October 15, 2005
An Evening of Champions
by jmfunnyface
The show was fantastic! The rain was absolutely horrible and there was so much flooding, so even though the show sold out there were a lot of empty seats, unfortunately. It was great seeing Katya, Daria & Ilya skate. I personally disagree with the person who made the comments about Daria. On Saturday night she skated very early on in the first act with lots of young skaters her age and younger and at skill levels below, above and the same as hers. Definitely not out of place or out of line.
The ice box where the skaters sat was directly across from me. Katya and Ilya remained out almost the whole first act, talking to each other. Daria took their place the second act, paling around with Kimmie Meissner and singing along to the Russian song that played during one program.
Watching the Protopopovs skate was the highlight for me. They're amazing. I can't believe how graceful they are, and the lifts that they were doing. They got a well deserved standing ovation. Just lovely.
Okay, so the highlight for me was the reception afterwards. It was at Elliot Hall on Harvard's campus. Ilya and Katya did not go to the one on Friday night, so I was so scared they wouldn't be there on Saturday night. Luckily at around 10pm-ish, Daria, Katya and Ilya arrived. Daria was the first one I spoke to, and is truly a great kid. Well spoken, friendly, mature, and easy going. I told her about the time my sister and I gave her the frog at the Simsbury Rink and got her in trouble for talking to strangers. She laughed and said she probably didn't get in too much trouble. We told her she looked great out on the ice, and she said thank you & she really enjoyed skating. She took two pictures with me, and signed my program.
Right after I got done talking to her, Paul Wylie came up. He asked her how she was, and if her parents (his word-not mine) were really driving home that night. Apparently they slept over Thursday night for the Friday show, drove home Friday night, came back Saturday afternoon and were driving home Saturday night. Daria said yes. Paul replied something like "That's crazy". Daria explained that her Aunt was in town. Paul said, "Masha's here?" Daria said no it's Ilya's sister that in town, and they had to get back to her. Paul asked her about school at that point, and if she was doing well. At this point, Katya got done talking to some other people, so I stopped eavesdropping and went up to her.
Katya seemed very tired (and after all that driving I would be to! especially in that awful rain). I spoke Russian to her, which was exciting to me. I told her I really liked her program, and she said thank you. I asked her to take a picture, and she said it was fine to take a few. I apologized for my terrible Russian, but she laughed and said I spoke Russian well. I thanked her, and was on my way. She was very polite and friendly, but definitely not as gregarious as her daughter and husband.
Ilya was chatting with everyone in sight. The guy is really friendly, and really seems at easy in crowds of strangers. He took pictures with everyone, and was toasting with people. At one point he was talking to a very cute girl for a while, and Katya slid in between the two of them, putting her arm around Ilya's waist and pinching his cheek. It was very cute, like "you might be talking to him, but he's all mine!"
All of the skaters were very nice. No egos, just normal people enjoying their drinks. Jennifer Robinson is beautiful, very friendly and so tall! I'm nearly 5'5 and she was much taller than me.
Just as we were getting ready to go, Katya, Ilya and Daria were putting on their coats (it was almost midnight at this point), so we walked out right behind them. As soon as they said good-night to Paul, they switched over to Russian among themselves and spoke it exclusively as they walked down the block. Their car (a royal blue audi) was only a block from the reception (lucky them), so they left quickly.
It was such a great show, but the reception was the highlight for me. Boston and Cambridge were a lot of fun. I want to go next year even if Katya and Ilya aren't there. So who's with me for next year??
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