December 15, 2016-January 1, 2017
at Patchogue Theatre
Newsday
Steve Parks
In the holiday season, tradition counts. And no Long Island theater company has more tradition than Gateway Playhouse, now calling itself The Gateway Performing Arts Center of Suffolk County.
Gateway — which opened in the summer of 1950 with “The Taming of the Shrew” in a barn on its Bellport property — ends its 66th year with “Holiday Spectacular on Ice” at the Patchogue Theatre. Performing on the company’s 40-by-40-foot rink, Rohene Ward, current U.S. Open professional champion, and Ricky Dornbush, two-time U.S. collegiate champ, head a cast also featuring four lead singers, trained dogs — and we don’t merely mean that they’re housebroken — and fire juggling on skates.
It’s Gateway’s first ice show since 2009, presented at the Patchogue venue that the company opened in 1999 with the musical “Titanic.” (Inauspiciously, the ship refused to sink on opening night.) Individual skating by this year’s headliners is unsurpassed in Gateway’s rink history, though 2007’s “Cold as Ice” world premiere starred 1994 Olympic gold medalist Oksana Baiul — past her prime after knee surgery.
Opening-night oohs and ahhs accompanied each two-rotation leap by the charismatic Ward and a flawless back flip by the athletic Dornbush. The high-kicking female chorus line brings to mind the Rockettes in “Radio City Christmas Spectacular,” though understandably more tentative on ice.
But adorableness stole the show as kid skaters as young as 4 years old upstaged the teen-and-up skating ensemble and occasionally the stars. It’s that kind of show. Dogs trained by Big Apple Circus’ Jenny Vidbel drew appreciative laughter and applause jumping through hoops, while Zach Michael Thomas’ fire-on-ice provided a jolt of intensity to all the holiday cheer.
Caroling highlights, religious and secular, included Christopher Williams’ stirring “O Holy Night” to Ward’s solo (ice choreography by Tara Modlin) and Zuri Washington’s sexy “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” plus a “White Christmas” quartet also featuring Glenn Devar and Leanne Smith.
Director Keith Andrews keeps the flow going to a recorded score, with skaters missing a beat only here and there. Marianne Dominy’s costumes appropriately accented each number, especially the angelic “Silent Night.” Scenic designer Brittany Loesh framed myriad scenes, from a barn-house hoedown to the pedestrian bridge overlooking an iced-over “pond” and the lone “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” acknowledgment.
Corny and mostly reverent in a style that brings to mind bygone Andy Williams TV specials, this “Spectacular” may not be for you — or me. But sentiment gets a needed pass this time of year.
Long Island Advance
Linda Leuzzi
The Gateway’s Holiday Spectacular on Ice, which opened last Thursday at Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, begins with a whimsical scene: Conalie Julia King, 4, skates out, then Luna Romero, two of the featured youth skaters, to “Where Are You, Christmas?”
It’s a tender opening of what’s to come, quiet anticipation against a calm winter backdrop, then letting it rip with scene-stealers, one after the other.
It’s a big production, with U.S. Figure Skating champs, star skaters, an uplifting chorus and a youth addition in the mix that adds to the show’s charm.
The crazy shopper act with the ensemble featuring an elderly lady (a humorous Annette Cruz from East Islip), who pops the policeman and shakes her booty to show her feistiness, is just one of the high-energy fun scenes to “Happy Holidays,” and there’s even a puppy present to boot.
But it’s not all skating. There’s gorgeous singing by Leanne Smith, Christopher Williams (a “Billy Elliot” alum from Broadway and Gateway), Glenn Devar and Zuri Washington. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” the playful, seduction song from the 1940s, is adorable and Smith vamps it in a sled in “Santa, Baby,” as her handsome honeys whip out diamond bracelets to get her attention. Washington belts out that up-tempo “All I Want for Christmas is You,” in glam brown sequins; it’s a rouser.
A sweet little pig rolled out a rug for the six dogs, who turn wheels, jump, push barrels and dance on hind legs for Big Apple animal trainer Jenny Vidbel that got cheers.
But the skating, with its grace and athleticism, is a true art form here. Star skater Rohene Ward, who looks like Prince and skates like Fred Astaire on ice, jumped backwards and did triple spins. Ricky Dornbush rocked it in “Run, Run Rudolph,” jumping backwards himself twice. Brandee Malto exudes a luminous enthusiasm with beautiful, heartfelt moves and Ilana Sedaka lent her own style of youthful elegance (she’s 15). Danielle Logano performed her special “fire dance.”
The set, a winter scene, with a stone bridge the chorus sings from at times, is interspersed with townhouses and starry, twinkling skies, but there’s also a western town and a toyland backdrop, too.
There’s audience participation, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus, a Chanukah song, fog machine and a rousing finale. In all, over 70 in the cast, with 37 songs. And it’s kid friendly.
As for the finale? Catch those candy canes. No worries if you miss; either way, you’ll leave with the holiday spirit bolstered.
