Customer Reviews

Michael Flatley's Celtic Tiger

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I saw this show live at the Anaheim Pond, and it was spectacular! I had already seen Riverdance at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and I saw Feet Of Flames in Las Vegas. I think this show was as good as the other two. The primary difference was Michael Flatley did less dancing in this show (when he did dance he was superb). It surprised me when Michael picked up a flute and played a beautiful solo. He did a very good job I might add.

This show was not the same as the previously mentioned shows in that this show did not focus primarily on the Irish dancing. There were other styles of dancing (modern, tap, and ballet) in Celtic Tiger that weaved a story about the history of Ireland and the Irish people who came to America. I will agree with the other reviewer that there were some patriotic moments (regarding Ireland and America) that were really good. The finale spotlighted the song "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy," that was written by George M. Cohan, who was a famous Irish American. What a wonderful way to end a wonderful show.

I cannot wait to get my DVD. I loved the show and I am sure that I will love the DVD. I was surprised that they were not selling the DVD at the show.

But no worries... as usual Amazon has the goods!

First, I own the Flatley DVDs and have enjoyed all of them. Even more with repeated viewings. (Why isn't Riverdance with Michael on DVD yet?)
Second, I have seen several live Irish dancing productions and partook in some and played for some and and ______ and...(Commitments reference there - fill in the blank)
Third, I really looked forward to the show at the Garden in NYC.
The music is not there. Riverdance holds your attention with the music. Hardiman's "Lord of the Dance" (LOTD) music is just as good, if not better, at holding your attention. "Celtic Tiger" (CT) had one, maybe two, numbers that pulled at my ear.
The dancing does include several different styles and is used for good effect. However, mulling over the show as I was leaving the Garden, I thought that "LOTD" would have made more sense as a place for various styles where "CT" being an Irish story should have featured a little more Irish dancing.
And it might be me but the final dance line with the machine-gun line stomp is getting old. It appeared in Riverdance. It was featured more in "LOTD" and "Feet of Flames". It really feels like a "been there-done that" moment.
Then there is the stripper scene. Very hard to watch with my mother-in-law sitting next to me. Even my children were left wondering what that was all about.
You may enjoy this and there are moments of brilliance such as when "Captain" Flatley walks onstage but it left me feeling like this was a Work In Progress that needed about another 3 or 4 weeks to work out the rough spots.

I was very lucky to see this show twice: first I won a ticket to watch the recording of the DVD in Birmingham and, next thing I knew, I was on a plane to see the Madison Square Garden performance. It's absolutely brilliant and Michael is dancing even better, if that is at all possible. If you happen to know a little about Irish history, it'll help you understand. If you don't, it's pure, first class entertainment.

Our local TV station, WQED just showed this performance because Flatley is coming to PITTSBURGH in November!! He's STILL got it, folks! The same energy, the same passion, the same surprises. I was concerned because it's been a while since we've heard from him. Time has NOT taken any talent from the man! If nothing else, he's MORE creative, and MORE energetic than ever. He's added some ROCK, some PATRIOTIC stuff, and that's all I'm saying so it won't be ruined. Michael Flatley fans will LOVE THIS! Can't wait for the release of the DVD.

Finally purchased my copy of Celtic Tiger and looking forward to watching it as I have his other shows. I kept waiting for the magic to start like it did from the very beginning of River dance or the entrance of the hooded dancers at the start of LOTD, but it never appeared. It's not a DVD I'll watch over and over (if ever again) and if I had seen it before buying it, I would not have purchased it at all.

There is less focus on dancing (which is what I want to see when I see a Michael Flatley production - silly me, I guess) and what the heck was the striptease about??? In an audience with lots of children??? Not impressed at all. The solo talent didn't seem up to par with what he has brought us in the past. And like someone else mentioned all the different camera shots made it impossible to really focus on anything. There was no real focus on the dance troup itself. I'd be hard pressed to pick out one of the troup after watching the DVD, unlike the others when there was a face to go with those feet. Or perhaps that was the whole idea behind Mr. Flatley's decisions on this production.

