
DATE: Thursday, March 20, 1997              TAG: 9703200336

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Column 

SOURCE: Guy Friddell 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

THE EVIL DARK LORD AGAIN TAKES ON HIS NEMESIS: RIVERDANCE

It had been my sworn determination by all that's left holy in this dissolute land never again to mention Riverdance, that rat-a-tat-tat tap musical with all the charm of a thousand jackhammers.

``Why would a fool bring obloquy on his head by daring to criticize a dance fantasy adored by 99.9 percent of the viewers?'' you may ask.

I dunno, I just do.

My Great Aunt Mary used to caution, even way back then, ``Guyboy, don't fly in the face of society.''

Now here we go, flying again.

Tuesday night during its fund-raising marathon, WHRO-TV screened a sort of sequel to ``Riverdance'' entitled ``Lord of the Dance'' and, friends, it ain't a bit better.

It was aired after a sudden change of schedule, but, even though it popped up without a long build-up, approving calls poured in.

Another hit, God wot!

In the film, a lot of jumping about and flying around in costumes met with dozens of ovations from an audience so huge it could have filled a good part of the Grand Canyon.

Any listener who resisted being borne away by the roaring acclamations would be deemed a hard-headed ignoramus, as I was after a few minutes of flashing lights as varied as the aurora borealis disclosing a host leaping around as if they were in a chigger patch.

The rolling thunderstorms of applause were a vital a part of the show. The lead dancer, Michael Flatley, bounded about the dream-like sets as if he had king-sized coils of bed springs on his heels.

And the response by WHRO's viewers was rapturous.

I watched 10 minutes. Wednesday, I phoned Donna Hudgins, the only person left at WHRO, after Riverdance, who will speak to me.

Flatley, she said, former Riverdance star and award-winning choreographer, recruited dancers from America, Ireland, England.

He portrays the Lord of the Dance, who contends with the evil Dark Lord - namely me, many will say. The dancing Lord on bed springs, with the optimistic ``little sprite'' by his side, he endures ordeals to reach his dream.

Flatley's own road from Chicago's south side to the world's stages has been rocky as well. His father had the boy take boxing lessons after he was beaten up on his way home from school.

At age 11, he began to dance, but a teacher told him it was too late to start. With grit and the help of a great Irish dancer, Kevin Massey, he became the first American to win the All-World Championship of Irish dancing.

The National Endowment for the Arts called him one of America's greatest performers. He holds the Guinness Book world record for tapping speed.

In February 1995, Riverdance opened in Ireland. As one of its stars, he wowed audiences, but tensions developed between him and the producers, and Flatley left the show and produced ``Lord of the Dance.''

``I'm not comfortable being confined by the rules,'' he once said. ``I was never comfortable dancing with my arms at my sides. I was never comfortable doing anybody else's steps. The last day I competed was the last day I held my arms at my sides.'

I thanked Donna for her help.

``You're going to tear us to shreds, aren't you?'' she said.

My heart went out to her.

``On no account,'' I said. ``The readers will rend me limb from limb.

``You know very well I spend more time in front of Channel 15's screen than before those of all the other channels put together.

``Without WHRO, TV would be deadly dull, indeed.''

``Lord of the Dance'' will be repeated on WHRO-TV at 9 p.m. Friday, she said.

Why, I believe I'll double my pledge of last year. ILLUSTRATION: At age 11, Michael Flatley began to dance, despite his

teacher's advice that it was too late to start. He is currently

featured in "Lord of the Dance."