Retiring Hamilton will be missed
| Source: |
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) |
| Date: |
January 7, 2001 |
| Author: |
Susan English |
Copyright 2001 Spokane Spokesman-Review
Target Stars on Ice
Friday, Jan. 5, Spokane Arena
Scott Hamilton gave his last performance in Spokane with the
Target Stars on Ice Tour Friday night at the Spokane Arena. He's
retiring from the tour after this year, and in the style of a
consummate performer, Hamilton left the audience wanting more.
The 42-year-old Hamilton opened the program Friday night launching
triple jumps all over the ice.
By the time he'd landed his last jump of the evening, he was in
tears and so were many members of the audience that filled the lower
sections of the Arena.
His solo routine at the end of the second act, skated to Glenn
Roven's ''My Way,'' was a gift to fans who love figure skating more
for its grace than glitz. It brought the thousands of fans in the
Arena to their feet even before the music faded.
Hamilton's final solo capped a two-hour extravaganza of dazzling
skating and pure entertainment.
Following the opening number featuring the entire cast, Hamilton
programmed a short retrospective piece that includes a portrayal of
him as a young skater. Hamilton invites a young local skater to share
the ice for a few minutes in each city on the tour. In Spokane,
11-year-old Jeff Smith got the chance to step into the spotlight with
Hamilton. Smith skated flawlessly through a routine he learned that
afternoon in rehearsal with the tour cast.
That touching moment, however, segued into a full-blown,
high-powered, high-tech ice show that stunned some audience
members. As Steven Cousins, clad in red leather pants and a black mesh
top, leaped and jumped and pumped to the beat of music by Creed, a
woman near me remarked, ''This isn't how ice shows used to be.''
Indeed, this isn't. Kristi Yamaguchi skated solos to music by Sting
and the Dixie Chicks. Russian Olympic gold medalist Ilia Kulik skated
to Herbie Hancock's ''Rockit.'' And, in what was the strangest ice
show segment I've seen, five skaters performed nearly an entire
routine seated in metal chairs to the song ''Terminator'' by
WestBarn. I liked it, and it drew enthusiastic applause.
Yamaguchi, Jenni Meno and Denis Petrov opened the second act of
the show with the most beautiful routine in the lineup, skating to the
Joni Mitchell song ''Both Sides Now.'' Petrov made his name as a pairs
skater. Although he's on this tour as a solo skater, he paired up with
nearly all the skaters at some point in the evening, including
Hamilton, whom he lifted and twirled overhead with apparent ease.
The evening had its minor missteps - a few skaters falling or
singling triple jumps when it appeared they were running out of ice
surface, shortened from the usual hockey rink to accommodate rows of
seats.
Really, the show represented the best form of entertainment, part
clever schmaltz and a whole lot of pure talent. Hamilton has expressed
confidence this tour will go on without him, and it probably will. The
cast is loaded with some of the world's best figure skaters and they
put on a great show. But still, Hamilton will be missed for his impish
grin, his silly, funny routines and his genuine desire for everyone to
have a great time at his shows.
| 
