UK Show Reviews and Michael Moments - 8
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Dear Michael, On Sunday 25th January, 1998, I took my husband and two sons to experience your Lord of the Dance. One word sums it up: "Magic"! We sat enthrwalled throughout. Your energy and great need to dance shines through. Thank you so much for beleiving in your dream, even when things got tough. It prooves if you want it enough, it will happen. I want to wish you health, happiness and success in all you do. May the dance live forever. Love and light, Carolyn Parker. Carol Parker 194.207.0.96 <richie@hypnosis.idiscover.co.uk> London, United Kingdom - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 11:07:41 (PST)
hi guys!!!!! wow have i got news for u lot!!! i went to see lotd on sunday 18th which was brill but not only that, after the show i got his autograph and touched his arm!!!! wow i am so pleased with myself!!! feel free to e mail me anytime!!!! Vikki 152.163.201.7 <Vixen1409@aol.com> Worcs, England - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 11:10:00 (PST)
I've just seen your show,Lord of the Dance at Wembley. Had a fantastic time, you were all brilliant.Hope to see you again. Keep those feet tappin'. Edda. edda woodcock 194.168.101.196 <leslie.mehegan@which.net> london, england - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 13:12:08 (PST)
I recently saw the show in Birmingham, and it was brilliant. Every bit as good as the video which I have seen about 35 times! It was apparent that Michael was not at his best after his illness in NZ, as we only had one encore at the end, I hope you are better now Michael. If you have a homecoming tour in Ireland then I will be the first to fly over there. Jeremy Smedley 195.188.107.151 <j.smedley@gdsnet.co.uk> Stoke on Trent, STAFFS ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 13:39:13 (PST)
I REALLY ENJOYED THE SHOW ON THE 26.1. BUT PLEASE GET RID OF THE DARK TIGHTS ON THE GIRLS THE STAGE IS TOO DARK AND WE COULD NOT SEE THE DANCE STEPS.ALSO LIGHTER TIGHTS WOULD LOOK BETTER WITH THE LIGHTER COLOURED COSTUMES DIANE CRANE 194.74.241.52 <A1364626@INFOTRADE.CO.UK> - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 14:46:56 (PST)
Have Just returned home after watching the show at Wembley, with my daughter,Zoe(it is her 14th Birthday today 27.01.1998) Show absolutly wonderful. Awesome!!!! Annette Wheatley 195.232.29.136 <101547.2747@compuserve.com> Luton, U.K. - Tuesday, January 27, 1998 at 15:33:18 (PST)
very Very Good Scott is only 7 saw the show at Wembley last night VeryVery exciting Look forward to another show. Michael must be very fit He must have been tired Would love to have had his autograph but we were on a coach scott/gailfairest 194.164.56.56 <scott@aspects.net> Walton-on-Naze, Essex U.K. - Wednesday, January 28, 1998 at 00:48:11 (PST)
My familiy and I went to see the show yesterday (27/1/98). It was the best show we have ever seen. Well done to you all. My daughter (sam) even got M.F. to sign her program which was just the iceing on the cake. Again well done and roll on the next project! Kevin Lee 195.232.28.201 <100433,2247> - Wednesday, January 28, 1998 at 00:55:18 (PST)
I know I'm a little late with this, but I just had to say how fantastic Tuesday night's show was. I went on Sunday (my first time) and ended up being a little disappointed because the crowd was practically comatose. Of course, Michael sensed this and didn't seem to sparkle as much as we know he can - only my opinion. But what a difference Tuesday night. We had better seats this time, about 6 rows back in Tier 12. As soon as Cry of the Celts finished there was the spontaneous cheers and yelling, whistles and applause that was missing from Sunday. It made SUCH a difference! You could see Michael was pleased - he stood there for ages just soaking up all that good energy, smiling and nodding. From then on everyone - on stage and off - seemed to be having a great time. We couldn't believe how quickly the time was going. We'd hardly had time to breathe before it was half-time. I took my sister-in-law back to the foyer to show her where Michael would be signing autographs after the show, so we could leg it as soon as the pyrotechnics started. The second half was just as exciting and energetic as the first, and then came Planet Ireland, the a capela stuff (brilliant B&G!!) and then the "end". The crowd went wild - my sister-in-law and I were the only ones in our block standing up, waving and yelling, and I think we were rewarded - Michael came across to our side of the stage and looked up at us!! My sister-in-law was wearing a white jacket so I think he saw us straight away. Anyway, suddenly he burst into this huge grin and pointed straight at us. That was fantastic! Then came the single encore, which was beautiful and also