Thoughts on Aida

I saw it when it was on tour in 2005 and I loved it. It was also my senior musical in High School.

I liked the "rock concert" Aida on Broadway with Bob Crowley's pseudo-modern Egyptian inspired sets and costumes. That made the show work for me. Every other time I've seen the show done regionally with more traditional sets and classic Egyptian garb it always felt like the design didn't support the concept and so the show seemed completely lost and uninspired.

Updated On: 11/20/10 at 11:47 PM

This is one of my favorite shows, and I have no shame about that. I know it's deeply flawed, but I loved it so, so much. It was the first show I ever loved, and even knowing that if I had seen it as an adult I might have liked it less, I will always love it for that. And even with perspective gained, I still think the score kicks ass, the recording is beautiful.

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Updated On: 11/21/10 at 11:58 PM

I think it's probably also true that I didn't like the production I saw because few of the people could sing it, and the one person who could (the Aida, who had a marvelous, very Heather Headley voice) couldn't act her way out of a bag.

Adamgreer, I'm surprised you say that about Aida vs. Billy Elliot. Though Billy's score is flawed, I was very moved by Billy as a whole, and especially by the music in context. Aida didn't move me at all. It was almost laughable and silly. The score for Aida is mostly very boring to me, especially in the second act, when things sort of just fell off the edge, I thought.

It seems that I may just be having trouble deciding the problems in the show vs. the problems in the production.

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I have to admit I only went to see Aida on Broadway because I was a huge fan of Adam Pascal from RENT.

My mom and I both loved it SO much more than RENT.

Completely missed the Broadway run, but initially heard bits and pieces of a few songs..."Elaborate Lives," "Dance of The Robe." But just didn't really get into it at first. Later, I heard "Elaborate Lives" in its entirety and really liked it...so I bought the whole recording on iTunes.

The one live production I've seen wasn't great. The non-Equity tour with one cheap set, inconsistent design, a canned orchestra augmented by one keyboard player, and a very hit-or-miss cast. The only two bright spots...the dancing was excellent at times and the actress playing Aida.

But, for all of its flaws, the show had me sobbing at the end of "The Gods Love Nubia" and again at the end of Act II.

I'd definitely love to see a really quality production with a better cast.

It wasn't terrible but it sure wasn't great. I too saw the original cast and for me Sherie Rene Scott was the standout - probably because My Strongest Suit was so much fun. The comment about Zoser's cheesy songs is right on the money. And although I'm an Adam Pascal fan Radames was not his best role. Heather Headley was terrific but I didn't connect with her songs.

I agree Elton John's score is better than his effort for Billy Elliot - but that's not saying much. Billy Elliot is wonderful DESPITE the score.

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I saw it several times during it's pre=-Broadway run and enjoyed it. I thought the critics and Tony Nominators were unjustly vicious- It absolutely would have won "Best Musical" had they nominated it. Headley's performance was spectacular and the design of the production was amazing- one of (if not the) most beautiful shows I've ever seen. I still recall the lights going up on the swimming pool scene and the audience gasping at it.

This was the first show I saw on Broadway, so it holds a special place for me :)
Simone, in the title role, was a tad underwhelming vocally, but she had the regal, princess-in-disguise aspect of the character nailed.
Brantley was right when he called it "a Disney cartoon pretending to be a Broadway musical," but that was mainly the fault of the book. Regardless, I was still moved by the story. I'm not ashamed to say the score is one of my all-time favorites, and it remains of the best-designed shows I've ever seen.

As an opera lover I felt it was a piece of crap. I actually walked out on it during the stupid fashion sequence.

Giuseppi Verdi must still be rolling in his grave over that one!

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Yes Dolly, just as Metastasio rolled in his grave when Verdi took his plot and set it to music.

Seen better. Seen worse. At least they didn't entirely wimp out on the ending.

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