Love conquers all, even in ancient Egypt
Bailiwick Chicago presents |
Aida |
Book by L. Woolverton, Robert Falls and D.H. Hwang Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice Directed by Scott Ferguson Music Directed by Jimmy Morehead/Robert Ollis at American Theatre Company, 1909 W. Byron (map) through August 1st | Tickets: $30-$45 | more info |
reviewed by Katy Walsh
Egypt attacks Nubia. Women are abducted. The lead captor and enslaved princess-in-disguise share a passionate connection. Not your ordinary boy-meets-girl scenario, this musical establishes its premise from the first song, “Every Story is a Love Story.” Bailiwick Chicago presents Aida, the Tony Award winning Elton John and Tim Rice musical based on Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian opera of the same name. The Pharaoh’s daughter has been betrothed for nine years. To avoid settling down, her fiancé, Radames, has been pilfering villages along the Nile River. Everything changes when Radames imprisons Aida from Nubia. A plot to kill the Pharaoh, an uprising of Nubian slaves, the plan for a royal wedding – despite this political duress, an epic love story conquers all. An elaborate production set on a small stage, Bailiwick Chicago’s Aida triumphs simply with song, dance and a legendary love story.
In the title role, Rashada Dawan (Aida) is a regal force that commands the stage. Her physical presence is one of stately elegance. Her singing voice is a powerful authority beckoning adoration. The chemistry between Dawan and Brandon Chandler (Radames) is romantic captivation. Their duet “Elaborate Lives” elicits a combination of shivers and mistiness from any optimistic cynic in matters of the heart. Chandler’s vulnerability and Dawan’s strength are an irresistible coupling for an operatic love story. Bringing the humor to countries at war, Adrianna Parson (Amneris) plays the spoiled princess with a fashion obsession. Her ‘I am what I wear. Dress has always been my strongest suit’ attitude is flashy moxie. The contrasting styles, in dress and personality from Dawan, make Parson a standout in a supporting role. Another secondary character hitting the comedic notes is Aaron Holland (Mereb) as an enterprising slave.
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With a cast of twenty on a smaller stage, some of the scenes and transitions seem clunky. It’s trying to do too much with too many. At other moments, like “God Loves Nubia”, the magnitude of the numbers add to the impressive visual and audio spectacle. The large cast also adds to some costume speed bumps. Costume Designer Rick Lurie and a group of fashion designers have gone all out with the ladies for some multiple, extravagant wardrobe changes. Splurging on intricate details for the female cast, it seems the money ran out for the men. The guys are wearing their own personal cargo pants or shorts with distracting striped cummerbunds. And it’s not the slaves that are poorly dressed, it’s the wealthy Egyptians. Despite the big cast and small space, Gary Abbott and Kevin Iega Jeff have choreographed extraordinary dance routines. Whether dancers are rowing the boat, plotting a murder or modeling the latest fashions, the movement is original, tribal and athletic.
Elton John and Tim Rice have created a memorable and poignant score for the blockbuster musical Aida. This Bailiwick Chicago production is a voluptuous woman squeezed into a size eight. She could benefit from a little more room or trimming down but she’s still beautiful!
Rating: ★★★ |
Running Time: Two hours and thirty minutes includes a fifteen minute intermission
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Three Four Words: Fanning himself with Egyptian style, Scott-dds describes the show as “powerful, memorable, extremely entertaining.”
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, American Theatre Company, Bailiwick Chicago, Katy Walsh | Tagged: Aaron Holland, Adrianna Parson, Adriene Barber, Aida Bailiwick Chicago review, American Theatre Company, Andriana Pachella, Bailiwick Chicago, Bob Pries, Brandon Chandler, Chicago theatre review, Chip Payos, Daisica L. Smith, Damien Crim, Daryn Harrell, David Henry Hwang, Desla Epison, Desmond Gray, Elton John, Foster Garvin Jr, Gary Abbott, Giuseppe Verdi, Jimmy Morehead, Karla Victum, Katy Walsh, Kevin Iega Jeff, Kylah Williams, Linda Woolverton, Pierre Clark, Randolph Johnson, Rashada Dawan, Rick Lurie, Robert Falls, Robert Ollis, Scott Ferguson, Tim Rice, Tommy Rivera, Varris Holmes, William Barney | 1 Comment »