Yes folks the man who brought you
Lord of the Dance is back!

Michael's new show was due to open in Prague on the
9th of July (that's another story!) but before the cast and crew travelled over there they put on a special
FREE preview show for MF's loyal fans

Some of the tickets were distributed to the larger schools, mainly those that have supplied dancers for LOTD in the past, and 500 tickets were made available on a first come first served basis through Michael's own website www.michaelflatley.com

And we were there!

We were told that the doors would open at 6.00 p.m. and be closed at 6.45 p.m., after which there would be no-one else let in. This meant a very early start for most of us, as getting stuck in the Birmingham rush hour traffic could have meant missing the show!

The schools with tickets, actually had the tickets whilst the rest of us had to collect ours at the box office. You could feel the rising excitement as the queue began to grow. It was a very warm and balmy evening, and everyone around me was in good humour as they waited. And we waited, and waited, and waited........ the box office only opened at 6.30 p.m. and we were beginning to panic as we couldn't see how we'd get in before the doors closed.
Of course we did get through the doors eventually, only to queue again for drinks
and snacks to keep us going!

It was a bit like being at the Worlds or All Irelands as nearly everyone that we usually meet at those events was there. Everywhere you looked were dance teachers and adjudicators,
Danny Doherty, Aaron Crosbie, Michael Stanley, Declan Carroll,
Kevin & Helena McCarron, Marion Turley the list just goes on and on.

I also bumped into numerous well known feis musicians including the ever likeable Anthony Davis & Ann Murray, and the much slimmed down Darren Checkley. It would appear that he has had a change of lifestyle and it's obviously doing him some good!

There were people from all over the World, Germans, Brazilians, Americans, Chinese, and at least one lady from Holland, as she was sat next to me. Her name is Linda Brongers and she was very nice. She has also written a really good report on the show too. She has managed to get a couple of snippets of sound to give you a feel for the show, so check it out here!

By far the largest group of people were Irish dancers, including virtually every top dancer in our Siobhán's age group. In fact we knew so many people there it was more like a big Irish family gathering, having to stop and say hello every 6 feet on the way to our seats!
Which actually is very apt given the basic premise of the show, and the reason that Michael put it together in the first place.

This special performance was being filmed, and there were TV cameras everywhere. I counted at least 15 different cameras, and there were also two very unfortunate lighting men suspended on little chairs high above the stage. They were already there when we arrived, and didn't come down again until we left. They must have been dying from the heat, especially once they turned on their spotlights.

and now.................

On with the show!

The story is very simple, and one that every Irishman (or woman) knows only too well. It's the story of the struggles of the Irish people throughout history, a history that has finally led to them being the prosperous and vibrant country that they are today, taking their place amongst the leading nations of Europe and the World.

The lights dimmed and a giant pair of lips, coated in deep red lip gloss, lit up the backdrop of the stage. Reminiscent of the scene fom the Wizard of Oz a woman's voice began to chant

"There's no place like home"

The picture then changed to a single bright line, like a heart monitor, slowly beeping faster
and faster as the tension mounted

As it did so, in the darkness there appeared 25/30 men dressed as what looked like Roman Centurions, marching onto stage, led by, could it be.......it was hard to tell in the dark......but yes it was the man himself, Michael Flatley was actually dancing!
The roar from the crowd said it all. This is what they had come for, we knew it was possible, but it hadn't been confirmed until now.
The stage was now in darkness, except for some channelled spotlights pointing forward at floor level so that we could only see the feet as they hammered away in unison, taking on the rhythm of an old train as it runs along the tracks.
I was surprised that MF wasn't hit with a spotlight as soon as he appeared but perhaps he feels secondary to the show this time round.
We could see his armour and he seemed to have a problem with his right shin plate, he fiddled with it once and then tore it off throwing it side stage.

The next scene started with a huge apple and snake on the screen, seemingly showing us the Garden of Eden, but the Gregorian choral music showed that this was more about Ireland's conversion to Christianity. Out came the Monks dressed in white, when suddenly the red clad Devil of temptation appeared, only to be driven off by the Monks.

