harder to watch. Still love him though. The only pure all around entertainer in the field and worth all he's paid to do.

Lotsa gay guys skating to rock music. I don't get it. Bad choice. I'll leave it there.

On to the skates specifically.
I actually dont' mind when skaters screw up. When they come in cold like that and do show after show stuff is bound to happen.

I have such mixed feelings about Jeff. Really dig and appreciate the dude but he comes off as precise in his body movements but lacks a bit of soul. His megawatt smile goes far. He missed a few jumps, hit a few, and bobbled his reverse direction camel and never made it around to catch his foot.

Joannie should stick to introspective music. Summertime is extremely captivating.

I love love love Cynthia. She's a born performer and she has the face of a Russian ice dancer without looking overdone. With slightly better numbers and a world medal she's got a locked down career. Not one bobble or pop in jumps. 3T and 3L all over the place...effortless.

Shawn. What to say. Love him too..appreciate what he brings. I think he can still upgrade his numbers and he missed over half his jumps including the first one he did on every number to dampen the energy. He ripped his shirt off at the end of the first number which woke me up. hey if you got it...

Totally fun watching Jamie/Dave and MF/Patrice skate back to back. Very clear which couple has the better sex lives. All 4 of them as individuals are pure heat, though, I must say. Jamie's the bomb in her long hair and is skating better than ever. Hit all elements but Dave missed a lift in a 4's number with D/L which was obvious because Patrice was doing the lift next to him. really funny...dave's face turned beet red and he almost busted out laughing.
Dave and Jamie's numbers were Try by Blue Rodeo and (You make me wanna) Scream by Jacksons. Any subliminal messaging there?!?!?

Scott and Tessa: early in performing career but so hard not to fall in love with.

Who am I missing...?

Anyway, that's the poop. Had a good time overall but give me an ISU event any day!

[oakl0008]

Guys, thank you so much for the awesome reviews! I couldn't afford to go this year and still think they charge wayyy to much for tickets, but that's just me.

Rock2 especially, you have a very insightful description of the skaters. I really enjoyed reading your whole review.

You hit the nail on the head with Jeff Buttle. Very precise skater, and this shows when he's skating to rock music and groovy stuff, both in good and bad ways. Great skater though.

Thanks for your description on Sawyer also, one my favorites. Much appreciated. Sounds like Sawyer is really struggling on this tour. I wonder what's wrong? Strange, I went last year and it was Cynthia that fell on nearly all of her jumps and this year she is nailing everything (good for her). Sawyer wasn't even supposed to be on the tour this year until Chan pulled out so I wonder of CSOI will cut their losses with Sawyer once and for all and find another skater? People don't pay to see a skater fall on nearly half the jumps they attempt. He really shouldn't be attempting those jumps if he struggling with them, since this is a show and he has so many other great qualities to his skating. And I dig the fact that Sawyer has obviously always been comfortable showing skin (the guys gorgeous to look at, why hide it?). What I don't dig is that it's really sounds like he has reduced his skating to that of borderline hyper masculine Michael Weiss or Todd Eldrige. No disrespect to those skaters, or that style, but I got into Sawyer and others did too because he had something different and a little more soft and diverse (yet intense) than that. That he's abandoning that beautiful style shows some disrespect for the audience and for his own skating. I seriously thought he was above that. Just my Eight Cents. Your thoughts?

Thanks again, reviewers.

[blue_idealist]

Guys, thank you so much for the awesome reviews! I couldn't afford to go this year and still think they charge wayyy to much for tickets, but that's just me.

Rock2 especially, you have a very insightful description of the skaters. I really enjoyed reading your whole review.

You hit the nail on the head with Jeff Buttle. Very precise skater, and this shows when he's skating to rock music and groovy stuff, both in good and bad ways. Great skater though.

Thanks for your description on Sawyer also, one my favorites. Much appreciated. Sounds like Sawyer is really struggling on this tour. I wonder what's wrong? Strange, I went last year and it was Cynthia that fell on nearly all of her jumps and this year she is nailing everything (good for her). Sawyer wasn't even supposed to be on the tour this year until Chan pulled out so I wonder of CSOI will cut their losses with Sawyer once and for all and find another skater? People don't pay to see a skater fall on nearly half the jumps they attempt. He really shouldn't be attempting those jumps if he struggling with them, since this is a show and he has so many other great qualities to his skating. And I dig the fact that Sawyer has obviously always been comfortable showing skin (the guys gorgeous to look at, why hide it?). What I don't dig is that it's really sounds like he has reduced his skating to that of borderline hyper masculine Michael Weiss or Todd Eldrige. No disrespect to those skaters, or that style, but I got into Sawyer and others did too because he had something different and a little more soft and diverse (yet intense) than that. That he's abandoning that beautiful style shows some disrespect for the audience and for his own skating. I seriously thought he was above that. Just my Eight Cents. Your thoughts?

Thanks again, reviewers.

Although I wouldn't mind seeing Shawn with his shirt off, I'm disappointed if he's 'selling out' his own personal style like that.. it's also too bad that he missed so many jumps.. maybe he didn't train that much after not making the Olympics, and is still getting back to top form?

[TalentedButHumble]

Lotsa gay guys skating to rock music. I don't get it. Bad choice. I'll leave it there.

What the what? I don't even know where to begin...

[shutterbug]

Thanks for the reviews everyone! For those of you who had guest skaters, what did Adam and D&D skate to? (fingers crossed for Adam's SP!)

[TalentedButHumble]

Hey all, I didn't buy a program, just glanced at someone else's. I know what most of the numbers were, but wouldn't mind if someone else would post the complete song list. TIA

[Sylvia]

Adam Rippon tweeted that he was debuting a new show program in Toronto last night to "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet, choreographed by David Wilson. Any impressions?

