Courtesy of "Lord of the Dance"
Michael Flatley's role will be filled by John Carey during Hawaii performances of the show.
New 'lord' steps in to lead dancers
By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin
The "Lord of the Dance" has arrived. Without the lord. So here's the big question: Is 22-year-old John Carey, ex-member of the "Lord" chorus and five-time Irish national dance champion who has been selected to fill Michael Flatley's flying clogs, up to the job?
And where is John Carey to talk about his canonization?
His holiness has been unavailable.
Last week, Carey was vacationing "somewhere" but "Lord" officials did not know where or how to contact him.
"Will you leave a message at his home?" a Star-Bulletin reporter asked.
"We can't do that," a publicist said.
"How about calling other cast members to ask where he is?"
"We can't do that either," the publicist said.
"When will he arrive in Honolulu?"
"Not really sure at this point."
What we do know about "Lord of the Dance" is that it's not your granny's Celtic music.
The touring company, created by Michael Flatley, takes people's undying love for the traditional elements of Irish and Scottish culture, then adds favorite themes and melodies and slides them into the context of a blockbuster stage production, a sort of Irish version of Cirque du Soleil.
The production features groups of male and female dancers - about 36 in all - who take moods in different directions. The acrobats from East Asia have been replaced by Irish step dancers; aerialists from behind a shredded Iron Curtain have been replaced by Irish step dancers; precision gymnasts have been replaced by Irish step dancers.
There's also the lilting, ethereal side with women often dressed in gentle colors and no taps on the boots, countered by the aggressive staccato of 13 men in black delivering full stomp. Other side trips include a pair of dueling female fiddlers.
But the success of "Lord", which has been seen on PBS, is also due to its sensual side. The stage is sometimes plastered with gorgeous, gymnastic females in revealing costumes, or athletic males rollicking in skin-tight outfits.
"Lord" simply takes the power and excitement of Irish dance steps to another level, thanks to Flatley, who may have the fastest feet this side of County Cork. This is the guy who dared to wear leather pants far tighter than the steer that grew them ever would have dared.
Three years ago, Flatley created "Riverdance," which in itself took Irish dancing out of church basements and made it an international phenomenon.
Then, when a dispute arose over who owned the choreography, Flatley left, and created "Lord," which has been compared to be more out of "Las Vegas than a bog of the Auld Sod."
That's because there's lots of Spandex and sparkle, macho posturings, sexy women, flashing lights and thundering symphonic orchestrations.
The production is set in some vast, medieval looking dungeon with a bare bones folk legend - something about when Erin was goddess of us all. Evil forces arise to overthrow the powers of good and it's up to the "Lord" to challenge and overcome them.
And what do we know about the "Lord" Carey?
A dozen years ago he gave in to his parent's wishes and took up dancing.
His parents had left Ireland for England when they were 18 and wanted to preserve their heritage, so they enrolled their son in traditional Irish dance classes. Carey wanted to play football with his older brother.
He won his first dance event at the Great Britain Championships and the following year, won five major championships, including the All Ireland, World, American, British Nationals and Great Britain.
Carey replaced Flatley in July when the star suffered a leg injury in the opening number of a Manchester, England, performance. Carey has signed on for at least 18 months and will take the show through Canada, Mexico, South America and the United States.
Carey originally planned to study chemistry at Oxford after beating out 100 applicants for one of six openings in his particular field of study. That, apparently, is on hold.
In a world inhabited by two types of people - the Irish and those who wish they were Irish - first Flatley, and now Carey seem to have found their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance," starring John Carey: Performances at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Blaisdell Arena. Tickets, $35, $45 and $55, at Blaisdell box office and Connection outlets, or charge by phone: 545-4000.
