‘Riverdance — The Show’ flows nicely

Joe Delaney

Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 | 9:28 a.m.

"Riverdance -- The Show" is being performed in the refurbished and nicely upgraded Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts through Sunday. This is one of three companies. The Shannon is currently based on Broadway, the Liffey is touring Europe and the Lagan, the United States. The Lagan has to be at least the equal of the other two.

Moya Donerty has the producer credit; she is an exceptional choreographer as well. Her husband, John McColgan, is the original director. Michael Flatley was the original lead dancer and choreographed most of the seven-minute interval that first appeared in 1994 on the Eurovision Song Contest television program. Composer Bill Whelan completed the original contributor foursome.

Michael Patrick Gallagher is splendid in the male principal role created by Flatley, and Tara Barry is his equal as the female principal. Lisa Kelly is outstanding as the lead female singer. Notwithstanding, distaff honors at the show caught go to the exquisite flamenco dancing of Maria Jimenez Luis.

Act One consists of nine scenes that play extremely well, but the performance really did not catch fire until Act Two, Scene 11, set in the United States, with Gallagher and two other males trading taps with three black males led by Aaron Tolson, the Irish step dance against the indigenous American tap dance, a challenge worth the price of admission alone.

This had to be a comparatively recent addition as I do not recall seeing this when the show played at Dublin's Pointe Theatre in 1995, or a few years later in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Baritone Kirk Walker sets up the tap duel nicely with "Heal Their Hearts/Freedom." "Home and the Heartland" is Scene 13 in Act Two, giving the entire talented and attractive company a chance to shine.

The "Riverdance International Finale" merited its standing ovation. It should be noted that Whelan's "Riverdance" music earned him a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Musical Show Album. Honorable mention goes as well to the live orchestra onstage, with a low bow to Niamh NiCharra on fiddle and Andrew Reilly, bodhran (the hand-held drum).

The Moscow Folk Ballet has an exciting feature spot in each of the two acts. Put "Riverdance -- The Show" on your must-see list this weekend.