‘Disney’ brings upgraded performance to Orleans

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 | 8:25 a.m.

Robin Forsyth is skating through life and enjoying her dream job.

"I love kids," Forsyth, a native of Manitoba, Canada, said. "That's what's so great about this job the kids watching, and they are so ecstatic."

What they will be watching in the days ahead is the colorful ice spectacular "Disney on Ice, The Princess Classics."

Seven Disney tales, each with a princess as the major character, will be presented in one production Wednesday through Sunday at The Orleans Arena.

The featured royalty includes Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine ("Aladdin"), Ariel ("The Little Mermaid"), Belle ("Beauty and the Beast") and the Chinese maiden Mulan.

The largest and most intricate set in the 23-year history of "Disney on Ice" was created for the production.

The set is a castle that serves as the backdrop for all seven tales told in "Princess Classics," with the 33-foot-tall structure transforming into a variety of castles from different eras and nations.

Eduardo Sicangco, the show's set designer, described the structure as "a wonderful hybrid-fusion castle. It gives a nod to all these time periods and countries and has the ability to turn and reconfigure itself to support each particular princess story."

He said the castle, in a sense, dances: "Each carefully designed segment pivots and moves, revealing an extensive array of colors and painting a new picture for each setting."

In a prepared statement, producer Kenneth Feld said: "We transport people to a place that is more magical than they could ever imagine.

"We capture the essence of Disney through these stories that encompass virtually every generation alive today, giving this show true universal appeal."

The cast includes 40 figure skaters under the direction of choreographer Tom Dickson and his wife, Catarina Lindgren, a former Olympic skater for Sweden.

Forsyth is among the ensemble skaters, who have a pretty hectic job even when they aren't on the ice. With seven tales to tell, there are lots of costume changes as performers prepare for the next scene.

"A whole bunch of different things are going on," Forsyth said. "There's the Aladdin parade, the guards' number, the big finale."

As hard as it is, she loves the work.

"The costumes are unbelievable," Forsyth said. "It's so much fun to put them on every day and go out and skate. The money they put into the costumes blows my mind.

"And the special effects. I'm in the show, and I still don't know how they do the special effects."

Forsyth understudies several of the lead actresses.

"My goal is to become a principal in the company," she said. "I started out in the chorus and have worked my way up. I'm putting a lot into it."

In Manitoba, Forsyth (who has been skating since the age of 2) was a competitive skater.

She joined "Disney on Ice" five years ago, performing in such productions as "The Wizard of Oz," "The Little Mermaid" and "Disney on Ice Presents," a variety show.

Forsyth says she has learned a lot about skating since leaving the competitive world behind and becoming a performer.

"I've learned a lot more about discipline," she said.

Forsyth says skating with "Disney" has been exciting.

"I've been all over the world," she said. "Japan, South America, all over the United States."

The company was in Mexico for six weeks in the summer. From Las Vegas, it moves on to Phoenix.

"Touring isn't for everyone," Forsyth said. "Some only do it for a short time. But I love it."

She skates with "Disney" about 10 months out of the year, which gives her a couple of months to visit her family in Canada.

She says she is looking forward to a long run with "Disney."

"It's something I would like to do forever," Forsyth said. "But when my body can't handle doing the show anymore, I probably will become a skating coach."