ACT I
 
WONDERFUL WORLD - Opening

Strobe's Nanafushi by Kodo was so loud all I felt was relief when it ended.  I can't  remember what they were doing. They had a row of spot lights along both edges of the ice that they brought full up a couple of times aimed directly across the ice, effectively blinding those of us in the bottom rows.  The rest of the opening numbers seemed quite short.  I noted Tara did 3 salchow, Ilia 2 huge Russian splits (with his feet higher than his behind) and 2 axel, Kristi a 2 axel. Lulu & Steven looked nice together in the Swingtown segment.

Rag-GIDON-time -- Kurt Browning – 2A, fall on 3S (which almost works in this kind of program), 3-2 combination in the corner where I couldn't see, 2A.  This was a good program which helped perk up a fairly sedate audience.  Kurt is wonderful - he actually talked to the audience while he was skating.

Ghost – Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur - This was a very stylish, balletic number that seemed almost simple in its elegance.  I really liked it because it seemed to be about dancing, and these two both move very well.  There was a blue-purple light on the ice which was a beautiful color.  Gorsha's "trousers" could just as well have been tights from the knees up, adding to the ballet effect.

Ribbon - Ekaterina Gordeeva – I don't generally like numbers with props, but the ribbon was an integral part of the choreography and highlighted her movement over the ice.  The spins were especially effective and I liked the part where she does a series of turns to wrap the ribbon around herself, a jump, and then another series of turns to unwrap the ribbon.   Jumps included a 2toe (I think - this one was also in my blind corner), single Axel, and 1 ˝ tano lutz (landed forward on 2 feet).  This may be my favorite number Katia has done as a singles skater.

Blues for Narada  –  Ilia Kulik  – I loved the music, it was so evocative of my college years – all they needed was the blacklight and lava lamp.   Ilia's fans will love this number.  I liked everything about this program -- the dramatic opening, all the footwork, and lots of jumps.  (I have sometimes thought that what Ilia does is not so much singles skating as solo ice dance with jumps.)  He doubled the loop, landed the 3A, 3Z, 3T.  The 3F was over-rotated (step out).  I especially liked the way he uses his arms in this number, sometimes controlled and sometimes with an abundance of energy, but just right for the music.  I can't help it.  This guy does it for me like no skater I have ever seen (and I've been watching for a long time).  He also gets full marks for "utilization of the ice" in that he used every inch of it, in contrast to some of the others who never came within 3 yards of the end of the ice.  I couldn't tell from my angle, but I heard a man a few rows up comment that the final spin was "spot on" (meaning that he did not travel at all).  Ilia looked especially good in black t-shirt and black straight leg pants.  He has an excellent position in his camel spins (especially the forward camel) and this was accentuated by the long straight line of the pants.

Baby Did a Bad Thing --Jenni Meno & Todd Sand -  Strange song, good number. Nasty fall for Jenni on the throw 2A.

Genie in a Bottle – Tara Lipinski – I still like the skirt but not the number. It finally dawned on me that this, like some other SOI numbers, looks to be choreographed for small ice.  My notes show 3T, 3T, 3L [but now I'm wondering of one of the T's was really a flip].  I guess the lutz was just for competition.  I don't think she does any in this year's show.

OLD FRIENDS  -- Simon & Garfunkel ensemble - more nostalgia for me.

You Can Call Me Al -- Scott Hamilton - I have concluded that it is simply not possible for me not to like anything that Scott or Kurt does.  This number was light (but not comic).  Scott looked pleased to land the 3-toe but seemed to have some problem in a sit spin.  (It looked to end early but I doubt most of the audience noticed.)  Triple salchow.  At one point he imitates a speed skater going around the end of the ice and it looked from his face like there was a joke involved.  Single axel (I think a delayed axel) followed by turns into a 2-toe, backflip.

Me & Julio - Kurt Browning & Steven Cousins strike a blow for men's pairs. This number seemed mostly about trying to knock each other down with a little semi-serious side-by-side skating.  I liked it.

Cecilia - Scott Hamilton & Ekaterina Gordeeva - very cute number with Katia doing most of the skating.  I don't think I've ever seen Katia do sassy before. She did it well and Scott was very cute.  These two have a nice chemistry together.

The Sounds of Silence - This was a pretty but sort of melancholy number, with the two pairs and Roca & Sur skating together and Scott skating alone.  One of my friends asked who was the missing partner he was skating with.  I didn't know - maybe still pining for Katia from the previous number, maybe Kristi in the number to come, maybe Roz (foreshadowing of Old Friends)?

