Hamilton steals show in a farewell tribute

Copyright 2001 The Hearst Corporation

ALBANY -- The Target Stars on Ice farewell tribute to skating icon Scott Hamilton drew 10,000 adoring fans Thursday night to the Pepsi Arena. This year's show boasts fresh new choreography as Hamilton's co-headliners Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning and Ilia Kulik continue without him.

The cast switched partners as often as costumers -- most notably, '92 Olympic silver medalist and eight-year tour veteran Denis Petrov. His longtime partner and former wife, Elena Bechke, opted to coach this season, leaving Petrov to pair with everyone else, including Hamilton. Their ''Shaft'' number engrossed the audience as Hamilton struggled to keep up with his ''partner'' and Petrov tossed his tiny mentor around in overhead lifts and spins.

Another successful number involved Petrov with Yamaguchi and Jenni Meno, three-time U.S. pairs champion with hubby Todd Sand (who sat out this number). Skating to Joni Mitchell's ''Both Sides Now,'' Petrov alternated lifts and spins between partners in an intricate, exquisitely choreographed, precisely timed and emotionally moving number that attests to the new direction the show is heading.

Other pairings were less magical, including a Lipinski and Kulik jazz duet. Although the two solo skaters should be commended for branching out, this number didn't work for either of them.

The second half of the show outshined the first in pacing and choreography. Browning did a rousing round-up to ''Don't Fence Me In'' and Yamaguchi proved herself a Dixie Chick in her boot-scootin' ''Let Her Rip'' performance. Techno also dominated the night, with Kulik's deep-kneed gyrations to ''Rockit'' and space-age ''Chairmen'' routine featuring Renee Roca, Gorsha Sur and Steven Cousins, joined by Kulik and Browning. Proving that ''pairs skating'' can involve combinations beyond two people, the five traversed the ice on six legs apiece (two of their own, and four from accompanying chairs). They donned shades as they moved in rhythmic unison, spinning, flipping and performing various lifts and tricks for the amazed audience.

The ''Tunnel Vision'' number started out impressively as the cast's shadows danced while the skaters emerged single file from a large, moving tunnel. The dramatic impact diminished as the skaters killed 15 minutes trading jokes and insults while perched on chairs, center ice, with an occasional brief skating interlude to break the monotony.

As was to be expected, Hamilton stole the show in every number he appeared in -- from his comedic ''Double Bogey Blues,'' culminating in a back flip over his golf bag, to his emotional encore to ''My Way.'' The show will go on, but a huge chapter ended with Hamilton's final wave.

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