Next up was a beautiful song, sung by a lady with a delightful voice, about the struggles of the Irish people through the ages.

As she left the stage the backdrop became a crashing sea, and a Viking ship hove into view, bringing with it the men from the North, invading, raping, pillaging and destroying. The Giant Irish men (one on stilts!) fought valiantly to protect their homes, and their women danced a delightful slip jig that entranced the invaders as the fight built up to a massive crescendo, and then they were gone......

The silence was broken by a drummer sat on the gantry to the right of stage and then 4 very attractive young lady violinists in beautiful dresses appeared on stage, flanked by 2 male guitarists. Between them, clad in black leather, stood the very accomplished Flautist Michael Flatley as they played a very frantic piece of music.

In total contrast the next scene started with a backdrop covered in garden flowers, filmed in time release the flowers opening up in a riot of colour. The stage was filled with dancers dressed as flowers, bees and other insects. One girl wore a butterfly costume whose delicate wings were so large they caught the back of her heel as she danced.

The backdrop changed to show a traditional cottage as this idyllic picture of life in Ireland continued. Suddenly things turned nasty, as a regiment of the British Army appeared, dressed in their red tunics, to spoil the peace and tranquility. After marching through and taking over the land we were treated to a rousing chorus of "Rule Britannia", which seemed totally out of place in this arena. The Captain of the Army stepped towards the Cottage and set it ablaze. The soldiers stood back and watched, as through the centre doors dozens of men and women staggered out of the little cottage. The dance routine for this was dramatic, with the lads carrying the choking fragile women in ways that looked as though they could drop them at any time in total & abject despair.

The last through the doors was the priest, in the guise of Michael Flatley, who was set upon and then shot. I have to be honest this actually caused some amusement around us, even though the subject matter was totally serious.

We were then treated to an emotional version of "Four Green Fields" sang by a single male vocalist, as the screen showed images of Ireland and its graves. As he finished a Gaelic footballer, dressed in what appeared to be a Kerry strip, appeared on the left playing with his white football.
On the screen cheering crowds at the All Irelands were obviously enjoying their sport when suddenly the images changed to as a British tank appeared, its tracks creaking and clanking. The gun barrel dominated the screen and suddenly there was an enormous bang as the gun fired unexpectedly. The audience jumped in surprise.

This was clearly a reference to a notorious incident back in the 1920's when a group of British soldiers opened fire on a Gaelic football crowd in retaliation for an attack on the Army earlier in the day by Michael Collins and his men. The incident was to become known as "Bloody Sunday" If you'd like more background information on both events follow this link

This was followed by a spectacular dance routine with MF beating the Bodhrán as the Irish, or Michael actually (!), fought the British.
This scene was played out to the tune of "A Soldiers Song" .

The next image that appeared on the screen was unmistakable, the Post Office in Dublin, being shelled by the British. We were at the Easter Uprising in 1916, with the British getting the upper hand in the intense fighting, then being beaten back by the spirited Irish men. The Irish pushed forward and then were overrun again. This was the most spectacular of the dance routines so far, ending with everyone dead or dying on the floor. As they lay dying what appeared to be a silver white Angel rose above the scene singing a beautiful and haunting song.

Leading us into the break was the obvious choice for such a politically charged section, a rendition of "A Nation Once Again" which MF and the cast, led by the male vocalist, sang with such obvious feeling and emotion. Of course the whole audience sang along to a rousing finale to act one. This was so uplifting, that even though I'm a proud Englishman myself, I found myself joining in!

The Celtic Tiger

The second half started with some video footage of aeroplanes, with a solo dancer dressed in an air hostesses uniform. This was the start of the economic boom that has led to today's Ireland, with Aer Lingus leading the way.

