AIDA REVIEW
As I approached Times Square, my excitement peaked. I’ve been waiting to
see a Broadway show for my whole life, so you can just imagine my obsessions and
sheer joy at this arrival. I wasn’t dissappointed . . .
The Palace Theatre is a comfy little theatre in the middle of Times Square. I
found my seat, and read through the Playbill and my souvenir program and when the
curtain raised, well, let’s just say that I didn’t blink for more than two hours . . .
Heather Headley
Adam Pascal
Sherie René Scott
The rest of the supporting cast is just as great. Damian Perkins and Schele Williams (Mereb and Nehebka), even though they have small songs, they have
magnificent voices and have just as powerful performances.
The lighting for Aïda is fabulous. Natasha Katz won the Tony deservingly for her lighting skills in Aïda. In every pulsating beat of each song, a new look is
given to the stage. The best lighting work were for the songs “Every Story is a Love Story/Fortune Favors the Brave” and “Another Pyramid.”
The set design is just as fabulous. The pool scene is unbelieveable and
recieved applause from our audience. Bob Crowley designed the sets and won the
Tony, also deservingly, for his work on Aïda. He also designed the costumes,
which were great, and I think that they were just as good as Kiss Me Kate’s and The
Green Bird’s costumes.
Overall, Aïda is a fabulous show that is only beaten by The Lion King. This
is one of the best shows on Broadway. Some people say that Disney is buying
Broadway out. I don’t think they are, but if they’re going to produce fabulous
shows, then BRING IT ON! I think Aïda should have at least been nominated for
Best Musical, it’s surely a million times better than The Dead, The Wild Party, and
even Swing! I give it 6 out of 6 fish because:
1. The acting from all parts were astounding.
Aida Review ©2000 Taylor Young
This review of Aida is based on the performance at New York City's Palace Theatre at 8:00 PM on Friday, September 22, 2000. The cast of this performance was as follows (in order of appearance):
Amneris: Sherie René Scott
Click HERE for a synopsis of Aida
I finally had the opportunity to go to New York City and jumped at it. I
obviously wouldn’t be able to see The Lion King, so I knew that I would see the
fabulous Heather Headley in Aïda.
Heather Headley is the best everything on Broadway. Her voice surpasses
everyone else, and yes, even Audra McDonald. Her performance is flawless and
powerful. If she wasn’t Aïda, the show would flop. The great thing about Heather
is that she has one of those few voices that sound just as perfect as on a recording.
Her voice was magnificent and unbelievable in every song, but especially in “Easy
as Life.” She brings a much needed passion to Aïda and further, to Broadway.
Adam Pascal was not in the performance that I saw, but I know his performance would be just as good as the one in Rent. From what I hear on the
recording, he brings a rough and gentle edge to Radames . . . and he shows us this
through his wonderful voice. Too bad he wasn’t present for that performance.
Sherie René Scott is wonderful and delightful. She brings a glorious comical
edge to the show. She is fabulous as Amneris, and a supreme voice to boot! In the whimsical song “My Strongest Suit,” she shows Amneris’ humerous side, but also her longing for love and her ‘non-comleteness.’ Sherie is great! JUST GREAT!
2. The music was great...Elton John and Tim Rice are magnificent.
3. The book for Aida is very good. It flows drama and humor together quite nicely.
4. The characters were all 3-Demensional and you could see that they had emotions, problems, etc.
5. The artistic development was absolutely spectacular...lights, sound, sets, and costumes were all great.
6. The plot kept you up on your set and kept you excited for what is coming next!
~Rafiki
Notes On This Review
Radames: Matt Bogart (Adam Pascal was out)
Aida: Heather Headley
Mereb: Damian Perkins
Zoser: John Hickok
Pharaoh: Daniel Oreskes
Nehebka: Schele Williams
Amonasro: Tyrees Allen
Click HERE to find more reviews for Aida
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