Bridge Over Troubled Water -- Kristi Yamaguchi – This is a very pretty number but I think Kristi was probably disappointed in her skate.  She doubled whatever the first jump was (I'm guessing lutz - in my blind corner at the far end of the ice), two nice double axels, fall on 3 loop, step out on 3 toe.  (There were quite a few stepouts all night, but since the skater stays standing up and continues without missing a beat, they don't much detract from the programs.) In spite of the jump flaws, it was a very soft and wonderful number.  She has especially pretty arms and hands.  I loved the look of determination on her face heading into the 3 toe.  Some other skaters might have backed off and decided to play it safe with a double, but you could see the athlete in her that said "I'm gonna get this one". She didn't quite, but I appreciated the effort.

Old Friends – Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Kurt Browning, & Steven Cousins   – This number almost made me cry.  The lyrics are very sad (depressing even) and the choreography sort of matched.  I couldn't help but see this as Scott thinking back on all the skaters he's toured with, which of course makes you think how Sergei should have been there.

ACT II

CLUB ACT - Lu Chen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski, Ilia Kulik, Steven Cousins, Denis Petrov, Gorsha Sur –  This is the set with the black and white couch.  It starts with Lulu & Steven cuddling on the couch, Ilia & Kristi come out, sit on the couch and chat, then the others show up and people start dancing.  When Tara arrives, the guys (including Steven) start showing off for her and take turns dancing with her (Luv Me Luv Me).  Stephen does his solo (It's About That Walk ) in which he struts some more [3S, 3F (step out), 3T (hand down)].  Lulu does her solo aimed at Steven (It's Not Right But It's Okay) [2T, 1A], after which Kristi gets off the couch and tries to teach Lulu to act sexy (Jazzin).  Kristi gets to use some of her Shimmy moves.  Lulu repeats Kristi's moves and they skate around, luring Steven back to the couch, where they tie him up with a purple feather boa.  A very light and fun number, but it took place almost entirely on the far half of the ice from me, and left me underwhelmed.

LA WALZ

Blue Walk - Kurt Browning / He's Got a Way - Tara Lipinski -- This is the number where Kurt starts out as a clown, eats his nose, turns his pants into a tailcoat, decides it's in his way and takes it off again.  He skates in a striped T-shirt and nicely fitting purple pants.  At some point Tara comes out, yearning for him, but every time she approaches he gets shy and turns away. This was a very effective number for Tara.  I think T&D's uncluttered choreography and the longer dress gave a more mature look to her skating.  (Interesting that while the little girl sailor dress and hair made her look like a little doll, the skating had more maturity and polish that her other numbers, IMO.)  If you go, try not to let yourself be entirely focused on Kurt's antics, but watch Tara in this.

La Valse Moderne et Dada Je Suis - Kurt & Tara - Tara's adoration is finally rewarded as Kurt overcomes his shyness.  They skate a duet that begins with ice dancing in waltz position.  Nice SBS 3-toes.  The crowd liked this move.  Kurt looked mildly surprised they landed them (or maybe that they landed them reasonably together).  He has a very expressive face.

Czardas - Elena Bechke & Denis Petrov -  This is the Hungarian folk music number they skated at World Pros and this program is technically packed  - lots of lifts, SBS jumps, a footwork sequence better than most of last year's World podium - and was skated with excellent positions and unison throughout.  They open with the death spiral that ends with her entirely off the ice being supported by his left leg  and are already getting a good crowd response.  The guy in our group says "Now this is serious skating."  I could not see the throw 3S, but he thought she had a hand down.  With each move, the crowd cheered louder.  Big cheers for the SBS 2-flips, really loud cheers for the long footwork sequence.  By the time they were done with the last lift, the crowd was roaring.  This response was easily the largest of the night to this point in the show, maybe the second loudest of the entire show.  (For an SOI audience, you have to go some to get more applause than Scott.)  I found it very telling that even though this number had no plot, no props, no choreographic hi-jinks, and did not use rock or pop music, the audience loved it.  I'm really happy for B&P that their audience recognizes and appreciates the quality of their skating.

DI BOLERO

Casi un Bolero (instrumental) - Jenni Meno & Todd Sand, Renee Roca & Gorsha Sur dance (ballroom style) sometimes the same moves in unison, sometimes different lifts.  The couples are dressed alike, except the ribbons on the midsection of Jenni's dress go up and down like corset stays while Renee's are crisscrossed.   This is a nice, slow romantic number, which highlights Katia's aloneness when she enters the ice.

