The cream of British showbiz - and Mr Damian - were out in force last night in order to celebrate the gala opening of the West End’s latest theatrical smash – Jackie on Ice.

The production, a biographical tale telling the story of the former First Lady, and late wife of an oil tycoon, Jackie Onassis, is told using the power of figure skating – believed to be a theatrical first.

Director, Peter Grout told the press that “ice seemed a natural forum to tell this story; it allows the actors to be as graceful as Jackie was herself.”

Theatre's new first lady

The public seem to agree, with tickets to see the show about the American Icon selling out in record time. One lady queued for three whole weeks to guarantee her ticket for the opening night; others just sold a few records and became E-list celebrities instead.

Former Olympic Champions Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean came back out of retirement to play Jackie and her husband Jack Kennedy, with former soap star Sid Owen playing her second husband the shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Sid admitted that learning to skate had been hard, but that he had been moved by the power of the story.

"Jackie beats Bolero" Chris told us

Last night the public showed that they were equally moved. When the final chord of the final piece of music ended the audience roared to their feet and gave a nine hour standing ovation, pausing only for toilet breaks and an occasional ice cream.

Jackie on Ice is at the London Ice Rink till 2009.

Posted by damian at January 14, 2005 07:36 PM | TrackBack