High Kicks & Holidays: Rockettes at Rose Garden Arena

Thursday, 23 December 2010 23:18 | Written by Byron

ROCKETTES ON THE ROAD: We were lucky enough to get tickets to opening night of The Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the world-famous Rockettes that is currently playing to big crowds at the Rose Garden Arena.

The show, which runs through the day after Christmas before wrapping up its West Coast tour, more than lives up to its name: it really is spectacular. In fact this tight, bright and utterly delightful 90-minute seasonal sensation is everything you would expect to see in the NYC version that has played over the years at the famed Radio City Music Hall—and then some.

But there is something very strange about seeing this New York native so far away from its home.

Sure, the music is great, if a bit on the fromage-y side, and the dancing is spot-on, but I think part of the appeal of this particular show and what makes it soooo very special might be the actual space it performs in, and the city that provides a big chunk of its inspiration. This isn't lost on the producers of the tour, who make sure to give you a quick history lesson regarding The Rockettes and The Radio City Music Hall via a short film that is narrated by Tony Bennett allowing the cast to do one of several quick costume changes.

It was during the film I realized this touring show sort of reminded of me of Sex and The City 2. In particular the part of the movie when the girls leave Manhattan for the Middle East. By taking Carrie and her crew out of the big city something essential was lost in the big move. Same with this show.

Now, I don't want to sound like a Grinch, but I think I liked it better when I saw this show in New York. I know. It's the same spectacle with the same toy soldiers toppling over, the same dancing bears doing The Nutcracker in the same floppy over-sized costumes, and the same leggy dancers doing the same high kicks. How could it be so different? Truth is, I don't know. It just is.

That's why one of the parts I liked best about this show was when The Rockettes danced on one of the those double-decker buses that you always see tourists on in New York. A giant LED screen projected familiar tourist attractions behind the girls as they danced about the bus and pretended to be "tourists" themselves. Their love for the Big Apple was authentic and adorable. And speaking of sweet moments, I also loved the multiple Santa number where an endless parade of St. Nicks dance across the stage in a number that rivals anything Broadway could muster. It was magical. And, in the end, that is really what the Radio City Spectacular is all about: magic.

So...perhaps not all the magic of Radio City made its way across the country to the Northwest, but there is still plenty to love about this Christmas classic. And, besides, where else will you see the baby Jesus get a round of applause, as He did when they hauled him out at the end of the show during the traditional telling of the "real meaning of Christmas?" Now that was truly spectacular.

Details: Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes, through Dec. 26, Rose Garden $65.50, $45.50, and $25. Tickets are on sale at the Rose Quarter Box Office (M-F 10a-5p), all participating Safeway/ TicketsWest outlets, or by calling 877.789.ROSE (7673), or at ComcastTIX.com. For more information please visit RoseQuarter.com. Prices do not include service charges. For groups of 10 or more please call 503.963.4400.

For even more information please visit RadioCityChristmas.com

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