By KAREN BLOOM
Monsters James P. Sullivan (a.k.a. Sulley), one-eyed Mike Wazowski, and toddler Boo, a little girl full of curiosity, bring the hit movie to life in a charming tale sure to spark lots of laughter. Hilarious hijinks ensue when the child ventures into the Monsters, Inc. factory, with her infectious giggle, opening her closet door into an electrifying adventure. The ice show version of this big screen animated favorite features an international team of award-winning figure skaters and thrilling choreography with a fast paced musical score. State-of-the-art special effects, a fantastic setting and energized acrobatics on, and even above, the ice will make each member of the audience feel like a citizen of Metropolis. The arena is transformed into a monster-sized power plant, complete with "scare stations" and outsized personalities such as the boss, Mr. Waternose, and his file clerk Roz. Nearly 50 closet doors of every style and color whirl and twirl above the ice as "scarers" Sulley and his colleagues prepare for their daily nighttime scream-collecting rounds. Every aspect of the show is oversized and beyond the imagination and each monster appears more fantastic than the one before. From the harried housewife in curlers trailing a stream of little monsters, to the busy executive clutching her morning "monsterccino," the audience will see each of these characters become larger than life before their eyes. "The show is a monster of a spectacle," said Producer Kenneth Feld. "It is the largest and most complex Disney On Ice show we've ever done. There are more monsters than you can possibly imagine on the ice, and audiences will be amazed by these out-of-this-world monsters and their humorous and human-like characteristics."The production uses special effects, unique lighting, an expanded musical score, and audience involvement to tell the story. The show begins in the arena, with the audience participating, "It is an interactive event, and not just for kids. It really is family entertainment in every sense of the word," Director Jerry Bilik said. "We want adults to get into it, too. We want the parents to enjoy it as much as the kids."The biggest challenge in developing this show was to bring the monsters to life in a way that the audience could relate to them. "We had to find a human element, "Bilick explained. "The costumes are complex and the scale of the show is entirely different from any other show we've done. All of the monsters, all of the props, the scenery, everything is gargantuan. The monsters are so big that even if you are sitting in the highest seat, you will feel you are right there in Metropolis. Audiences will leave the arena excited and wowed by what they just saw." The monsters of Metropolis have many different looks that include furry, foamy, lumpy, bumpy, spindly, scaley, shiny, and slimy. Tall, short, fat, thin, round, spiked, one-eyed or many-legged, the monsters burst onto the scene full of color, texture and charisma, courtesy of Costume Designer Scott Lane. Both small (the teddy bear on Boo's bed) and large (Mike's hard hat, measuring more than a foot high) props have been given as much as much attention as costumes, so much so that scenically this production literally pops from the ice, according to the designers. During the show, musical moments add new jokes to a story that is already full of laughter. Music Director David Killinger has taken old standards and rock classics and combined them with new pop tunes to add another element that will have appeal for all ages.Even with the all technological aspects, costumes, and music, the show's success still depends on the skating. "We have wonderfully advanced competitive skaters." Bilik said. "They are the key to the appeal of our show.""The idea is to have fun," he added. The monsters appear in all their wacky glory at 12 performances, Nov. 18-23.
Disney On Ice Presents Pixar's Monsters, Inc.
Tuesday, Nov. 18-23. Tickets: $18-63 (rinkside). Available at Nassau Coliseum Box Office or through Ticketmaster (631) 888-9000. Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale.