Si Tu no Estas/Casi Un Bolero - Ekaterina Gordeeva & Ilia Kulik

The two couples waltz off the ice while Katia skates alone in a gorgeous red dress, looking very sad.  Ilia appears and at first she rejects him, but also seems drawn to him. (One of the women in my party especially liked how she kept pushing him away and he kept holding his head.)  She eventually gives in, the music changes to Casi Un Bolero, and they do a nice forward pairs spiral. This program has some pairs, some dance, and some singles skating.  I liked the dance lifts where they begin in waltz position (looks for a moment like it's going to be a throw 2A but instead he swirls her around in front of him).  Repeating this move a second time made it especially effective.  I wish they had held the Ena Bauers longer.  (They both have nice positions.  I'd like to see them try this move "spoons" style instead of face to face.) His 2A out of the Ena Bauer was very smooth - so easy and light.  I even loved just watching them skate back crossovers hand-in-hand.  The lifts looked secure, and the final move is really striking. With her balanced across his one thigh, he carries that Besti squat a full 360 degrees before going down to one knee for the final pose. (The move starts on one side of the ice, they glide around the end, then tighten the radius to end up facing the first side, but in the center of the ice.)   The consensus of the women in my group was that this number is hot.  Really good applause and some people standing.  I think the audience was slightly confused because they aren't allowed any time to applaud Katia & Ilia before the other four skaters reappear for a group bow.  This number was a highlight for me, but if Ilia plans to pursue more serious pairs skating, he needs to learn to give his partner dreamy looks.  (Isn't this a staple of pairs skating, except I guess for the brother-sister pairs?)

Play that Funky Music White Boy – Kurt Browning.  Good number, especially good change of pace. My notes begin "2A - - - 3S." (I think the dashes are hops or steps or maybe single loops.)  This number also included 3T & 2A.  Kurt was wearing shiny pants. He clearly enjoys this program and the audience responded.

Smooth - Kristi Yamaguchi – Cute as a button Kristi feeling her oats in a flirty, sexy number.  This dress was the favorite of one of the women in my group.  She's clearly pleased to land the 3F (makes a fist), also 3T & 2A, lots of dancing and wriggling her torso.  Well received by the audience.

Baseball Cap - Ilia Kulik - This number features a lot of intricate movement, putting on, taking off, and juggling the baseball cap.  He executed everything cleanly (including 3F, 3T, death drop & single A), knocked the hat off his head when the lyric called for it, danced over it, picked it up, juggled it, played with it, tossed it, bounced it off his biceps and caught it every time.  His dexterity and hand-eye coordination was especially remarkable for a kid who did not grow up playing baseball.  Ilia is very dancy and does this number very well, and he looked cute turning his cap around with his hair sticking out. You could tell this was choreographed by an ice dancer (Dean), because some of the moves required strong edges and deep knees (or is that deep edges and strong knees?) I don't know how he (or anyone else) could have done this program better, but the number still wasn't brilliant.   I think this is a number that might work on TV (with well placed cameras) or as a stage number, but it is too intricate and too much about what he is doing with his hands and his face to really sell at the far end of the arena.  In particular, the number seemed to spend a lot of time not only at one end of the ice, but facing the short end, so that he had his back to 2/3 or more of the audience for extended periods of time.  Now, Ilia does have a lovely backside, but the feeling that one is missing whatever is going on in front of him creates a kind of detachment in the viewer (at least it did me).  If you are lucky enough to be sitting in the part of the stands this number is designed for, then you will probably like it a  lot (he certainly seems to be enjoying it), but I think Ilia's talents were not well used in this number.  When a choreographer has at his disposal a skater who can fly, I don't understand the choice of giving him a number doing intricate footwork in a small area and (basically) doing the hand jive.

American Woman - Tara Lipinski - On his way off the ice, Ilia skates the beginning of this music in movements that match the "get away from me" lyric,  while Tara skates on.  This program is no better in person than on TV.  At one point she does a dippy boy scout salute while prancing in place, and I'm thinking "How clueless is this girl?"  She lands 3T, 3S and another triple (maybe either F or T).

Don Quixote - Scott Hamilton – I don't know what's wrong with those people in New York City, but this audience loved this number.  I liked the way he went back and forth between the joking and real skating.  Scott may make fun of balletic skating, but while pretending to be a ballet dancer he did achieve some nicer positions than he did being Al.  Delayed axel, 2Z and a circular sequence featuring 3 double axels (the third as nice as the first).  The audience was laughing throughout this number.  Big standing O at the end.

What a Wonderful World - finale.  I couldn't really appreciate this number because from one end, low to the ice I couldn't really get the effect of the patterns the group is making.  (Basically, I ended up watching whichever 3 skaters were nearest my end.)  After the final bows, as the audience was leaving, they played the Louie Armstrong version of this song.