Back from Aida

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 7/21/05 at 1:20am

*SPOILERS of what was left out and what not so if you plan to see it and want to be surprised do not read on*


Well I went to Aida tonight at Gateway Playhouse in Patchogue and I had a great time. Though there were minor set changes and blocking it overall was a very great performance by all involved.

Ameneris- Elizabeth Stanley
Wow the pipes this girl had were phenominal. Such a great singer. She was very funny when she needed to be, but at times I felt like she wasn't connected to the audience. Some differences from the broadway production were during Strongest Suit there was no fashion show just her striping down to her bra and panties and going from outfit to outfit while singing. Her I know the truth was so amazing as was her Every story. She was so beautiful and I truly enjoyed her performance.

Radames- Nicholas Belton
Well no one can replace Adam Pascal but Nicholas was very very good. He is also may I say extremely cute. But I digress. His Fortune Favors the Brave was great. Though I thought something was off with him during the beginning of the show, it quickly disappeared and i truly enjoyed his performance. His chemistry with Idara was impecable. Like it made me breathless. Oh and the emotion this boy has, incredible just incredible. Like Father, Like Son, he got so into it and like chucked Darren down, so good! When in the "tomb" he was getting so emotional he couldn't sing, it was so good. I enjoyed his performance, not my Adam but still extremely talented. He will go far.

Aida- Idara Victor
Wow. That is all I can say about her. Wow. This young woman was a powerhouse. Dance of the Robe and Gods Love Nubia were absolutely out of this world. She is absolutly beautiful, though some of her line delivers were different from what I heard from the Broadway version it was still new and fresh. Her chemistry with everyone from Amneris, Radames, Mereb the Nubians, was on par. A breath taking performance, just so incredible.

Mereb- Alexander Cassell
He was really good. He did crack during Not Me Reprise but it wasn't that noticable. He had the audience laughing and was very energized. It was a great performance, he carried himself so well on stage.

Zoser- Darren Matthias
This man has got such a great voice and was super sweet when i talked to him. His chemistry with Nicholas was fantastic and during Like Father Like Son, they really got into it. He really got pushed down and it was so great. Though at times you could see his Evil side slip away from him, but he always brought it back again. He was fantastic and I really enjoyed his performance though I will forever have a soft spot for John Hickok.

Pharaoh- Ernest Marchain
Though he is not on stage alot he had presence. He was very good and his cough/falling ill was very believable. He did a great job!

Nehebka- Lakisha Bowen
She was great. A great dancer and singer. Her solo in the Gods Love Nubia was so clear and crisp. Whenever there were big ensemble numbers I always followed her. A really great singer.

Amonasro- J. Bernard Calloway
I usually never follow the scene between Aida and her father. But tonight I was at full attention and listened so closely to him. He was a phenominal actor and got truly mad at Aida. So mad that he was screaming at her by the end and i loved it. So good.

The Ensemble and kids.
The ensemble in this show is the show and they were phenominal. Bright costumes and sets brought it all together and it was so great. All the scenes with the ensemble were on fire. The dancing was breath taking and the singing fantastic. THe kids (yes the beginning and end was with kids not adults) were very cute and sweet together.


Some changes where, During Written in the Stars, in the Broadway production Radames would rush to kiss Aida before he ran off stage. In this production it wasn't done. i dont Know if he changed it or if a Director did but I was so sad that it wasn't there. Also there was no fashion show which i discussed earlier and no pool of water. Um the beginning and end were changed to kids playing in a sand box structure thing. It was cute but still didn't get the AH HA feeling that the broadway one did, but still cute non the less. The sets and costumes were fantastic and very colorful and interesting.
So I had a fantastic time tonight and if anyone is in the area before Sat. should really come down and see it. You will not be disappointed. BUT things have been changed so if you see it or not you will be seeing a different show from the Broadway version. If you are still reading thanks for sticking it out to read this haha.

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 11:32pm

BUMP for bdwaygirl

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/24/05 at 11:33pm

I'm so torn. I want to see the show again, and I know you loved the Broadway production, so I trust your opinion. But then again, I think tiny changes will break my heart.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 9:59pm

Almost missed your review again! Thanks, TWF!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 10:04pm

Thanks for the great reivew. I wish I could ahve gotten to see it because its not far from my home but i didnt.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 12:31am

how did the children's thing work? how did they go into the opening song and whatnot? thanks.

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 12:49am

"how did the children's thing work? how did they go into the opening song and whatnot? thanks."

Great question. I wondered about that myself. I understand why the fashion show might be eliminated for bugetary reasons. But why are some productions using an opening and closing with kids? Did it still take place in a museum?