sad because we knew it was almost over. By the time the second explosion went off were were half way down the concourse to the foyer, yelling "GANGWAY" at the tops of our voices to avoid collisions! Even so, the first ring of fans had already got there and we had to be content with second row. Memories of the next 50 minutes come back in waves - the terrible pushing from the huge crowd, hardly being able to breathe let alone move. It was so hot and everyone behind us just kept surging forward - and there'd not even been a whisper of Michael yet. At last, around 11pm, the doors opened and in he came, with Bernadette. By this time it was all I could do to hold my camera above my head with one hand and my programme with the other - it was just like being in the middle of a riot. It got quite scary at times. I couldn't see Michael much because of all these programmes in my face, but the glimpses I caught were enough to keep me rooted to the spot, with my programme outstretched. He made his way round to our side and the pushing was getting serious. All the time he was in front of us I just held that programme out as far as I could. Only when he'd gone past (and I'd got a couple of really nice photos) did I look at my programme. I was SO pleased! Not only did he sign it with his usual "squiggle", but I seem to have got "Squiggle Flatley"! My sister-in-law just got a squiggle, but we were both absolutely thrilled! Just a shame that the "fans" behaved so badly. I suppose that's what happens when desperation sets in - you can't bear the thought of missing him, so you'll try anything to get to the front. I can understand it, I know I was very lucky, but it has to be said that if there'd been no pushing and if the people with no chance of reaching him had just kept their voices and their programmes down then we would ALL have got a good view of our hero, instead of glimpses of his right ear. So, I didn't get what could qualify as a "Michael Moment", but since I don't have any more tickets I'll settle for what I've got. Michael is an absolute star. I wish him good health, good energy, love and light forever. WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL!!!!! Kate Webster 152.163.204.86 <EmKWeb@aol.com> London, UK - Wednesday, January 28, 1998 at 13:28:15 (PST)
Truly spectacular, an unmissable show at Wembley. Thankyou Matt and Fi Hunt 195.99.59.140 <matt.fi@lineone.net> Bristol, UK - Wednesday, January 28, 1998 at 14:30:03 (PST)
Great show last night - what a showman. Shame about the microphone with the singer - you can't see her face. Otherwise - excellent. Vanessa Lanham 194.176.135.200 <vanessa@cproject.co.uk> Guildford, Surrey, UK - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 01:07:06 (PST)
I was at Wembley arena lastnight and seen the show - FANTASTIC!!!! There are not many people in life who have a dream, a vision, an ambition, but yet believe in it enough to have the power to make it come true!! Deirdre McHugh 138.37.7.1 <fa7015@qmw.ac.uk> - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 01:52:05 (PST)
What a spectacular show! Saw it last night (28/1/98) at the Wembley Arena in London. It was colourful, lively and breathtaking. Well done to everyone involved. Maggie 193.60.82.67 Cambridge, UK - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 04:19:15 (PST)
Excellent Show MF was looking exhausted but still brilliant Riverdance was good, but Lord of the Dance was spectacular Melville J Carrie 193.118.14.2 <mjc@unicg.com> Watford, UK - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 04:51:18 (PST)
I went to see the show in London ,we were 3 rows from the front, wow , what can i say, it took my breath away, i promptly booked tickets to see it again nicola 152.163.204.135 england - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 13:23:30 (PST)
Home at last and absolutely knackered!!! Happy, high, at peace with the world (well most of it anyway) but gloriously, delightfully knackered!!! I spent the whole of yesterday evening catching up on the VB and loved reading the T2 posts, thanks to everyone who posted. I hooted when reading that Zammi et al were knackered too, it was fun reading Americans using English slang and made me realise just how small our world is getting. My favourite post of all, though, had to be Brian's. I wish you all could have seen him make the transition from Flatspouse to Flathead, I swear he's got it worse than Vanessa now!! Ah, wonderful times, wonderful times and even more wonderful people. (Sigh) Ok, I suppose I'd better make a start, but where? At the best bits or at the beginning? Monday was THE night but I suppose it would make more sense to start from the top so here goes........ Sunday 25th Jan........ I was staying with my friend, Julie again, you remember her from the last trip. Vanessa was picking me up from her house at 5.15pm so that we would be nice and early at the Hilton to meet up with the new VB arrivals. I had cut it very fine with the timing and so found myself charging down the motorway at a much faster rate than I should have been. I'd gone forty something miles when a horrifying realisation smacked me between the eyes. OH MY LORD, I'D LEFT MY TICKETS AT HOME!! AARRGGHHH!!! Actually I didn't think "Oh my Lord" at all but, I'm sure you'll appreciate that, I couldn't possibly print the words that DID ejaculate from my mouth! What to do? Carry on and throw myself on the mercy of the booking office? It was a credit card booking, surely they'd have a record of it? What if they didn't? I'd be stuck for the other show as well. I decided not to take the chance, better to miss the gathering than the show. So I found myself charging back up the motorway even quicker than I'd been charging down. Bob's face was a picture when I got back, as you can imagine. I was rushing around trying to find THE envelope and he was rushing around right behind me giving me the lecture about it being better to be late in this world than early in the next etc, and to make sure I drove carefully on my way back down. Yeah right! Like I'm going to follow every rule in the Highway Code book when there are Flatheads waiting to party!! He finally let me go after extracting the promise of a 'phone call when I got to Julie's (which I forgot, btw) Anyway, I arrived safe but not very sound and called Vanessa to let her know that I'd made it ok and that she could pick me up as planned. The gathering was fun, everyone was relaxed and eager to get to know each other. We ended up with fifteen people representing six countries and so dubbed ourselves the United Nations of Flatleyland. The nations represented were Belgium (Maria), Finland (Heli & Janne sp?), Germany (Viv), Portugal (Alby), U.K. (Vanessa & Brian, Michele, Ann, Kate & hubby & myself) U.S.A (Merrybeth, Teri & Larry). Everybody was so friendly, a really nice bunch of people whom I'm now proud to call friends. We asked a barman to take some group pictures for us and he happily obliged, although was a bit surprised when we lined up about six different cameras for him to use! He did such a good job that we had him join us for a picture too! Ok, on to the show. Brian & Larry stayed in the bar (no tickets) while the rest of us wandered over to the arena. Vanessa and I thought we had bad seats but they turned out to be pretty good. A whole block back but slightly raised which meant we were looking over the heads of the first block with our eyes at stage level. The acoustics were much better on the floor and I only wish I'd known this before getting our February seats which are rubbish in comparison (sorry Marty). We heard the occasional click and so knew that Himself was warming up but you couldn't hear it like you can on the sides, very strange. Michael was warmly received when he made his entrance. The crowd turned out to be the noisiest we've heard so far at Wembley, btw. Michael danced very well, much sharper than the previous show I'd attended. I was fascinated at the way the lights kept reflecting off the heels of his shoes, I hadn't seen that before. Warm applause and cheers at the end of COTC, a big smile from Michael and we settled down for the rest of the show. Nothing to report until Gypsy and what a report to make, Kelly Hendry - WHOO HOO!! As soon as she came on a section of the crowd went wild just near to us. They were, obviously, from her home town or something. Every time she appeared they went potty. Anyway, that girl can dance, boy can she dance!! She was absolutely brilliant and I loved watching her. At the risk of upsetting Joe (hope not) I'd say that Gillian has some serious competition here. Although the part requires her to be overtly sexy, she loses none of her natural grace and elegance and I wondered if she had taken ballet as well as Irish dancing. Her sexuality is much more subtle than Gillian's but equally effective. She dances with great precision and power which, coupled with her other attributes makes her one hell of a performer. The fact that she is very beautiful wasn't lost on the males in the audience either! Her stage presence is already pretty good, with none of the shyness that 'our girls' had when the show started originally. Yes indeed, I'd say that one day this youngster could easily be THE leading lady in whichever show she's appearing in. An absolute delight to watch and she looked VERY good dancing with Himself too. I know that Brian liked her and I hope that Bob gets to see her dance next month. He's a big Gillian fan too and I'm interested in getting the male perspective on her performance. Vanessa and I were delighted when, after the show, we had the real pleasure of meeting her outside the