Join Simba as he learns about growing up in the jungle from Tarzan and Mowgli, when three of Disney’s animated feature films are woven together in Disney’s “Jungle Adventures On Ice.” The characters from “The Jungle Book,” “The Lion King” and “Tarzan” will come to life Wednesday through Feb. 24 in this action-packed, musical ice-skating show. Thirty-seven skaters from around the world will portray the main characters and a plethora of jungle animals, including monkeys, gorillas, elephants and Kaa, the 40-foot snake who moves with the help of a dozen skaters. Simon and Lynette Aldridge, who have been married for two years and live in Canada when they are not touring, are members of the principal cast. Simon, 30, portrays Clayton, the villain from “Tarzan,” while Lynette skates as Nala in “The Lion King.” “The bad guys are the fun roles to play. They have a lot more character to them than the good guys,” says Simon, who also plays other parts in the show. “I try to find funny parts in their character so they aren’t as bad as they seem.” Aldridge has appeared in “Anastasia On Ice,” as well as “Walt Disney’s World On Ice – Mickey’s Diamond Jubilee” and the Disney On Ice productions of “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “75 Years of Disney Magic.” He met his wife while they were skating for “Aladdin.” Lynette was various characters; Simon played one of the suitors of the Jasmine character. For “Jungle Adventures,” Lynette again plays a range of characters, in addition to the Nala role in the last portion of the show. “I play a creature throughout the show,” Lynette, 27 says. She says she is not permitted to be more specific, so that Disney can maintain the illusion of having a jungle full of ice-skating animals. Costume changes are frequent, Lynette says, and skaters are responsible for applying their makeup. “At first, we had someone come in and show us how to do the makeup, but we got used to it after awhile,” she says. It takes her 10 minutes to 15 minutes to apply the makeup for the Nala character. Costume designer Frank Krenz took into consideration the show’s choreo- graphy and the movements of animals for “Jungle Adventures.” Lynette’s lioness costume basically is a one-piece bodysuit. “It is very easy to skate in; there is no restricting material,” she says. She and other cast members studied the animals they are portraying to ensure their movements are true to nature. Englishman Liam Duffy, 28, studied gorillas, monkeys and elephants for the parts he plays. Duffy also serves as a substitute for other parts, when needed. Some of the costumes he wears are heavy. “I have to go to the gym to cope with it,” he says. But no matter how heavy or cumbersome, the realistic costumes help the skaters bring the animals to life. “Once you’ve got the costume on, it’s not about the lack of what you can do,” Duffy says. “The costume gives you insight into the character so that you can express yourself as that character better.” Duffy also serves as the line captain for the production and is in charge of 15 male skaters. “I look out for things in the routines that tend to get sloppy when you’re skating them on a day-to-day basis,” he says. “Steps sometimes get lost.” As line captain, Duffy is required to know everybody’s skating parts. He is learning Tarzan’s part, which includes aerial acrobatics in a Spanish web, enabling him and Jane to explore above the treetops while swinging on a vine. The routine requires incredible strength, Duffy says. “I did it one day and couldn’t pull myself up to do it the next. I’m not strong enough to do it on a daily basis,” he says. The Spanish web routine to the Phil Collins song “You’ll Be In My Heart” “takes your breath away,” Duffy says. “I think this is one of the best ice shows out there,” Duffy says. “We skate to an Oscar-winning score.” Other songs featured in “Jungle Adventures” are “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “I Wanna Be Like You” and “The Bare Necessities.” “In the ‘Jungle Book’ portion, there are four vultures that were a takeoff of the Beatles in the movie,” Duffy says. “In this show, they have more an ‘N Sync sound to appeal to the younger crowd.” He says parents and grandparents in the audience will appreciate the humor. “The show appeals to a broad audience,” he says. “There’s romance, tragedy, everything. And the aerial routine is breathtaking for everybody.”

If you go

What: Disney’s “Jungle Adventures On Ice” When: 7 p.m. Wednesday through Feb. 23; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 23; 1 and 5 p.m. Feb. 24 Where: Mellon Arena, uptown Pittsburgh Admission: $11.50 to $35 Details: 412-323-1919

Jungle Trivia

See how well you know “Tarzan,” “The Lion King” and “The Jungle Book” by taking this quiz with your children. Answers appear at the bottom of the quiz. 1. From whom did Tarzan save Kerchak? 2. Who are Tarzan’s childhood friends? 3. What kind of animal is Sabor? 4. Where did Kala find Tarzan when he was a baby? 5. What does Clayton plan to do with the apes? 6. What animals chased Jane through the jungle? 7. Who is Professor Potter? 8. Who are the strangers in the jungle? 9. What is different about Scar’s mane? 10. What kind of animals are Timon and Pumbaa? 11. Who saves Nala and Simba from the hyenas at the elephant graveyard? 12. Who are Shenzi, Banzai and Ed? 13. What song do Timon and Pumbaa teach Simba? 14. Who finds out Simba is still alive? 15. Who is Rafiki? 16. Where do Mufasa and his family live? 17. Where is Simba forbidden by his father to go? 18. How old was Mowgli, the man cub, when he is taken back to the man village? 19. Who offers to take Mowgli to the man village? 20. How does Bagheera refer to Baloo? 21. What cunning crew kidnaps Mowgli while he and Baloo take their peaceful float down the river? 22. Whom does Bagheera ask for help during his search to find Mowgli? 23. How does Mowgli manage to scare off Shere Khan? 24. What is Baloo referring to when he says to Mowgli, “Forget about those, they ain’t nothing but trouble”? 25. The four vultures have been rumored to be patterned after what other “fab four,” and what is the song they sing with their new friend Mowgli? Answers: 1. Sabor 2. Terk and Tantor 3. Leopard 4. Treehouse 5. Sell them in England 6. Baboons 7. Jane’s father 8. Humans 9. It’s black 10. Timon is a meerkat and Pumbaa is a warthog 11. Mufasa 12. Hyenas 13. “Hakuna Matata” 14. Nala 15. The spirit monkey 16. Pride Rock 17. The elephant graveyard 18. 10 years old 19. Bagheera 20. Jungle Bum 21. King Louie’s chimpanzees 22. Colonel Hathi 23. Mowgli ties Shere Khan’s tail around a burning bush 24. Females 25. The Beatles and “That’s What Friends Are For” Source: Disney On Ice

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