The Pirate Queen - More Magic from the Riverdream Team on Broadway

Riverdream, the company responsible for Riverdance, has done it again. Their new-to-Broadway production, The Pirate Queen, is a stirring tale of love and courage, of piracy and family. Performed in the Hilton Theatre in New York City, the show mixes the expected drama, stunning scenery and amazing singing of your usual Broadway play, and then throws in a little extra kick- Irish Step Dancing. The results? An impressive, very memorable experience.

The Pirate Queen stars Stephanie J. Block as Grace O'Malley, the fierce daughter of Clan O'Malley's chief, who overcomes the limitations of her gender in order to lead her people and captain her ship. Block's voice fully expresses the emotions that the character goes through, from the hardships and confrontations to the loves and celebrations. Opposite her, as Tiernan, is Hadley Fraser, whose strong voice serves as a wonderful compliment to Block's. Together, they sing the bulk of the vocal pieces, their voices enticing the audience to feel as they feel, to see what they see.

Block's character is not the only strong and powerful woman in the play, though. The character of Queen Elizabeth I, played by Linda Balgord, makes for a fascinating contrast and comparison to O'Malley. The interactions of each of the women, in societies predominantly run by males, serve to further elevate the story. In a cast where the supporting roles are mostly male, these interactions lend a certain womanly charm, distinctive to each of the two different female characters.

Beyond the plot and the characters, the displays of dancing in The Pirate Queen are also extremely impressive, and hold true to the trademark style of the production's elder cousin, Riverdance. While Grace O'Malley's tale doesn't include quite as much of the metallic, straight-up tap-dancing sounds of Riverdance, the footwork is nonetheless just as fast, fancy, and energetic, with enough leaps and spins to dazzle any viewer. The musical numbers performed by the full ensemble are probably the most exciting of the show, as they showcase the precision of the dancers, with every sound and motion of one dancer in unison with the sounds and motions of the next. The ensemble's numbers are tremendously fun to watch, and the dancers do a wonderful job of sharing their energy with the crowd.

Not to be ignored, the scenery of The Pirate Queen is also remarkable. The Hilton Theatre itself, located on 42nd Street of New York City, has the typical beauty and style of many of the other Broadway theatres. Its high ceilings and shimmering chandeliers are further enhanced by a faux night sky above the stage, and an assortment of flickering lanterns, rope ladders, crow's nests and the other sailing accoutrements necessary to any pirate ship. The lighting is particularly marvelous, and backdrops of night skies and sunsets are a treasure for the eyes.

While, overall, The Pirate Queen is phenomenal, there are a few aspects that may disappoint the viewer. For one, those looking for something as magical and unique as Riverdance aren't likely to find it. While The Pirate Queen is definitely a distinctive show, it doesn't have the same age-spanning feel of Riverdance, and nor is the dance as much of a focus. Also, the fighting scenes, while full of swashbuckling spins and whirls, aren't entirely convincing. Perhaps it varies from performance to performance, but there appeared to be very few occurrences where the swordfighters' blades actually touched. In one particular scene, there seemed to be much more focus placed on running and leaping across the stage than actual confrontation between the two warring parties. And on a note of warning, parents of young children might not want to bring the little ones; one scene in particular is full of sexual references that might be awkward to explain to the wee generations.

Beyond those aspects, though, the show does a wonderful job of drawing the viewer into the emotions and the action of the play. The Pirate Queen is a refreshing change from the typical musical, and is full of vibrancy and passion. For those eager to experience something they won't forget, The Pirate Queen will do the job, and do it well.