AIDA Toni Braxton standby Question...- Page 2

[Seany]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 7:35pm

I wonder if they have to lower Elaborate Lives or any of the duets she has with Radames. That would suck for him - having to lower his performance because the poor publicity stint can't sing it right.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 7:36pm

On Regos and Kelly, she sang it lower. Will didn't seems to have any problems.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 9:52am

The note at the end of "Dance of the Robe" is and F and I've never heard any Aida do it other than Heather Headly. There was one girl who was a standby for Aida at one time, (I think while Maya Days played the role), and she never got to go on but she could belt out that F.

I've seen four different Aidas: Maya Days, Simone, Merle Dandridge and Saycon. My favourite by far was Merle. I enjoyed her immensely. Her acting was very believable and her voice was exquisite. Saycon, I didn't enjoy so much. Her voice is strange. For the entire first Act I kept thinking she was losing her voice, but when I spoke to somenoe who works at the theatre, they assured me that, no...That's just how she sings. It was wierd. I lot of her words ended up getting lost because they came out so soft as husky.

I didn't realize that belting a C was difficult for most women. I don't have a problem. My break note, (does everyone know what a break is?), used to be B before I started doing corrective work with my voice teacher. Everything below and above the B was strong, but that B was just such a tough note for me to really put out there.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 1:48pm

I also loved Merle's performance as Aida. She has a wonderful voice and immense presence in the role. She played the role on tour, but was flown in to play it on Broadway for a weekend when Headley was out ill, maya days (stand-by) was out recovering from surgery, and Schele Williams (understudy) was out on vacation. Bad planning on the producer's part having Williams and days will SCHEDULED days off at the same time, but at least tehy were able to bring in Merle Dandrudge.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 3:15pm

I too loved Merle as Aida. She is the only Aida I can understand when singing! I've also seen it with Heather and Simone and heard it with Maya. Saycon though...

(Nic's SoapBox Brought to you by Nic. Does A Man's Body Good)

When I saw Saycon it was on Saturday. This was before they announced that Toni wouldn't be in on Saturday performance. I'd heard the name alot in association with Aida so I was happy anyways when I read the Playbill and discovered no Toni.

Wow. No. Just no. Saycon played a no-so-good Aida. Her singing was great. She didn't hold out a couple of notes for certain songs I would have liked her too, but hey. Im not picky. The way she ACTED Aida though was disapointing. She seriously had Will Chase's hand caressing her inner thighs during Elaborate Lives. She turned Aida into a slut basically. It was distasteful to say the least. There is a way of expressing foreplay in Elaborate Lives for Aida and that was not one of them. She's not a belter either. But I got to see Mandy Gonzalez so I was happy. Updated On: 7/30/03 at 03:15 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 4:08pm

Wow, everyone's spoken so Highly of Merle Dandridge as AIDA. You know when I saw the tour I thought the girl who plays AIda's friend who sings Nubia with her was played by Merle, at least i think, and she was good actress, but really couldnt sing well, I think I remember thinking HOW THE HELL IS SHE AN AIDA STANDBY, but i'll have to re-check that since EVERYONE says she's awesome...hummm...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 4:32pm

She was Nehebka and an Aida understudy at first.