Few professional gamblers would have bet that a show mixing Celtic music, hokey Irish history and dancers whose upper bodies remain stiff while their legs beat up the floorboards would have had much of a life. But since its 1995 debut, Riverdance has become a genuine cultural phenomenon, with more than 8,000 performances by various companies all over the world. And though charismatic original star Michael Flatley — he of the headband, glistening torso and monumental ego — is long gone, there’s a fresh crop of young lads ´n’ lassies (70 in all) taking up the step-dance challenge. Just be sure to bring some Advil along with your theater glasses — otherwise you’ll suffer a pounding in the head that’s not a St. Patrick’s Day hangover.
March 21-26
This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2006.
