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Peer Reviews Riverdance — You Can't Go Home Again By A.S. Waterman Entire contents are copyright © 2007 A.S. Waterman. All rights reserved. Since that 1998 landmark event, a number of touring productions have made their way across the globe. The one that premiered in Louisville on March 9, 2007, as part of PNC Broadway Across America, might best be described as Riverdance Lite. With a barren stage, cartoony projected graphics and a trebly sound system that was never quite brought into balance, this was not quite the re-experience one might have hoped for. Moreover, the unprofessional on-stage improvisation by fiddle soloist Pat Mangan, throwing in some jazz riffs and even breaking into a few strains of My Old Kentucky Home, spoiled the mystical fascination of Act I, which is normally the far more striking of the two acts. Costumes and choreography for the group dances were bland, with some routines more reminiscent of a troupe of military cadets or a cheerleading squad than the world-famous Irish dance troupe. Unsympathetic lighting did little to ameliorate the situation.
Butler and Flatley would most certainly have challenged this phase of Riverdance's evolution; however, shows must evolve. On Friday evening, leads Melissa Convery and Marty Dowds danced with such an earthy, intense physicality that they made onlookers forget about the production's shortcomings. Very attractive performers with powerful stage presence, the two added a saucy, almost erotic overtone to the dancing that, although the original choreographers might never have envisioned it, was nonetheless magic. The amazing acrobatics of the lithe and graceful Moscow Folk Ballet were likewise phenomenal, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation. Masterful vocals by baritone soloist Mark Hall, in an often overlooked but very important part of the program, added warmth and resonance to the evening. With
such a wondrous creation as Riverdance,
it is true that you can't go home again. However,
it is still a marvelous journey, and one that loyal
audiences will undoubtedly continue to make at
every opportunity. It is well worth the effort. Riverdance ---------- Posted Mar. 12, 2007 |
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