Updated On: 7/26/05 at 12:49 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 12:50am

Kids? What? I'm confused, and I don't like it.

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 1:03am

In some regional productions, instead of showing the reincarnated Radames and Aida as adults, they have a little boy and girl meet in the present day. This is supposed to assure us that they found each other in the future?

This seems strange to me considering the fact that in the story, Radames and Amneris grew up together but were hardly soul mates.

Updated On: 7/26/05 at 01:03 AM

[timote316]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 1:07am

I actually think the meeting works better with kids... it adds more of an element of surprise. I mean, you see an actor meet and actress, and then 2 minutes later you see the same actor is Radames.

Plus, it gives chances for kids to get onstage. That's always a good thing!

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:51pm

yup there right. The show starts with two children playing in the sand. Then their kind of staring at each other and Amneris starts Every Story and then leave the stage. Then at the very end they come back out and are playing in the sand. Then the little boy (young Radames) picks up his necklace with the eye on it (that he had given to Aida during the show right before the capture her father) and puts it on the young girl (Aida) and then walk off hand in hand. Not a huge AH HA moment as in the broadway production but still cute nonetheless.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:55pm

That's what I'd assumed - the childhood versions of Aida and Radames. Though, with the adult versions, had you not seen the show before - there was still *some* element of surprise. I always loved that "aha!" moment it gave. *shrug* It's a decent idea, I guess... though in some ways I think it might harbor more confusion. Then again, I just wish it didn't have to change, which I hate.

Updated On: 7/26/05 at 04:55 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:41pm

I've never seen any production of Aida, but love the OBCR, What's the fashion show and how was the opening / closing done on B'way. thanks.
Updated On: 7/26/05 at 05:41 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:42pm

how was the opening / closing down on B'way

What?

And if someone else doesn't get to it before I have time, I'll explain the fashion show to you in about an hour.

Updated On: 7/26/05 at 05:42 PM

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:49pm

Emcee--youo should see it. For all you know, you might enjoy some of the changes. Hence the beauty of theater--one show can be done a million different ways.

[YessicaB]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:50pm

Gateway Playhouse in Patchogue <---------- where is this?
Patchogue? Is that a city? Sorry if it's a stupid question, but I honestly don't have a clue

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:52pm

Long Island.

I think I might, Ebonic. Right now, it's more of an issue of travel concerns, and how logical it is to haul out there - plus, it's an expensive trip. We'll see.

[YessicaB]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:55pm

thanks Emcee

[TabooWickedFan]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 5:58pm

yes Patchogue is a town on Long Island.

the fashion show in the original Broadway show was during My strongest suit. During the part of the song before the instrumental part, the ensemble girls would slowly leave the stage and then during the instrumental part, a long cat-walk would come out and Amneris would stand on the side of it and applaud as each girl would walk down it in an outrageous costume. There were sides to the cat-walk so you couldnt see the whole stage like ----- cat-walk opening------ (the -- being a wall). I hope that kinda makes sense trying to give people a visual. So then the Amneris would walk up the cat-walk and back stage while each girl continuted to come out in all of these gorgeous costumes; some would glow in the dark, some were birds all these crazy things. Then at the end Amneris would come out and sing the very end of the song in a new costume.


alright i hoped that helped somewhat

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:06pm

When does Aida end there?

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:08pm

I understand about the kids...but how long are they onstage during the show?

[mominthecty]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:14pm

Emcee your debate has been decided for you
the Gateway productions limited run closed this past Sat.
Thursday night 42nd St begins.

I'll think of you, thinking the commute is far, when I'm back on the Long Island Rail Road for the 2nd time this week, coming in for Bryant Park Thursday, saw Manuscript Sat.

I'll post my Jeffrey Carlson Love in it's appropriate thread !!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 6:54pm

Damn itttt. I thought I had longer!

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 7:36pm

But regional productions of Aida seem to be everywhere this summer and fall. I'm sure another nearby equity production will pop up soon for anyone in the NY area who is interested.

And here's a link to a photos from a production in Austin Texas that used children in the opening and closing scenes. Actually, it DOES look cute. And I love Amneris's costume.

It's way down at the bottom of the page and to the right.

http://www.zachscott.com/on_our_stage/aida.html

And it appears that one of the people involved with the Austin show, also had a hand in the Gateway production. I suppose that would explain the decision to use tikes in the opening and closing scenes of in both the Texas and Long Island productions.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/26/05 at 7:57pm

How was the "opening/closing" Done on B'way. Sorry, mistyped.