Review: Amore Amor Amour is a spectacular that is full of heart
2023’s Hot Ice Show is a thrilling display of fearless and fantastic skating skills.
AMORE AMOR AMOUR, BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s something magical about the Ice Dome at the heart of Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, a venue where every seat boasts a clear view of the breath-taking skills on display in the yearly Hot Ice Show, a highlight of the resort’s annual events diary.
Love lies at the heart of this year’s offering, the clue is in the name, Amore Amor Amour, and as productions go, this one has more heart than most.
Set in the oldest purpose-built ice theatre in the world, an arena oozing history and tradition, Amore Amor Amour quickly establishes high expectations for the show about to unfold. Ethereal, haunting chants reverberate around the wooden structure as hooded figures stride through the audiences, swinging censers, the burning incense releasing a lingering and intoxicating smoke.
If incense and love are in the air, so too is an ever present frisson of danger. The 33-strong international company of skaters speed gracefully across the ice in a breath-taking and spell-binding explosion of feathers and sparkles.
It’s a mesmerising high-energy opening to this year’s spectacular, which is a master class in synchronicity and acrobatics, skaters leaping, tumbling and flying through the air, not just across the ice.
Beautiful solos are woven through full company set pieces giving individuals their opportunity to shine, and shine they do, often with added special effects; bubbles drift from on high at one point, snow falls at another and the ice is transformed from crystal blue to blazing red and all the colours in between courtesy of a quite brilliant lightning design.
Like the lighting and sound, the costumes too are out of this world.
From the candy pink and powder blue of the opening number to a glittering chorus line, slick black and white outfits and one routine which finds the cast dressed to resemble something out of Mad Max or maybe Game of Thrones, the designers have set their imaginations free. The result is lush and exotic.
Circus skills, most noticeably some expert silk work high above the rink with the now familiar ‘bath boy’ performance, pepper the skating and add to the drama. But it’s the split second timing and razor sharp choreography that really makes this ice show something very special; not a sound was to be heard as the company built up speed to form two lines and then cross through each other in a high speed scissor movement… the ultimate exercise in trust. You won’t breathe until they’re all all safely through.
Throw in some dry ice, a water drop, hand-held spotlights and burning torches and this show has everything.
For the last 25 years, under the expert eye of Amanda Thompson, flames have danced across the ice with the arrival of each new ice show, and this year is no different.
‘This is what we’re all about, so this is what we do, this is our show for you…’ booms the voice from sound system as the production reaches its climax and there’s little doubt from the joy on the faces of skaters as they take their bows that the applause makes the thrills and spills all worthwhile.
The Hot Ice Show has long been a jewel in Blackpool's theatrical crown, Amore Amor Amour is another sparkling gem in that crown; a fearless and fantastic display of skating skills.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit www.hoticeshow.com or at the Pleasure Beach Arena Box Office. Shows take place from 6th July to 9thSeptember every Monday to Saturday. Evening shows commence at 7.00pm with a matinee performance on selected dates at 2.30pm. Tickets range from £10 to £32.
Show and Dine packages are also available. To find out more, or to book, please call 0871 222 9090* Note: Calls cost 13 pence per minute plus your company’s access charge.
