RE: London Rocks! (2014 to Present)
You are correct. I do not specifically know that she has anything to do with Celtic Fyre. She shouldn't. I hope she never does. There are no major issues this year that I am alluding to. The one move was introduced last year and it is the slapping hands on their bodies and stomping feet she puts in other shows (see this year's London Rocks). Not there before, that I recall, and not Irish. Possibly just coincidence. Everything else is spot on to what I'd expect from these talented tappers. I'm really glad to see some of the veterans back that may have been run off by Gasparich's reign. I was not including Celtic Fyre as a whole. I've never looked into who creatively designed the core of Celtic Fyre. But many good things about it, and other shows, are outsourced. That is not to take away from in-park talent as I get into below.
I don't know how much is ever completely outsourced. The park has input and final say in all things. It will be their show after all. The judgement of whom to bring in, their talent level, and the decision to keep using them lies with good management. Phil is much better at this than Gasparich, in my opinion. Sound, lighting, music, etc can be highly specialized and better handled by those specialists. I think Phil and whomever is attached did a great job on Celtic Fyre, and the idea behind the what show One For All could or may be one day. It is about leading, creativity, vision, and knowing your (and the park's) limitations. Then to go outside to find that better link to complete what is needed. Gasparich wouldn't do that. I think Phil does…and he is a nice guy. Having Lensenmayer back for the music and whomever he had design the stage (from photos I've seen) shows smart and creative decision making. I'd be curious to know who did the blocking and stunts for this show since those seem to be the weak spots.
The Celtic Fyre cast has fantastic talent and they are doing an excellent job. I wouldn't want anyone else having say or making changes, like Gasparich tried to do (cue dogs, for one). Monster Stomp Revamped was choreographed internally, again excellent. Unearthed, outsourced and, eh. Corn Stalkers was internal and a surprise hit. Oak Island has been hit or miss on the HOS front, too. There is good and bad in all. Key is to recognize the good talent and weed out the stuff that doesn't work or is just flat out bad. I am hard pressed to see little accomplishment in what Gasparich, and his entourage, brought in creatively. Add to that he removed much of the live music from the park eliminating the Starlight Orchestra, Boogie Band, and a full Oompah Band for garbage like Entwined v1, London Rocks, Killarney Kommotion, Wunderbarn, and the such. When you can roam the park shows and tell who was NOT involved, that is bad.
As I said before, outside sources that are better equipped for certain jobs can be a good thing. Sets, sound, lighting, etc can be expensive and involved. They do have a park to run too, not just shows. Selecting the RIGHT job to outsource to the RIGHT talent can augment what the park has created. It can also be detrimental. O'Foglu is an outsource and is excellent at Irish music. Billington is an outsource and designs excellent lighting for every show thus far. Landmark Entertainment Group are an outsource and COS was popular for many years. Zachary and Weiner are an outsource and are doing well. Irish Thunder was mostly the O'Shea School and the most popular show of the time. This new choreographer may be, or started as, outsourced. It isn't always good. But knowing what you can do in-park and when it can be done better from outside makes good management.
This is just my opinion. If I get something wrong, I certainly welcome correction. I am definitely all about credit were credit is due. If the current choreographer gives me Night Beats v1 quality ballroom dancing instead of Killarney Kommotion, I will commend it. I was not, nor will I, discredit the Celtic Fyre crew. I was simply giving Jesy what I saw as the reasons for the simple choreography being purposeful or rehearsal related and the rational reason for it. It just turned out longer than I meant since it hit a touchy spot on all things "Old County" that I defend as extremely meaningful to me. Of which the quality of shows are second in line only to the modernization of hamlet theming and music. Don't get me started on BGW going from world-class coasters to smaller and more insignificant rides by the year.
Oh great. Ranting again and way off topic. Sorry…back to the shadows for me.
