The Show of the Century

Chloë mentioned that this was their 100th show this tour, so the title has a double meaning.

Before the show

I spent the day on Thursday doing some of the things that I had originally planned for Wednesday before I was distracted by watching the CW setup crew.  Like yesterday, I got back to hotel around 3 to freshen up and change for the show.  Since I didn't have to visit the box office this time I got to the venue a little early.  The weather was rather ugly and I no sooner got parked when the wind and rain started.  Since I was in no hurry I just waited it out.  Just as the rain stopped, Scott arrived in his white Mustang; his timing was a little better than mine.

The forum gathering was a little smaller than Wednesday but there were some fresh faces, too.  Today we were watching the Christmas DVD and Christmas in July is fine by me.  My emotions were still a little heightened after last night and Máiréad's In the Bleak Midwinter got to me, as all of her slow airs do.  After some door prize drawings, Scott had a little surprise: a Máiréad trivia game.  I was one of the unfortunate contestants.  I say unfortunate only because most of the questions were about names or titles, both of which I am lousy at.  Of course I lost and Destiny was the winner of the tie break between her and Glenn.  Then there were a few more door prizes, although I'm not convinced that Scott put my name back in contention since I left empty handed.  Just kidding, Scott!

Weather was still on everyone's mind, but surprisingly the sun had returned.  We adjourned to the outdoor patio for another group photo and then back inside to gather our stuff and head for our seats.  The sun and clouds continued to compete for top billing but they were not storm clouds and it was quite pleasant.  It was also not nearly as windy as on Wednesday.

After some more conversation on the top deck, it was time to walk down those many steps for the last time.  I had the exact same seat as last night and I was expecting to be surrounded by strangers.  As I get to my seat who did I see but the famous double duo of Joe and Kathy and Charlie and Norma.  With Scott only a few seats further down we had excellent forum representation in the second row.  While talking to my other neighbors, I discovered that the couple in the front row was visiting their daughter and were from Lancaster, PA, only a few miles from me and they were at one of the Philadelphia shows, too.  I'm always amazed at how many people are either from, or know someone from, my area.  It really is a small world.  Looking back over the crowd, the show appeared to be a near sellout.  What a great sendoff the girls were going to get!

While waiting for the show to start, I could still see backstage and I caught a glimpse of Máiréad.  There were others also wandering around, taking pictures of each other, the venue, and the audience.

Act 1

Usually CW makes their normal recorded announcement right at 8pm and then waits 10 minutes or so for people to settle.  Not tonight, though.  Presumably as a hedge against the weather, they started right after the announcement.  Máiréad appeared, to resounding applause, and she had her fiddle shrink wrapped in plastic to keep it dry.  Apparently she was planning to play whether it was raining or not!  The crowd was juiced and started clapping and cheering at the drop of a hat, or a bow.  I could see in the girls' eyes and faces that they knew this was a very special night and that they were going to make it one to remember.

After an out of the ordinary standing ovation for The Sky, Dawn, and Sun, Lisa did one of her most heartfelt performances ever of Fields of Gold.  Then it was Chloë, Chloë, Chloë.  When You Believe brought the house down.  Even the chorus knew that something special was happening and they had huge smiles at the audience reaction when Chloë hit and held that note.

Máiréad was absolutely at the top of her game and it was easy to see that she was having the time of her life.  During Coast of Galicia she was all over the place, running, jumping, leaping, twirling, spinning; she was pulling everything she had out of her bag of tricks.  It was the most amazing performance and she was clearly having as much fun as we were.  Ready?  Eleven, count 'em, eleven spins!  I've only seen that one other time at Radio City early in the tour.  She started slow and then became a blur; I've never seen her spin so fast.

Even when Lynn is at her most expressive she is still a little reserved, but not tonight.  She, too, knew what tonight was all about and had transformed herself into a bit of a vixen.  Dulaman was smokin'!  Orinoco Flow got cheers from the crowd as soon as the drums started and I caught a look from Lisa again.  And then there was Alex.  Her true colors shone through during True Colors and she seemed a little overwhelmed by the size and enthusiasm of the audience.