[quebecoise]

Thanks for the reviews everyone! For those of you who had guest skaters, what did Adam and D&D skate to? (fingers crossed for Adam's SP!)

Dube & Davison skated to ''Je l'aime à mourir'' from Jonas

[seabm7]

Program for Toronto

ACT I

"The Best of Times" by Dream Theater Cast

"My Immortal" by Evanescence Joannie Rochette

"Uprising" by Muse Shawn Sawyer

"Nothing Compares 2 U" by Seniead O'Connor Cynthia Phaneuf

"Gonna Make You Sweat" by C+C Music Factory Thessa Virtue & Scott Moir

"Sympathy for the Devil" by Rolling Stones Jeffrey Buttle

"Try" by Blue Rodeo Jamie sale & David Pelletier

"Do I Move You" by Nina Simone Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon

"That's Entertainment" Original Soundtrack Kirt Browning

"Rock the Runway" Various Artists Cast


ACT II

"War" Dumplicity Soundtrack Kirt Browning, Jeffrey Buttle, Shawn Sawyer, Joannie Rochette

"Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet Adam Rippon

"Barracuda" by Heart Cynthia Phaneuf

"Satisfaction" by Edson Cordero Shawn Sawyer

"Brave" by Leona Lewis Marie-France Dubreuil, Jamie Sale, Patrice Lauzon, David Pelletier

"Good Mother" by Jim Brennen Jeffrey Buttle
(note: I'm sure it's Joy Brannan instead.)

"Luck be a Lady" by Frank Sinatra Kurt Browning

"Scream" by Michael and Janet Jackson Jamie Sale & David Pelletier

"History Repeating" by Shirley Bassey Joannie Rochette
(note: Contrary to what the program says, Joannie did "Summertime")

"Symphony No. 5" by Mahler Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir

"I've Got the Music in Me" by Kiki Dee Band Cast


According to the program, Marie-France and Patrice did only one solo number. But I cannot remember if it was actually so. Could someone confirm the program for them?

[flowerpower]

According to the program, Marie-France and Patrice did only one solo number. But I'm not sure if it was actually so. Could someone confirm the program for them?

Right, D/L did only one solo number in Toronto. Maybe because there was a guest star (Adam Rippon)? I was surprised; I expected them to do two programs.

[shallwedansu]

Video of Adam's new EX recorded by a fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkVyUm_dQjo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5uWYpyQxGo

More videos from the show:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MagsieMags93#g/u
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDTfh5M3vqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMJoyTRRamo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boK8qrrVnm4

[Rock2]

Adam Rippon tweeted that he was debuting a new show program in Toronto last night to "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" by Jet, choreographed by David Wilson. Any impressions?

Talentedbuthumble quoted my impression.

Don't get me wrong. Lots to like about Adam. But he's too polished, too classically trained and too "slow-twitch-muscle/flowy" to skate successfully to hard driving rock. I give the guy credit for the effort, but just not convincing.

[seabm7]

Thanks, Flowerpower! It clears my memory.

[rvi5]

The Hamilton CSOI was more or less as described for other cities. However, it was being recorded for television. Prior to the beginning of the show, they recorded the audience applauding, cheering, and providing a standing ovation to empty ice. I can't recall if D/L did one or two solo numbers at Hamilton, I wasn't keeping track.

Since there were some falls and stumbles throughout the show, portions of the skater’s routines had to be redone after the show was completed. Although a few people immediately raced out to beat traffic, the majority of the audience stayed to the end.

I found the Hamilton show enjoyable, except for one thing... ie. the woman who sat next to me . For the majority of the show, she sat leaning forward. Whenever the skaters were at the opposite end of the rink, all I could see was the back of her head.

[luckiest1]

Was Adam only added for the Toronto show, or do we get him in London today?

[victorskid]

Commenting a week after the fact to say that Shawn Sawyer had a much better night in Ottawa than is being described elsewhere. He may have had one fall but not more than that. My recollection is of a skater who is comfortable doing humour and playing to the audience and of a number that was similar to something done by Scott H many years ago.

Joannie did skate to "History repeating" in Ottawa. We had Dubé & Davison as guests and they skated to the English version of the song mentioned by Quebecoise above.

[Canadask8er]

I was at the Hamilton show last night and hadn't been to a Stars on Ice or any ice show since Josee's farewell tour....

Joannie had a standing ovation for a few minutes before she even skated her first number!!! she was SO on for the entire show!!!

Cynthia..... WOW!!! Huge confidence now!!! It's so nice to see her persevere after winning in 2004 and then having a hard time coming back... definetly a top 5 skater in the World!!

Tessa and Scott.... skated to their Olympic program and you could hear a pin drop... so beautiful!!

Jamie and David had to do a retake cuz she fell on the throw and doubled the next one..... I really hope the rumors arent true about them... however they barely looked at each other the entire show LOL.... Scream was REALLY cool though!!

Saw Bryce's family in the audience for their guest appearance! They skated very well too!! Stayed true to their romantic skating!

Marie-France and Patrice.... they would have pushed for an Olympic medal for sure!! So innovative and amazing to watch!

AND KURT!!!!... double salchow and single axels in hockey skates!!!!???? I didn't know you could go that deep on hockey skate edges!!!

They skaters came out and said this was one of the loudest crowds and couldnt get over the standing ovations they got!!

[Jackie Sparrow]

"Brave" by Leona Lewis Marie-France Dubreuil, Jamie Sale, Patrice Lauzon, David Pelletier

Has nobody taped that? I'd love to see it