Elegance, athleticism on ice

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Tiffany Brown

Any resemblance between “Ice” and Cirque du Soleil is more than coincidental. Choreographer Debra Brown has worked on Cirque’s “Mystere” and “O” as well as on “Ice,” in which moments of excitement accent the graceful skating.

Tiffany Brown

Comedy and circus acts are part of the show, produced by Sergey Ryshkof, founder of the Moscow Ice Circus.

Tiffany Brown

Elegance and romance infuse "Ice" at the Riviera.

Surrealism pulses through “Ice: Direct from Russia.”

It opens with a frozen-faced skater staring enigmatically at the audience through a clear plastic curtain. Stilts attached to her skates make her stand a foot or so taller than she actually is. Her body is fully encased in a costume that almost touches the ice-covered stage. As a trumpet plays, the stoic performer begins to glide slowly backward, her expression unchanged.

When the curtain opens, a chilled breeze wafts over an appreciative audience who may have baked in the day’s triple-digit temperatures.

A troupe of Russian skaters in traditional fur hats and overcoats sail in military precision around the 45-by-50 foot rink, a postage-stamp size arena compared to what most of them were accustomed to when performing with the Moscow Ice Circus.

But that was Moscow and this is Las Vegas, where most ice can be found in cocktail glasses.

More than a year ago producer Sergey Ryshkof, founder of the Moscow Ice Circus, brought his show to the desert, importing 42 passionate performers. Only two have left because they were homesick.

“We are glad to be here,” says Elena Bigun, an silk aerial artist from Ukraine who has performed with Ryshkof’s organization for 16 years.

Her English is broken, as is that of Elena Shpagina, an 18-year veteran. Both have been with “Ice” since it replaced the long-running “Splash!” at the Riviera.

“We change the show constantly,” says Shpagina, who performs with hoops. “If you saw it in the beginning, it is different. It will be different if you see it next year.”

What doesn’t change is the graceful skating, which is accentuated by moments of breathtaking excitement.

Years ago Vegas featured several ice revues, but they focused on beautiful topless women and glamorous costumes.

“Ice” is about the elegance, a mixture of art and athletics in the tradition of Cirque du Soleil. That is not an accident. Choreographer Debra Brown has worked with Cirque on “Mystere” and “O” as well as “Ice.”

She has created a fast-paced, 80-minute production that should satisfy anyone who enjoys an ice show infused with romance, comedy and circus acts.

Plus it’s a nice place to escape the heat.