What can I say about Granuaile's Dance?  Máiréad poured her heart and soul into it and had this huge smile on her face the whole time.  The audience was really into it and that only fired her up more.  I felt sorry for the people who had to try to follow her with the spotlights!

Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears was awesome, as usual, with Gavin getting resounding applause for his pipes solo.  The girls were getting rather emotional now, too, and it showed.  Goodnight My Angel quieted the audience down and you could hear a pin drop during Danny Boy.  Until the end that is!

It was now jumper time!  I had veterans on my right but those on my left were not prepared.  And the green bow was back!  Máiréad knows how special it is to the forum and she honors us once again by using it.  It contrasts so wonderfully with her white gown and sparkles when the light hits it just right.  The only bad thing about Mo Ghile Mear is that it means the show is half over.  But, for me anyway, the best was yet to come.

Act 2

The intermission was cut short as the crew was racing the weather.  So far there had been no problems and we were all hoping it would hold.  More jumping during The Call and I noticed that Máiréad had taken the plastic off of her violin.  That's a good enough weather forecast for me!  I vividly remember the very first time I heard this song on the Greatest Journey CD.  After the first verse, when Máiréad plays that first note, I got this huge chill up and down my spine and I shivered involuntarily.  It doesn't happen much anymore since I know it's coming, but I got that chill again tonight.  The sound from the Incredibow is different and it took me a little by surprise.

I mentioned earlier that Lynn had transformed herself tonight and it really showed during Carolina Rua.  She was smiling more than I've ever seen and her dancing was a little more sultry than usual.  Once Máiréad came on stage, the interactions between them were a little saucier, too.  She was clearly showing off for the packed house and making this performance one we wouldn't soon forget.  Alex's You'll Be In My Heart just gets better and better, and even Nicky was showing off a little more than usual tonight.

I know all too well what comes next.  It's the triple threat and time for the tissues.  I usually use Last Rose of Summer as time to prepare myself for the pair of Fantasia's, but tonight I watch both Chloë and Lynn give a truly emotional rendition.

Ah, Last Rose Fantasia.  Just like last night, the tears start early.  Tonight they are flowing even before she raises her bow.  Knowing that I wouldn't hear it again until the DVD comes out, I totally immersed myself into it and just let myself go.  It is such an amazingly beautiful piece and Máiréad puts so much emotion into it that I can hardly stand it.  There aren't adequate words to describe it, at least not in my vocabulary.  It's as if her very soul is coming through the strings.

And with no time to recover, it's time for more tissues.  Nella Fantasia always has and always will be my favorite Chloë song.  She draws you in and teases you a little with the first verse, then she ignores you and lets Des divert your attention.  Then it's “Wham!” and she absolutely blows you away.  And to top it off, she blows Des a kiss, giggles, and skips off the stage like a school girl!  What a roller coaster ride and I'm flooded with more tears to add to those left over from Máiréad.

At the Ceili provides some welcome relief and gives my eyes a chance to clear.  Tonight's version is different, though.  Everyone is kicking it up a notch and there are subtle things happening all over the stage that aren't part of the normal choreography.  The first few that I saw I thought were mistakes, but then I saw more and I realized they were intentional.  I'll only mention two and see if anyone else noticed any others.  Lisa always moves to the right side of the stage and flirts with Eoghan (the bass player) but tonight she did more than that.  She actually put her arm around him and gave him a hug.  I don't think he was expecting it because he seemed a little taken aback at first.  He quickly adapted, though, and they both had a good laugh.  The other thing I noticed, and this goes hand in hand with Lynn's “coming out,” was seeing her give the Poor Guy a little kiss after she picked him.  Like Eoghan, he seemed a little surprised, but pleasantly so.

Next it's Shenandoah and tissue time again.  With Máiréad, the music, and the images of the Shenandoah Valley in my head, there is so much beauty in one place that it's a little overwhelming.  Once again Máiréad is pouring everything she's got into it and the smile on her face tells me that she knows she's got us right where she wants us.  And I, for one, am more than happy to be there.  In fact, I'd stay there forever if I could.  Then, in an instant she transforms herself into a little tease as she allows the two drummers to compete for her affection.  Her facial expressions and movements during the Contradiction are priceless and her obvious joy is contagious.

