Hello Everyone !!
I just came home to an INCREDIABLE EVENING !!!
First of all let me just say that ICE SEATS are just a MUST HAVE !!!! Of course everytime a figure skating show comes in my area I always get ice seats no matter what the price is. I'd say 60.00 bucks was WELL WELL SPENT for tonights show let me tell you !!!!!!! Origionally I had thought when purchasing my tickets that my seats would be sorta down where the "blue line" is - not quite center ice. However to my MUCH surprise - I was almost DEAD CENTER which had me a VERY happy fan indeed !! The skaters enterence was toward my right.
Well let me tell you I certainly got a different lite of
the show this evening and just enjoyed up every single minute of it.
Opening Number ~ Tonight saw a few new faces added to the cast. I&Z didn't skate tonight along with Angela Nikodinov. I'm assuming they had other "prior" commitments. So as replacements we had Sudbury's own Jeffrey Buttle as well as Canada's 2002 Ice-Dancing Silver Medalist Dubreuil & Lauzon ! Which was really nice to see !!!
Jeff Buttle ~ Tonight in Sudbury Jeff performed not just one but two programs as well as the Opening & Closing Numbers. I must say I was impressed Jeff had all the moves. I would imagine he just learned the "group" numbers the day before ... but then again this is Jeffrey Buttle so I'm not at all surprised .... he's a tallented young man. Watch Out CANADA His first program was skated to an unfamiliar song that still has a ??? running through my head. Again I have a terrible time figuring out song names especially ones I am not familiar with. But it was really really well skated .. and he is just so fun to watch !! There was a point during his program that he was infront of us and I was just so mezmorized by watching him for that moment I didn't even flinch to pick up my camera .... a HUGE ovation from the crowd after Jeff's performance. His second program he performed his 'short program' Just as Jeff skated onto the ice and got into position a fan in the audience just SCREAMED "WE LOVE YOU JEFFREY" Had me giggling!
Brian Orser ~ ALWAYS gets the crowd clapping along throughout his perforamces as well as many screaming throughout !! Always a showman - and boy the man can still do that back flip - WOWZERS !!!
Jennifer Robinson ~ I didn't think Jennifer had a great "night" in the jumping department however her overall performance was wonderfull !! I truly enjoyed her "tango" number she did in the second half of the show. Really really sweet, sexy and just full of spunk !!! During Jennifer's first skate I noticed Yagudin standing near the enterence across from my seat watching her performance.
B&S - I absolutly LOVE their "Chaplin" Exhibition Number. I so enjoy their unique lifts and character on the ice. Elena looks so adorable in her little "outfit" Its a shame though that B&S only skated one solo number during the STN Tour. Really, really a shame .. but the audience was really really entertained and gave tremendous applause and standing ovation ...
Maria B ~ I REALLY enjoyed her programs tonight .. especially her "Cabaret" number ... suits Maria well. Her second number she had a really really gorgeous blue dress .. and her jumps were really "ON" tonight !!
Yagudin ~ What I call the "Energizer Bunny That Keeps Going And Going And Going - the man is just amazing as I've said before .. and of course he knows it - lol!
"Overcome" ~ Yagudin again tonight was wearing "all black" with the black gloves. So "applause" goes out to Yags - I hope he sticks with the black outfit .... STILL get goosebumps hearing the intro of that song .... and I was just in awww the whole time watching this program ... especially the foot work. I also enjoy how he uses the music with the program, every move he makes it all fits together !!!
"Group Number - Sailor Number"
OMG watching this from ice level let me tell you I was just in HEAVEN ! What a cute little tush ... surprised I didn't try to grab it while he skated by - lol.
After the intermission when Yagudin's "Solo" Sailor number begins the bar was toward my right - PERFECT VIEW - and those Yagudin fans were just a SCREAMING when he was sitting at the bar while Brian Orser was making him his "cocktail" He was just smiling towards them which just made them scream louder. Was cute, managed to get some cute shots there ...
MITIM ~ Like my Mom said to after he finished - "aww that's it?" There was a moment that I was just in awww that I didnt' even flintch to pick up my camera to take a picture - when Yagudin was smack right infront of us .. doing his little thing ... my Mom was like "why didn't you take a picture.." I just told her .. I was enjoying the view - LOL. Can you blaim me ???? LOL
"Winter" ~ He just loves throwing that snow doesn't he? What a powerful program ... I have to say that his footwork sequence in this program is just amazing .. I know I keep saying this but its so true .... I just got a total different view of the program sitting on ice level ... and just enjoyed every minute of it .... Of course the entire night Yagudin got a really great reception - with standing ovations after each performance.
I really enjoyed the "finale" this year .. when the skaters all were dressed in black with "shades" and skated a "techno" piece. Then magically came back in all bright colours and flashy glitter !! Like I had said in my North Bay review I really do applaud Brian Orser for his wonderful choreography ... he's done a fantastic job and I am so thrilled that he has brought this show to Northern Ontario !!
It was sad when the show was over ... Jennifer Robinson & Honda came on our side to "shake hands" and thank us for attending. After the show was over ... it was time to head on over to the reception at the hotel. I had tickets to the recption .. and a BIG THANK-YOU goes out to my "godmother" for providing me these tickets. Her daughers husband works at a local pharmacy here in town and were given complimentry tickets.
There were quite a few people in attendence this year but I found not as many as last years reception. The skaters arrived close to 10:30pm. While everyone was anxiously awaiting the skaters arrival, everyone sipped on either wine, beer, or other beverages that were available, as well as nibbled on the food that was provided. The skater did arrive individialy and not in one big group. Jennifer Robinson was first to arrive, and she was busy busy busy signing and posing for pictures. I then noticed Elena walk in and she was mobbed by fans as well. Eventually all the skaters arrived and it was just a matter of finding the crowds of people. Yagudin was the last skater to arrive at the reception and he stayed pretty much near the door. Of course he was mobbed by everyone and the guy was just signing his little heart away. He took a break ever so often to take a nibble of food that was on the table, or to have a little something to drink.
Basically I had brought with me some of my personal photos to get signed, so that pretty much was my goal. Its really enjoyable to mingle with the skaters, tell them how much you enjoyed their skating and sometimes make little small talk with them.
The reception ended shortly after 11:00 I'd say. The place was pretty much empty by 11:30pm. Yet again it was an enjoyable evening.