Examiner.com

As Irish spirit seems to be hitting its peak in Buffalo, the new Irish classic “Riverdance” took over the stage at Shea’s Performing Arts Center for the last time ever. And, the show gave a high-spirited farewell Sunday and a close-to-perfect performance.

The show started off strong with in-sync movements, high jumps and plenty of Irish pipes and fiddles. However, the show’s first act is quite confusing if you don’t know its story going in. With no obvious plot line, the first act can seem like a flat dance performance set to merely entertain and confound the audience. Just a suggestion: read the Web site’s plot outline before attending the performance, you’ll pride yourself for understanding what is actually going on and get more out of the deep meaning of the show that can get lost in translation.

However, the confusing nature of the first act doesn’t make the performance any less impressive. The dancers’ feet still move at the speed of light and the choreography still is enough to amaze. The music is still beautiful and you’ll still leave the theater will a slight urge to start doing a jig… especially after the second act.

The second act of the show is worth a couple head scratches and dumbfounded looks during the first. While the first act focuses on Celtic traditions and the story of the world’s beginning, the second focuses on the Irish immigration to America and what happens when they get there. One particular scene, “Trading Taps,” shows an encounter between a group of Irish dancers and a group of African American dancers who learn from each other’s style of dance, incorporating different aspects and making them their own. Watching them “compete” and show off their skills is probably the most entertaining scene of the show, with the Riverdance tappers stealing moments and applause from the lead dancers.

Also sticking out were the Moscow Folk ballet, whose “Russian Dervish” dance brought a few cheers from the crowd. The group’s high lifts, swinging movements, fast spins and classic Russian dance were quite impressive and make you marvel at the upper body strength they must have to pull it off.

As great as the show’s high points could be, there were also a few upsets. Another suggestion: if you see the show, sit towards the back. If the loud music and pounding feet don’t give you a headache, you’ll have a bit of the show’s magic lost on you by hearing the difference between the dancers’ real steps and an obvious pre-recorded track of their footwork. You’ll also notice the lip syncing of background singers, whose lips don’t quite match up with their songs. It won’t completely ruin the show, but it’ll definitely take a little punch out of the performance.

“Riverdance” was not a perfect theatrical show, but the dancers do give an almost perfect performance. The show won’t make you think critically like others, but it will entertain and impress you. And this troupe did just that as they said goodbye to Buffalo and Shea’s theater for good.
 

For more information on Riverdance, visit their Web site at www.riverdance.com