Aida Tour Review (take 2)

Is it just me or did something happen to the other one? Its not showing up....


I saw the Amneris Company today in TX... They were awesome! My discounted ticket was a very nice surprise from the director of a show I'm in, and this was the first time I've seen the show.

Overall- Was impressed. For paying 25 $ it was amazing. There were so many things that were different from the broadway run of it though (or at least that I can tell from the recording). Like Aida sang most of 'Radames' Letter',and notes/lyrics/who sings what were changed in many places. It worked though. I guess I'll get to my individual critiquing now...

Melodye Perry (Aida)-- She was wonderful. She put so much feeling into it all, and really made the gospel-ish part of 'The Gods Love Nubia' her own. The only minor disappointment was that in a lot of the songs in comparison with the broadway cast she took lower notes when it was quite obvious she had the range/power to hit them well. But whatever, probably her choice. And this is random but she has a beautiful smile as well

Jaymes Hodges (Radames)-- He has a wonderful voice, but I wish he had taken a little more freedom with the notes/ his presence on stage. He was just so stiff. It seemed like he was getting bored with the singing aspect, but not really. I can't explain it. Maybe I'm just too used to the rock-esqe style Adam pascal uses. I dunno. Overall he was good and I enjoyed his performance

Lesli Margherita (Amneris)-- She gets an A for personality/acting skills. I could tell the voice talent was there, but she pushed too hard in some scenes. She had an amazing stage presence and carried herself well. She redeemed herself singing 'I Know The Truth' though. I usually don't care much for that song, but she did a wonderful job with it.

Ron Kellum (Mereb)-- He was great. Excellent comedic timing and had an awesome voice. He got sort of choked up on the 'How I Know You Reprise', which was kind of cute, and he was great at the stage door. If Radames could be african american, I'd want him to play him, because he was far better than Jaymes.

Jefferey Rockwell (Zoser)-- Ick. He seemed off the entire time. Very nasal sounding to me. His acting was fine though.

The ensemble-- They didn't blend together very well, and were sort of weak, but MAN they could dance. And the guys were hot. I can't believe I just said that. The women could barely be heard in 'The Gods Love Nubia' and in 'Fortune Favors the Brave' I could pick out individual voices plus they changed the notes and theres a higher tenor part, which they were straining to hit. They still get props for there dancing and being in such incredible shape though. Haha.


So yea, that was a fun spur of the moment thing. Made me kinda sad that its not on broadway anymore though. Anyways, thanks for reading if you did

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Thanks hun! I'm glad you liked it. Sounds like it could use some work, though... I'm debating seeing the tour when it comes somewhere near here, but I don't know if I can do that to myself. *sigh*

So Aida sang Radames' Letter? That's well... backwards. *shrug*

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well, Radames' Letter used to be Amneris' Letter so that song seems like it's never gonna find itself.

bottom line... is Jaymes Hodges hot? and how did they do the swimming pool thingy...?

Thanks, CQT!

Yeah... I guess that letter is never really going to find its owner. Better switching that than reverting to the original planning of having AIDA sing Elaborate Lives, though.

And damn it, the answer to CATS question had better friggin' be yes. You need a hot Radames.

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zoran is so efficianet, isn't he?

'So Aida sang Radames' Letter? That's well... backwards. *shrug*'

Aida got the letter and sang it until 'i wish I could tell you this face to face' etc, when radames came on the stage. Which is dumb, because he was standing like 2 feet away from her, and apparently he can't tell her everything to her face. Then they both sang 'I love you'. Whatever, it worked except for the blocking aspect of it. You should see it. One of the ensemble members told me at the stage door that their voices were having difficulty adjusting to the cold dry texas weather after coming right from LA. You should give it a shot. No, it probably won't be as good as the broadway production, and I know the show is dear to you, but don't pass up the opportunity to see it, who knows when your next chance will be?

'is Jaymes Hodges hot?'
Haha. I dunno. Long blonde hair and it appears he works out. He wasn't ugly I'll give him that. The only thing that really bothered me was his speaking voice was oddly low for having the range for Radames. It made him sound too serious.

'and how did they do the swimming pool thingy...? '
Swimming pool thingy? What?

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They looked different in real life. Jaymes's hair was long enough to have in a ponytail in the museum scenes and his bangs weren't all sticking out. And Melody's hair was straight and pulled back in a ponytail the whole time. I'm guessing the photo isn't too recent but I might be wrong


Edit: what scene is the swimming pool thing? I have no idea what you're talking about...

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Updated On: 1/29/05 at 07:32 PM

I can't go if there's no swimming pool scene...

I was thinking at first that this was a new equity tour of the broadway production. I'm kind of let down now. It's just regional.

My bad. As for the costumes, they remind me of what was used in the Alliance Theatre production in Atlanta, GA.

I was hoping to hear about this; thank you. Thoughts on the overall production design? Sets, lights, how they all worked together? Did it have a different tone than that broadway show?