I've always loved Have I Told You Lately and tonight's performance is even better than usual.  (I know I keep saying that, but it's true.)  Lisa always seems to get a very maternal look as she watches Chloë sing it and it was obvious tonight that she is so proud of all of “her girls.”  And then it's her turn to show off.  She is The Voice and The Voice is hers.  So let it be written, so let it be done.  I wouldn't have thought she could do it better than last night but she must have been holding something back because I think even the rocks were impressed tonight.  They kept singing for a while after she stopped!  Sing Out got everyone clapping and on their feet again and it was obvious that the girls were having just as much fun as we were.

Chloë's speech prior to O, America on Wednesday night was heartfelt and different from other shows.  Tonight she was clearly overwhelmed by the audience response and struggled to get the words out sometimes.  We all understood and cheered her on!  Tears were abundant and we thanked them as much as they thanked us.  No natural fireworks tonight, but they weren't needed.  We were on our feet before Lisa could get her last words out and the applause was probably heard around the world.  More tears on both sides of the stage.

I always have mixed emotions about You Raise Me Up.  On the one hand I love it, but on the other hand it means the end is near.  Máiréad played those first few notes and I was toast.  Again.  As always, I watched her intently when her spotlight was off and what I saw was happiness personified.  It lifted my heart so much to see that and I think that I am once again content.  She's back.

And the green bow was back.  In fact, like last night, it had been back since The Voice.  Unlike last night, though, tonight we got to hear her use it for the finale.  And use it she did!  It has a different timbre to it and she used it to good effect.  We had been standing since the last number and stayed standing throughout the finale.  We had been clapping non-stop, too, and my arms were getting tired!  We clapped along as she played, clapped some more as each of the soloists came out, clapped some more when the rest of the cast took a bow, and then clapped some more just because we felt like it.

We finally got a break and a chance to sit when they started Spanish Lady.  Now I knew that this was really the end, but they weren't done surprising us just yet.  After the “lifting her petticoat” verse Máiréad and Lynn usually stand next to each other and lift their dresses a little.  Tonight, though, Lynn was not done being playful and when they got to that point instead of lifting her own dress Lynn reached over and lifted Alex's!  The look on Alex's face was priceless and Lynn and Máiréad were both laughing like they had planned it all along.

Way too soon, it was over.  The audience was on its feet, the cast was taking their bows, and withdrawal was already starting.  I walked (or maybe trudged is a better word) up the steps one last time with very mixed emotions.  On the one hand I was sad that it was the end of the tour.  On the other hand I was very happy to have been lucky enough to be there to witness it and happy that Máiréad seems to be fully mended, at least emotionally.  I ran into Scott in the parking lot and we talked until traffic cleared.  When I got back to the hotel I was too emotionally drained to even fire up the computer to read anyone's review.

My finale

It has been an amazing two days and I'm so glad that I decided to come.  Red Rocks is an awesome place and I am so happy that my first experience here was with CW and with people I consider friends.

A very big thank you, obviously, to Celtic Woman.  They have changed my life for the better; not nearly as dramatically as some of you, but changed nevertheless.  Having met each of them several times on this tour, I can truthfully say that they are some of the finest and nicest people on this great earth.  I wish them the best and hope they have a great summer vacation (minus a certain two days in July.)  As much as I love summer, and as much as I hate the fact that fall leads to winter, I can't wait until fall for the DVD and the next tour.

A special thanks, again, to Scott, Melanie, Dalton, and all who were involved in the two forum gatherings.  I've been able to meet more forum members in person and put faces to names.  It never ceases to amaze me how people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and from all different age groups can be brought together and share a common bond.  Without exception, every forum member I've met has been an exceptional person and I consider all of you friends for life.  I have had a wonderful time and hope to meet many of you again at future shows.

Well, that's all for now.  My last review is now complete, as is my journey.  It has taken about 6 hours to write and I'll be switching to refinement mode for a few hours before any of you see it.  I have another few days of vacation time here in lovely Colorado before I head home and back to some approximation of normalcy.  Hopefully the withdrawal effects will soon wear off, otherwise I will be an absolute wreck.

Here's to a new DVD and a new fall tour.  They can't come soon enough.

The original review is here.