Out came pilot Captain Flatley and his crew, dressed in dark blue with gold braid and peaked hats. The screen showed images of bright city lights and lots of people. Flatley's attention turned to the air hostess and she was hoisted aloft by the crew as they flew Aer Lingus to the Big Apple itself, New York.

The stage cleared leaving her alone, but this was no longer the shy little Colleen, but a new breed of Irish woman, proud, confident and sexy. She began to dance and as she did she stripped away her cumbersome uniform to reveal a Stars and Stripes bikini underneath. The message was clear, the Irish are coming! There's no denying that the Americans and Irish peoples are now inextricably linked together in so many different ways.

On came the white flags as they surrendered to the onslaught of the sole Irish Tricolour. We were treated to a collage of dance that had gripped America over the years. Two Latin dancers dressed in flamboyant red were followed by a duo dressed top to tail in white, Jiving and Tap dancing. Next up came two lads dressed in street gear, Break dancing to Hip Hop. A brief display of Flamenco symbolising the rising Hispanic population was the prelude to a graceful Ballet duet, as the American people began to strive for more Culture.

Suddenly the stage exploded as men in colourful satin shirts began to treble and click there way across the stage, with the women dancing with such grace and poise in a dance routine that had first stunned the World as a brief piece in the interval of the Eurovision Song contest - RIVERDANCE! It was slightly disappointing that Michael Flatley never appeared for this, a defining moment in Irish dance history but the reason soon became apparent.

As the piece ended Michael Flatley appeared in his trademark white tuxedo, with undone bow tie hanging down, and began to play an evocative version of
"My Laggan Love" (at least that's what I think it was, but it might have been called
"The Last Rose" which sounds similar) on his flute. Upon a staircase a man and woman, dressed in black and white, played out the story of their love in a beautiful ballet set piece..

So far we'd seen the the contrast between the rising economy and Ireland's gentle haunting music and dance, but the next scene brought these two parts of Ireland
together with a bang as the

Celtic Tiger was born!

On the screen we could see the eyes of a tiger as the violinists burst onto the stage, this time clad in tiger skins. As their music became ever more furious the dancers became tigers, clawing at the air, and writhing on the ground, culminating in them all doing the splits in unison.

click on picture for larger photo

The screen lit up totally red, except for the silhouette of a solitary male dancer, wearing a wide brimmed hat. The silhouette began to dance, lots of intricate footwork coupled with click after click, this could only be leading us to Flatley's finest hour Feet of Flames. As if to confirm what we were thinking he appeared on a small platform in front of the screen, dressed in a black pinstripe suit, looking for all the world like a 1920's Chicago gangster. (see clip here) Perhaps this was a reference to his rise from the town where he began, and the town where so many Irish emigrants made their homes, after leaving behind their families.

And then he began to dance. No high kicks or clicks, but his feet moved ever faster and faster, as imperceptibly at first smoke began to rise from the floor. Suddenly the platform burst into flames but he continued to dance even harder. Flatley leapt clear just as the platform exploded. He was then handed a machine gun and the stage was filled with girls dressed in white pinstripe outfits that contrasted with his own, who then danced a heavy shoe routine, forming guns with their hands.
Flatley then took the stage again before pointing his gun at the audience,
and opening fire rat-a-tat-tat..........rat-a-tat-tat..........

The excitement of this scene was followed by a very gentle song by the girl called
"I'm Forever Free" which was sang with real passion, and will undoubtedly draw strong reactions in the land of the free.
The next scene brought us straight back to that land as dancers dressed in cheerleader costumes performed an exciting routine weaving in and out between each other. The true intricacy of this could only really be seen on the aerial view on the screens side of stage, but it was hard to watch the screens when the dancers were in front of you.

The video screen then gave a potted history of Ireland including the Potato famine and the mass exodus to America. Images of American presidents, including
John F. Kennedy several times, were coupled with Eamonn DeValera and many other great Irish men. Famous Irish actors including Liam Neeson, and current James Bond lead
Pierce Brosnan, were shown alongside images of sporting heroes like Olympic athlete
Sonia O'Sullivan and the ultimate sporting hero and honorary Irishman Jack Charlton
Every image resulted in a cheer from the crowd with by far the greatest cheer reserved for the recently deceased Pope.

