Should I see Aida?
Should I see Aida?
#0Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:35pmOk, so Aida is gonna be playing in a theater a couple hours from where I live, and I just wanted some opinions as to whether I should make the effort to see it or not. I pretty much have no idea what it's about, other than Egypt, but I'm open to just about anything on the stage...any thoughts?
#1re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:38pm
I'm highly opposed to the idea of community theatre doing the show, just because visually, the Broadway production was so stunning. And I know that nothing is going to live up to it, really. Call me elitist, it's true.
BUT. AIDA is my favorite musical. It's flawed, yes, but I fell in love. The score was, hands down, its strongest point. And like I said, physically, it was incredible to look at. But, some community productions are trying to re-create the Disney look, and some are giving it their own spin. So, I have no idea what to say there. It might look amazing, or it might look horrid. I just... eh, I'm not too happy about the whole idea, though I digress.
Other than Egypt - AIDA is a love story. A love triangle, to be exact. Aida is a Nubian princess, though she conceals this fact, as she has been captured by Radames, the Egyptian captain. Their countries are at war, and she is now a slave. Radames is engaged Amneris, heiress to the Egyptian throne, and gives Aida to Amneris as a gift. Aida represents everything Radames wishes he could be - she's strong, dignified and extremely faithful to her people. He is immediately intrigued by her, and eventually falls in love.
I miss it so much. I vote yes.
#2re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:39pmI enjoyed it. Of course, it was the first show I ever saw on Broadway so there's always that special attachment
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#3re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:45pmI would love to see it at the Beck Center in Lakewood, OH. Colleen Longshaw is playing Aida and she is a true talent. Saw her in Godspell at Kent State's Porthouse Theatre last summer and she toured with NETwork's Kiss Me, Kate.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#4re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:47pm
What Emcee said 
Seriously, I walked into the show knowing literally nothing about it and was in tears by the show's finnish
#5re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:48pm
This won't tell you much in the way of what it's about, etc, but since I'm plugging the show, this is probably the biggest outpouring of love I've ever shown for it. It's shortish, but you can see how much it had me hooked:
Closing night.
#6re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:50pmHmm, well, I guess it's settled. Tickets aren't too expensive, and it's only a couple hours drive, so I guess I'll be going to see it. Thanks!
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#7re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:50pm
two words: HECK YES!
oh no! not the closing night pictures! *breaks into a sobbing fit*
#9re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:56pmargh. Now I'm all sad.
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#10re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:58pm*hugs emcee* don't be sad!
#11re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 7:58pmI read through the link I posted. Gosh, I love masochism.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
mominthecty
Stand-by Joined: 9/4/04
#13re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:20pmI, along with 14 others are going to see the Gateway Playhouse production (Suffolk County Long Island) this Wed night. Half of us have seen Aida on Broadway, half not. It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks. As a lover of the show I couldn't resist seeing it one more time, especially when it's only 15 minutes from my house!
#14re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:21pmPost after you see it; I'm interested in how it compares. And if it's good, I may have to go out there to see it. It's been almost a year.
#15re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:31pmgoing on Wed. I heard from a friend who went to see it at Gateway last night that the actress playing Aida was phenominal. But she also said no fashion show in Strongest Suit. So i will come back with a full review on Wed.
ponine24601
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/03
#16re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:35pm
i saw the gateway production and it was WONDERFUL! i was disappointed that there wasn't a fashion show during My Strongest Suit, but the song still flowed well. The principle cast members were phenominal, especially the woman playing Aida. Man that girl could sing!
overall, for a regional production, i was very impressed.
#17re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:35pmWell, differences like that are to be expected. Since it closed on Broadway, I've been wrestling with what to do when productions came up, whether they be tours or regional productions - I don't know if I want to see it again because I love it so much, or if I want to have last September be the last time. That way, I'll remember it as it was. I want the last time I ever see it to have been perfect.
#18re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:42pmYes, all in all, you should see it.
2. Great buckets of Spoffnor, they're going to sing!
3. "I love shrubs that are historical." -Johnny and The Sprites
4. "We're not singing it to you, we're singing it for us." -Rosario Dawson, about La Vie Boheme
5. "The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours." -The History Boys
6. "Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on." -The History Boys
TennesseeTwang
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/05
#19re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:57pm
The Ogunquit Maine production that's currently running was directed by Schele Williams a cast member who was with the OBC for the full run.
I also noticed that a couple of regional productions like the one at Gateway in LI and a recent production in Austin Texas, have altered the beginning and ending scenes to use Children as the reincarnated present-day Aida and Radames. I wonder if that idea originated independently in those two different productions, and more importantly, is it effective?
I can't picture anything being more effective than the opening and closing scenes used in the Broadway production.
#20re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 8:59pmI wish I could get up to see that one - Schele is fantastic!
Meagz
Swing Joined: 7/6/05
#21re: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:00pmI have to say that Aida isn't my favourite show, but I did enjoy myself somewhat when I saw it in Pasadena a few months ago. I think the most important thing is that the actors are strong singers. The performance I saw, the actors playing Radames and his father were absolutely horrid singers, which of course soured my enjoyment. I also found the music to sound slightly pop-ish, but still enjoyable. If the tickets aren't too expensive, I'd say go for it.
#22Updated: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 1:35amOK, I'm the one who originated this message, so I thought I would come back after having seen the show. There may be some spoilers mixed in with this message, but I'll try to avoid them as much as possible. First of all, Emcee was right. This show is amazing, even though I don't think that word fully does it justice. So anyhow, while I don't know about the Broadway set design, I do know that what I experienced tonight seriously made me feel like I was in Egypt. It was incredible and the set designers deserve a standing ovation on their own. Second, the fashion show in My Strongest Suit was hysterical, and I wanted to hug the writer whenever Amneris was giving her lines about Radames needing a cartographer to explore the woman's body. So, for lack of going on too long, and plus because I'm exhausted, I'll end here, just noting that, once again, the show, overall, was amazing, the set was amazing X 2, and the cast, which I failed to mention earlier, was amazing X 3 plus infinity. Night all.
#23Updated: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 2:34amdoes anyone know of any productions in the northern illinois/wisconsin area...not too far from Chicago?? i really want to see the show..but can't seem to find any productions near me!
minimel8817
Understudy Joined: 9/29/04
#24Updated: Should I see Aida?
Posted: 7/24/05 at 10:38amsee it, trust me, you'll be pleasantly suprised. I was expecting it to me just another good show i've seen, but i really loved the music and scenery and story, everything
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