Irish dance, in all it’s energetic and entertaining glory, takes the stage at the Fabulous Fox Theater as “Riverdance 30th – The New Generation” comes to St. Louis. The 30th anniversary tour of the still-delightful showcase for Irish dance still features breakout-star Michael Flatley’s original choreography but as the title indicates, a new generation of dancers, but still dressed in gorgeous costumes and dancing in front of sets and video projections that reflect a beautiful, dreamy Ireland with Irish music filling the air.
This version of Riverdance still retains its appeal for those who love Irish music and dance. The dance show does not have a plot but it tells the story of Ireland, through narration, song, the visuals and of course dance. It is a perfect mix of traditional folk dance and tunes reset into a stage show format. Hitting that perfect spot is part of why the show endures, along with the fact that its basic outline has been tweaked and updated over the year.
Riverdance was last at the Fox for it’s 25th anniversary tour, and there are many elements that remain the same, with the addition of little samplings of other percussive folk dance styles, flamenco and a central European one. It creates a pleasing mix of crowd-pleasing favorites and new showcases of other traditional dance. There is also a taste of newer dance forms that came out of those roots, with New York tap dancers.
Like previous shows there is a lead dance couple, Kieran Bryant and Maggie Darlington. Other featured dancers are the two tap dancers, Jabu Graybeal and Kenji Igus, and flamenco soloist Rocio Dusmet. The poetry narration is by John Kavanagh, while Irish singers and an Irish band provides on-stage music, with their own featured moments in the show too.
The show opens with a video montage of highlights of the past 30 years of Riverdance, clips of shows and some of its many awards. Then the dancers take the stage for the rousing opening number, “Reel Around the Sun,” by the male dancers and lead Kieran Bryant. The Riverdance singers then take the stage for “The Heart’s Cry,” followed by another dance number, “The Countesss Cathleen,” with female lead Maggie Darlington and the women dancers.
That alternating of dancers and musicians showcases, gives the show a wonderful variety, and poetry narration, focused on telling the story of Ireland from its settling through the ages, and changing sets and visuals take us through the centuries, and through the seasons. The tone of the show also varies. An Irish piper, Cathal Croke, plays the soulful lament “Caoineadh Chu Chulainn” is followed by the electrifying dance “Thunderstorm,” with lead Kieran Byrant and the troupe, a highlight of the first act. Another follows, with the flamenco “Firedance.” The musicians, Mark Alfred on drums, Cathal Croke on whistle, Hannah McPhilemy on sax, and especially Haley Richardson on fiddle give us a wonderful interlude of Irish music, “Slip Into Spring – Harvest,” followed by all the company in “Riverdance,” to close out Act One.
Act Two opens with a scene of sorrow, as Irish immigrants depart for America, with tender farewells, “American Wake,” with the whole troop, followed by a song “”Lift the Wings.” The show shifts gears for the next number, a dance-off between Irish dancers in New York and the tap dancers, which adds a light, even comic note as well as a bit of the modern. The second act is a bit more contemporary, showcasing not just Irish dance but other folk dance and dance styles that grew from those roots. But the show comes back to Irish for a return to Ireland, and them its rousing finale.
The dancers are fabulous, with incredible speed and agility, as well as the power to keep up with all that rapid-fire percussive stepping. The music is wonderful, as are the always-changing costumes and the colorful video backdrops. This show has lost none of this glow and appeal over the years, making it an always welcome return visitor to the Fox.\
“Riverdance 30th – The New Generation” is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through May 4.
© Cate Marquis