arena. It had occurred to us that it may have been her debut as there were so many people in the audience for her. Vanessa asked if it were and she replied that it wasn't. I told her that it was the first time we had seen her and that she was absolutely brilliant. That young ladies face split into the biggest smile I'd ever seen and she was genuinely thrilled and touched! We watched her signing autographs for a while and she was so sweet with everyone, asking if they'd enjoyed the show and genuinely interested in what they had to say. She is warm and welcoming and every bit as lovely inside as she is on the outside. Yep, a new heroine for the VB (aren't all our dancers), I wish her well and hope that her time with LOTD is everything she's hoping for. I'm not going to do a blow by blow account of the show, I did that after the first show at Birmingham, I'll just pick up on anything as we go along. Michael made a mistake in Warlords, only a small one and I doubt that any but the VB'ers would have picked up on it. When he spun around in front of his 'troupes', he mis-timed it and ended up facing the side instead of the front. For just a split second he looked really surprised but recovered quickly as we'd expect him too. It made me smile as he's so perfect and rarely makes a mistake big enough for the audience to pick up on. They got a great ovation from the audience at the end and Michael blew kisses to Michele and Ann who were in the front row AGAIN (G). Actually I was very surprised by Kathleen's comment in one of her posts in which she says that "Wembley is a dead arena with very reserved audiences. Very few will even stand up at the end, let alone yell for anything." I've been to four shows at Wembley now and although the crowds have varied in their participation, they have ALWAYS given a standing ovation at the end. Perhaps Kathleen was just unlucky at Wembley, I don't know. Anyway we went around to where Michael exits the arena complex and a little later a guard asked if we were waiting for Himself. He said he had some bad news for us which was that Michael was watching the Superbowl and wouldn't be out until about 3AM at the earliest. We questioned why he would not be watching it at his hotel and the guard explained that he was watching with many of the dancers who wouldn't be able to get there. We decided that he was telling the truth as all the clues pointed that way. Although many of the female dancers had left, we saw very few of the lads. Michael had come out to the autograph session very quickly and knowing of his love for sports, it all fitted. We could just imagine them all gathered round the TV with beer and whatever else men like to eat and drink when the game's on. Michael would be explaining the finer points of the game to the less knowledgeable and he would be relaxed and happy. I don't know who he'd be rooting for but I hope it was Denver as they were the winners. We found out the next night that he hadn't left until 4.30AM!! Thank Heavens we believed the guard, LOL!! I got back to Julie's and 'phoned home to discover that Bob was feeling very pleased with himself indeed. He'd taped a TV programme and forgotten to stop the tape once the programme had finished. When he ran it through he discovered that he had accidentally recorded Michael Flatley at an awards ceremony, YYY!!! God bless his absent mind!!! It was The South Bank Show Awards presented by Melvyn Bragg from The Savoy Hotel in London. These are awards for the best achievements in the arts in this country over the past year. Michael presented the award for dance, what else!? MB - "Presenting the award is a man who's brought Irish dance, once a restricted folk art, to a massive audience around the globe. The Lord of dance himself, Michael Flatley!" Camera switches to Michael getting up from his dinner table, Emma was seated beside him, nice reception from the other guests. He looked gorgeous as always, although a little tired, wearing a black suit, white shirt and gold tie. MF - "Thank you. Dance, I think is a very unique art form and many times you're asked to cross the line and go further than you'd normally expect in all different art forms. I take my hat off to anybody who's willing to face up to that challenge. Congratulations to this year's winner, Colin Dunne." LOL!! Sorry, couldn't resist!! What he actually said was "Congratulations to this year's winner, Javier De Frutos." Yet again we stumble on something by accident (Sigh) Anyway I'll post this now and then get to work on Monday night's instalment. Gawd, there's no peace for the wicked is there! Still no official announcement in any papers, btw, but we're looking, we're looking!! Linda 194.168.56.14 <r.servante@virgin.net> Derby, U.K. - Thursday, January 29, 1998 at 14:28:55 (PST)
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