There are lots of reasons for shelling out the small fortune it'll cost you (with ticket prices ranging from $7.50-$10.50) to take the family to see "Walt Disney's World on Ice" at the Salt Palace this weekend. I'll just name 10:
1. The show itself. It's a slick, well-paced, cleverly packaged show that mixes lively music with terrific skating and a fun storyline that features Mickey Mouse and all of your favorite Disney characters looking back on some of Mickey's greatest moments. What fun!2. The costumes. Holy spandex! You've never seen such an array of colorful, creative outfits. And we're not just talking about the character costumes worn by Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck and Daisy and the rest. The skating ensemble is clad brilliantly, beginning with the flapper costumes they wear in the opening number. Later the cast appears as brooms - honest, I wouldn't kid you about this - in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and some of the funkiest bugs since the jitterbug.
3. Walt would want you to.
4. The skating. While there's nothing here to make you forget the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which were held in the same arena last month, Disney's featured skaters still achieve some nice moments. Sean Abram gets the show off to a rousing start with his first solo. Paul Guerrero brings the first act home with an exciting turn as Mickey's sorcerer. Ellicia Shepherd and Michael Blicharski do a beautiful waltz together. Daredevil Doug Barnhart does some exciting leaping in the Giant's castle. And Tricia Puccio and Joe Mero have a couple of captivating spotlight dances, especially during the closing number. (And don't forget the skillful work of the skaters who must communicate the essence of familiar characters from within those cumbersome character costumes. It's a tough job done well. Cheers!)
5. The special effects. They get fancier every year, don't they? Joining the requisite number of flash pots, flares and black light effects this year is a dandy giant's arm that nearly fills the entire playing area. Even the fingers wiggle, for Pete's sake.
6. The hawkers. From the guy pushing stuffed Mickey dolls inside a balloon to the lady selling multicol-ored shaved ice in a commemorative cup at $3.50 a pop, these people sell like almost nobody around here sells. Being approached by a Disney trinket pusher is a cultural experience not unlike a trip to Tijuana. Or Mr. Mac's.
7. Concha & Concha. The European acrobatic team is only on for a few minutes in the first act, but it is incredible - easily remembered from that time on. These guys do some balancing feats that are flat-out impossible - maybe even illegal. The human body just isn't supposed to bend that way - and it certainly isn't designed to lift heavy objects while it's in those positions. But these brothers make it look easy - if still somewhat painful.
8. The music. Yeah, it's canned. But it's light and lively and fun, setting a perfect tone for an evening of entertainment that is intended to be all three.
9. Why? Because we like you!
10. The feeling. You can see it in the eyes of children the minute they see the inflatable Mickey on top of the Salt Palace, and it continues right on through the Mickey Mouse Club March during the finale. It's the same feeling you get when you get your first glimpse of the Matterhorn at Disneyland, or at Disney World's Epcot Center. It's magic - Disney magic.
On ice.