It even appears that an Irishman landed on the Moon first!

The final act was pure unadulterated schmaltz firmly aimed at the American audience. The Air Crew, with Captain Flatley at the controls, then did a routine to the tune of
"I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" (see clip here). Maybe this too was a reference to Flatley's Chicago roots as the song was first made famous by another well known movie gangster James Cagney in a film many years ago. Michael strode on to the stage to reveal a Stars and Stripes outfit and he was obviously Uncle Sam as he took the salute from his troupe. The way this was done seems to be a trademark of these shows. All the dancers lined up front of stage and signalled from left to straight as the salute came up one after another, and then right to left as they were brought smartly back down, in a very similar ending to Lord of the Dance.

The dancers left the stage to tumultuous applause which went on and on people calling for more, but it began to look like we were not getting any more as it must have been nearly 5 minutes before someone returned to the stage. Surprisingly it wasn't the dancers but the musicians who appeared to whip us up into a frenzy with a heavy metal style version of the traditional tune "St. Patricks Day" This seemed to sum up the whole show, Ireland may be traditional, but it still leads the way!

From the back of the stage appeared a line of dancers, this time dressed in black, and they came to the front as the musicians exited. Michael Flatley stood in front acting as conductor, leading with his feet, as the cast then gave us an encore of the end piece of the
Yankee Doodle routine, complete with salute. The audience loved it and screamed for more. They duly obliged and the crowd wanted even more.
Again they danced, and again they were asked for more.
This was repeated several times until eventually Michael thanked the audience, thanked his dancers and prepared to leave.

But the audience were not going to let him leave without one more encore, and he obviously knew that as he coaxed the troupe into one final repetition. This time pyrotechnics exploded all around the gantries, with rockets screaming across the stage behind them, ending in one massive explosion as they cast left the stage for the final time.

The first half may just be too political for an audience to take, particularly a British audience. As an Englishman I'd be the first to admit that some of the acts carried out in the name of Britain, against indigenous peoples such as the Irish, have hardly showered us in glory. On the other hand I'm not sure I want to be reminded of them as part of a fun night out!
The second half was pure schmaltz, and quite clearly targeting the Irish cousins across the Atlantic. A much purer form of entertainment, relying heavily on the feel good factor, it will appeal to all audiences.

To sum up the impact of the show I'll steal some words from the great Irish musician Phil Coulter's song "The Town I Loved So Well" which sums up the Irish people and it's historical struggles against oppression

"their spirits been bruised, but never broken"

The routines were spectacular, as you'd expect, and the costumes were very colourful. Bound together with first class music Michael Flatley has every reason to feel pleased with his creation. It was only a shame that he himself never performed some of his more spectacular steps, as the high clicks and leaps he used to perform would set the stage alight. However, he did enough to show that he is still a world class dancer, and more importantly a world class showman and entertainer.
Michael Flatley is the P T Barnum or George M Cohan (another famous part for actor James Cagney, by the way!) of his day, putting together big shows that will entertain and excite you in a way that other shows can only hope to emulate.

All in all we had a great night out, one of our party even stating it was the best show they'd ever seen. So make sure you get tickets if it ever comes to a town near you, and in the meantime look out for the DVD made from this special preview which was meant to have hit the shops in October 2005 in the UK
The release date is now April 3rd 2006, so you'll be able to buy it soon. In the meantime here's a taste of what to expect!
Watch a video trailer here!
The first 3 minutes are an Interview with Michael Flatley and that's
followed by about 8 minutes from the DVD

New Clips April 2006 (with thanks to Way to Blue press & promotions)

Note if our background music is still playing, click the red x on the menu bar of Internet Explorer to stop it!

Just read another exciting review with lots of photos, check it out here

For a Dutch perspective check out Linda Brongers impressive review here