I doubt that I'll buy a fifth production if Michael Flatley doesn't go back to his roots and focus once more on the great Irish dancing and music out there. It seems he hit his peak with LOTD, which is a shame.

Definitely wouldn't recommend it to someone who enjoys the dancing and music of LOTD and looking for a repeat.

We just had the privledge of seeing the performance of Celtic Tiger starring Michael Flatley in Phoenix, AZ. It was absolutely terrific--the best show anyone could ever hope to see! Michael's dancing was superb, as usual, and his troupe was magnificent. Music, choreography, solos, cinematics, and special effects were top of the line--absolutely brilliant. Sell your horse, your teeth, your hair--whatever you have to do to attend this show! You won't be sorry!

I have been lucky enough to see Michael perform in person in LOTD as well as Feet of Flames. I recently saw Celtic Tiger for the second time, at the Palace in Auburn Hills MI. I had seen it about a month earlier in London Ont. I felt that the Detroit area show was much improved over the London version. He is obviously polishing the production as the tour proceeds. I'll be interested to see what the DVD version contains compared to the two versions that I have seen on stage.

Celtic Tiger is very different from his previous shows but every bit as good. Anyone who liked the earlier shows will will love Celtic Tiger.

I might also mention that I have seen Lord of the Dance performed by one of the touring companies. It was very well done and I enjoyed it, however compared to the same show danced by Michael it paled. Michael Flatley lights up a stage. He has incredible talent as well as amazing stage presence. If you have the opportunity, see him before he retires for good.

I enjoy Mr. Flatley, I admire his work, since he appeared with the Chieftains. He is still one of the greatest entertainers of this time. However Celtic Tiger is not t a great show. I agree 100% with JJ and John Morgan commentaries. The entire concept is a great idea, but similar shows have been done. I own a copy of "Waves" in which you see a family go through the famine times. It is a modest production but very enjoyable music and dancing (Tommy Makem appears in this show). It ends with the family in the USA with a great american-irish dance.
Now back to Celtic Tiger. I saw Michael live in the original Lord of the Dance, right before he left Riverdance and before LOTD separated into several troops around the world. THAT SHOW WAS AWESOME. I saw Riverdance, live, and even without Flatley or Jean Butler, I liked this show a lot. Then I bought the DVD Feet of Flames, GREAT! Later I bought the DVD Michael Flatley's GOLD, a definitely keeper.
But then I saw Celtic Tiger on DVD... I don't know if the live show had as much a cappella at the beginning as the DVD, if it did, it was too long. The Garden of Eden could have been enjoyable if it had been performed by little girls, since it didn't have the formality degree the Swan Lake has. I enjoyed "St Patrick". The Vikings part had a good intention. The first part of the show was good. I did love anything that had a visual representation of the famine. The Red Coats dance was very good, and the Bloody Sunday and 1916 rising were just awesome. On the second part, Celtic Kittens, were like Webber's CATS without the makeup. The international routines, including ballet, were not amateur, but not very professional either, maybe I have been watching too much "So You Think You Can Dance". They were not very original or authentic either. The flight attendant stripper was entirely unnecessary, unless I missed the point. The cheerleaders dance was pointless and simple. I did like the gangsters dancing, but it reminded me of the taps in "Will Rogers Follies". Flatley's solos are great, but nothing new. In all, the second part felt like a 4th of July celebration. I thought: they were doing this in Budapest? The "Yankee Doodle Dandy" kept on going forever. The music didn't do much for me either, but good and pretty fiddlers made it better. I will not go to see this show live unless I get free tickets. That's why I am glad I saw this DVD.

I enjoy the DVD tremendously especially the behind the scene commentary which showed they doing rehearsals where you will see Michael and his dancers preparing themselves for the opening night.

About the music during the show, I think some of them are recorded.

This is a DVD not to be missed if you are a great fan of Michael.

LOVE ANYTHING MICHAEL FLATLEY IS IN - HOWEVER, THE CELTIC TIGER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH OF HIM IN IT.