what is aida about?

[NoDayButToday2]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:13pm

is it any good on broadway? should i go see it? whats the main storyline?

[Ruffian]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:18pm

Emcee

Please

Take this

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:19pm

omg. emergency! calling all MC's!!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:19pm

It's a retelling of Verdi's opera AIDA (which is based on a legend, I believe). In a time of war, the Nubian princess Aida is captured by the Egyptians, but they mistake her for a peasant girl. She is given to the Egyptian princess Amneris to be her handmaid. Aida gradually falls in love with Radames, the Egyptian captain who is betrothed to Amneris. So there's a love triangle involved...and it's all set to a adult contemporary score by Elton John and Tim Rice!

People have different opinions of this one. Here's mine: AIDA is a very bipolar show. At times it's beautiful: the story is beautiful, and some of the more serious moments are very moving. However, they jar with AIDA's other side, the many over-the-top and fluffy scenes and production values; for example, after serious scenes about slavery and war, there's a campy catwalk fashion show. Doesn't work.

For me, the only reason for watching the show was Heather Headley, who was absolutely breathtaking and delivered a powerhouse performance. She had such stage presence, it was like watching a goddess onstage. But she's not in the show anymore, so I don't know if it's worth watching now (I have heard that Deborah Cox is good, though).

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 08:19 PM

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:22pm

i LOVE this show so much! these are my three reasons to see the show:
1) adam
2)adam
3)adam and the rest of the cast. but mostly adam.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:28pm

Luvtheemcee? Have you picked yourself off the floor yet?

The show is basically about what BlueWizard said. I find it's similar to Wicked in the sense that there's a lot of spectacle (the sets, the costumes), pop songs, etc. But it has superior choreography and ensemble, and of course Adam Pascal and Lisa Brescia are worth the price of admission. (And Deborah's not bad at all. Some even call her a superstar.) So yes, you should go see it. There's rush tickets, but I think the best view is in the middle/back of the orchestra or front row mezzanine, so you can fully appreciate the choreography and set design.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:28pm

Emcee has arrived!!!

Okay. Let me preface this by saying that AIDA is my FAVORITE musical. That said, I appologize in advance for my biases, and for any tears that may appear in this post, seeing as I only have five short weeks left with the show.

AIDA, as BlueWizard said, is a retelling of Verdi's opera, but the main difference in the storyline lies in where the story begins. The opera begins with Aida and Radames already in love, while the musical concentrates on HOW they fell in love.

I'll try to give you a short (spoiler-free) synopsis. PM me if you want more than this:
Aida is captured as a slave when Egypt and Nubia are at war. She's captured by Radames, who is engaged to the Pharoah's daughter, Amneris. Radames sees something special in Aida, and decides to give her to Amneris as a gift. Amneris and Aida become close friends, though they still do have a slave-to-mistress relationship. Amneris does not know that Aida is the Nubian Princess, but knows that somehow, Aida can understand everything she is going through. Radames starts out very self-absorbed and downright shallow. As he gets to know Aida, her strength and devotion to her people puts him to shame. He sees in her everything he wishes he could be, and falls in love with her. Amneris ends up sort of in the middle, because of her connection to both of them. There are a few side storylines (that of Aida being reunited with her people, and that of Radames' father trying to poison the Pharoah, for example) but that's the main plot. Like I said, if you want more detail (which will likely result in spoilers) send me a PM.

PLEASE do yourself a favor and go see it before it closes. It's a beautiful love story. The book can be a bit weak at times, but the score is incredible. It's the kind of show that will make you laugh, cry and give you chills. The cast is uber-talented (here's where I plug for my baby... Adam Pascal is a godsend. He's just wonderful). The sets, costumes and lighting are great, too... It's an amazing show. Please go see it... don't miss out.

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 08:28 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:34pm

Side note: For those in the know, between the Rent book and the Aida book, which one's better? (I've got a generous friend who's willing to buy me one or the other for my birthday!)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:35pm

I will say this: the stage musical AIDA is a hell of a lot better than the Verdi opera AIDA (in my opinion). I finally saw the opera a few months ago, and it was god-awful. Just a bunch of unmemorable arias, political intrigue that wasn't very intriguing, and cheesy translated lyrics. So at least Disney's AIDA is actually better than the source material.

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 08:35 PM

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:36pm

get both! lol. i'm not sure. i ADORE the aida book though.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:37pm

Tiff, I own the Aida book and I've read the Rent book, but don't actually own it. I love them both... but get the Aida one. The Rent book is mostly the libretto, but the Aida one has a lot of really neat behind-the-scenes stuff, and it's beautifully done, with GORGEOUS color pictures.

[NoDayButToday2]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:40pm

thanks everyone im gonna see it soon... i just find seeing broadway plays new to me is much more enjoyable if i have an idea of what its about already so i can just sit back and enjoy the talent instead of being sorta confused

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:45pm

"Confusing" is definitely something Aida is not. You'll love it.

I really need to go back.
*runs into a corner, sobbing*

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:46pm

I agree w/ you though, I like knowing what to expect of a show before I see it.

What type of musicals do you tend to like? I take it from your moniker that you're a Rent fan, so you probably like rock operas, in which case you should like Aida. It's sort of a pop-rock opera. (And it contained like, half of the Rent OBC - okay, 2, but who's counting?)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:50pm

2 RENT OBC members, but A LOT of Rent alum.

[NoDayButToday2]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:57pm

wow the more people tell me the more i cant wait to see it... and yes youre right i do absolutely love rent, actually adam pascal was one of the reasons i decided to look into seeing it sometime

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 8:59pm

I went last week.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=247476&dt=072904121735

Adam rocks. He's doing a beautiful job, of course... he's so great.

[Aerial]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:38pm

I'm really looking forward to seeing it next week. I've liked the soundtrack for some time now, but I really knew little of the plot.

I must say though, the RENT book is wonderful, and I wouldn't call it mostly the libretto. The libretto is one of like 4 parts, the rest of which are commentary on the process. I will admit though, I don't think I've seen the AIDA book(unless its the generic Disney on Broadway book).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:40pm

CAST RECORDING!!!

The Aida book is just AIDA, not generic Disney on Broadway. It's so beautiful.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:05pm

yes!! *hugs emcee* don't cry in the corner!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:08pm

*comes out of corner*

*whines*
But it's closing!!!


*crawls back into corner*

[Broadwaygirl4life]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:20pm

Well done luvtheemcee!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:22pm

Ah, you get the point. GO SEE AIDA!!!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:27pm

Not to get into any argument here -- different strokes for different folks, of course -- but Verdi's opera was one of the true operatic masterpieces of the 19th century and one greatest pieces of musical theatre ever written. Verdi crafted some of the most extraordinary melodies every written for it -- "Celeste Aida," The Triumphal March, "Ritorna Vincitor!," the gorgeous "O Patria Mia" and the sublime "O Terra Addio." If you saw an inferior production of it (even the Met's production is rather stale and stodgy and the quality of Verdi singing in this era is vastly inferior to what it was three or four decades ago), listen to some of the legendary recordings from the likes of Leontyne Price or Maria Callas or Renata Tebaldi -- in the hands of these brillant artists, this work emerges as one of transcendent genius and beauty.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 10:29pm

Aida is about making money.