Written in the stars
I got the chance to see the touring Kessler production of Aida last week, and it was an enjoyable enough evening.
First, a quick synopsis - Aida, princess of Nubia, is captured by Egyptian general Radames, who's engaged to Egyptian princess Amneris. Knowing she'd be a prime bargaining chip in Egypt's campaign against Nubia, Aida keeps her identity secret. Ignorant Aida's true stature, Radames presents Aida as a slave to his betrothed. Radames finds himself drawn to the oddly regal slave, and the two fall in love. Amneris discovers the deception, and the two star-crossed lovers are buried alive as punishment. (Cheery, huh?)
Several things - first of all, this is a fairly contemporary musical, with book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. Music is by pop legend Elton John. In a way, I think this musical strives to be a blockbuster affair, like one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's productions. Epic, sweeping, you get the idea. The problem was, it never got there for me. It seemed awfully preachy at times, and it never felt truly "epic" the way Webber's stories do.
The performances were good but not great, with the lead characters displaying more vocal range than acting ability. The two standouts were Leah Allers as Amneris and Dane Harrington Joseph as Mereb. Allers displayed both emotional and vocal dexterity, switching nimbly from over-the-top fashionista to betrayed lover. Joseph's all-too-brief songs were filled with emotion, and I particularly appreciated his understated but moving death scene.
All in all, an enjoyable evening, but it would have been so much more if the leads had been on their game.
First, a quick synopsis - Aida, princess of Nubia, is captured by Egyptian general Radames, who's engaged to Egyptian princess Amneris. Knowing she'd be a prime bargaining chip in Egypt's campaign against Nubia, Aida keeps her identity secret. Ignorant Aida's true stature, Radames presents Aida as a slave to his betrothed. Radames finds himself drawn to the oddly regal slave, and the two fall in love. Amneris discovers the deception, and the two star-crossed lovers are buried alive as punishment. (Cheery, huh?)
Several things - first of all, this is a fairly contemporary musical, with book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang. Music is by pop legend Elton John. In a way, I think this musical strives to be a blockbuster affair, like one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's productions. Epic, sweeping, you get the idea. The problem was, it never got there for me. It seemed awfully preachy at times, and it never felt truly "epic" the way Webber's stories do.
The performances were good but not great, with the lead characters displaying more vocal range than acting ability. The two standouts were Leah Allers as Amneris and Dane Harrington Joseph as Mereb. Allers displayed both emotional and vocal dexterity, switching nimbly from over-the-top fashionista to betrayed lover. Joseph's all-too-brief songs were filled with emotion, and I particularly appreciated his understated but moving death scene.
All in all, an enjoyable evening, but it would have been so much more if the leads had been on their game.
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