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Can you say AWESOME!?!August 22nd, Opening Night for Riverdance at the Riverside (aka: The Triumphant Return to Milwaukee). From my view the show (9 rows back from stage, slightly right of center) the show went off without a hitch, well almost. The show was late starting about 8:30pm which wasn't bad, it gave me time to take a pictures of the stage and orchestra area. The only flaw during the show was during Heal Their Hearts/Freedom was that one of the curtain drops got stuck on the top of the set. On with the Review...I left the house a little late (6:30pm) because I was helping my mom figure a program out, I got in the care and popped Riverdance CD Number 3 into the CD Player. I could almost see the stage and the dancers in front of me while I was driving (maybe I shouldn't do that no more, that could end in an accident). I arrived in downtown Milwaukee about a half hour later by 7pm drove around the Riverside Theater trying to find street parking but alas nothing, so I went into the Grand Avenue Mall's parking structure. By 7:05pm I was out of my car and into the theater. I arrived at the inside door of the theater where the ushers stood and didn't let us in until 7:30pm. So, I started talking to the ushers, about their jobs and other stuff. I found out that they volunteer their time and don't get paid, BUT do get to see the shows for FREE once all the holds for the show are done. I thought how cool is that! I started hearing loud music comming from the inside of the theater and snuck a peek between the crack of the doors, All the performers were still warming up on stage in their street clothes, of what a picture that would have been (Maybe I'll try to get one next time). After about five more minutes the warm-up music finally stopped and the doors to the inside of the theater opened. The StageWhen first being unshed to my seat I was sort of diappointed because I couldn't really see the stage because of a large silk projection screen with the word Riverdance on it. But then I noticed that the band was off to my left and thought that was totally awesome, for once in my life I had got to see Riverdance with the band on the side of the stage like in the videos. Once the screen lifted the stage was not at all different from that of the first time I saw the lagan company in Madison. The ShowThe Show starred Michael Patrick Gallagher and Tara Barry for principal leads. About 8:30 the show started, the deep ominous male voice started to speak in foreign languages before speaking in English, "Good evening and Welcome to Riverdance -- The Show, for the dancers safety we ask that there be no Video Recording or Flash photography during the show. Enjoy Riverdance -- The Show" Then started the low whistle sounds of Brian O'Brein and then the Narrators voice as he speaks "Out of the dark we came, out of the sea, where the long wave broke on the shore...", just then the silk screen with the infamous Riverdance logo lifted and the fog rolled off the stage. The Show has begun. BUM BUM ( a blue light in the side of the stage), BUM BUM (another light on the other side), BUM BUM (a third light on the stage), BUM BUM (one more light), BOOM (all lights in the center of stage turn on face the bottom and move towards the ceiling). Now comes the music, and the Dance, that is in my opinion THE BEST OF THE SHOW. Now instead of swaying from side to side to the music, I'm hitting my hands on my legs to every beat of the hard shoe dance, all the to the end, and again with the last thump of the hard show dance, I was standing and clapping (did I mention I was shaking with excitement :) Once Riverdance International started I started clapping to the music and didn't stop until the dancers left the show, that must have been at least 5-10 minutes, you can believe my hands hurt after that. Finally the show was over and everyone left the theater. As everyone walked to their cars, I made my way behind the theater to the stage door. Cast and crew were already starting to come out. My goal was to get at least the principal leads and then anyone else that stopped (I know that sounds bad like everyone else doesn't matter, but I'd be back to get more autographs other days). While waiting, I found the Musical Supervisor, Madeline Cartwright, and asked if she could sign my program supplement (I say supplement because the Souvenir Programme this year is all pictures but no cast information, unlike other years. The Supplement is a staple bound book inserted into the programme) she asked if I enjoyed the show and said I'd be back, she then told me that she was leaving that night to go supervise the Broadway show. While waiting for M.P. Gallagher and Tara Barry, I spotted Niamh Ni Charra and asked her for her autograph, I also asked this guy who I thought was Paul Moore to sign it as well, and it turned out he was Paul (For some reason everyone seems different off stage). Eventually M.P.G and Tara Barry came out together and I asked for their autographs and got it. He asked me if I enjoyed the show and whether or not this was my first time seeing this particular company. Of course I answered "I loved the show, and NO, I've seen the lagan once in Madison last year." I was hoping to get every lead dancers signature but I didn't recognize any of the folks from the Moscow Folk ballet or did I find the Trading Taps folks, I waited till everyone left and then 5 more minutes just in case but I guess I got behind the theater too late because I seemed to miss a bunch of dancers, but what can you expect when you sit 9 rows from the stage and everyone just slowly walks out of the theater :) (Pictures to follow per Photo Development)
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Copyright © 2002 Daniel Mueller
The Riverdance Logo is Copyright 2002 Abhann Productions. All Rights Reserved. |