Billed as an updating and retelling of Irish folk legend, Lord of
the Dance is less Erin Go Bragh than Hooray for Hollywood. Michael
Flatley, late of Riverdance, gives us the old razzle-dazzle, fashioning
a Celtic-influenced spectacular that wanders far away from its Riverdance
roots. The light-show presentation is closer kin to another contemporary
Irish musical group, U2. Flatley himself has gone designer chic.
With close-cropped haircut, earring, buffed abs, and tight black
pants he bears more than a passing resemblance to Bono. But you
have to hand it to the guy--he works hard for the money, as does
his attractive corps. The one maddening aspect of this glitzy, entertaining
90-minute festival is the overzealous editing. No image remains
on screen for more than a few seconds. Neither Flatley nor his talented
troupe deserves to have such craftsmanship sliced and diced like
an MTV music video.
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