Enchantment passing through West Point

Touring 'Aida' comes to town

By Deborah Medenbach

February 09, 2007

West Point's Eisenhower Hall will be awash with royalty this weekend.

A Nubian princess, an Egyptian princess and the soldier they both love will hash out their love triangle with soaring melodies and nefarious subplots.

Sound familiar? If you're an opera buff, you'll recognize the story line from Verdi's 1869 opera "Aida," first sung in French prose in the Italian Theater of Cairo.

But the story line is the only similarity between this "Aida" and Verdi's. This production of "Aida," created by Elton John and Tim Rice for Disney, is more "popera" than opera.

The show took six years to write as opposed to Verdi's one, but in 2000 it garnered numerous Tony Awards on Broadway. "Aida" added to Disney's already successful theater ventures "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast." The Broadway show closed in 2004 after 1,852 performances, placing it among the longest-running shows in Broadway history.

Big League Theatricals acquired the rights from Disney in 2005 to adapt the show into a touring production, which launched last year after reworking the choreography to include more modern dance. Many of the cast members are drawn from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in New York, and the new version highlights their brilliant dance abilities.

John's melodies bring energy to the story, with pop music tempos and lush harmonies.

"'Aida' is not opera. It's truly a pop musical with spoken dialogue and all kinds of recognizable song types: urban-based rhythm and blues, gospel inspired songs, ballads and, of course, 'Crocodile Rock' songs," John explains in the production's press kit.

Like the first "Aida," it's not about the lyrics. (Anyone remember Verdi's lyricist, Camille du Locle? Didn't think so.)

The lyrics by Rice squander the mature story theme in the song "My Strongest Suit" with junior-high lyrics such as "Manners, charm, they're no way to impress. So forget the inner me, observe the outer. I am what I wear and how I dress."

Rice reclaims audience favor in "The Gods Love Nubia," which echoes the uplifting values found at a civil rights march or church revival meeting.

Leah Allers, the actor who plays the Egyptian princess Amneris, loves the show's range from campy comedy to unrequited love stories.

"It's a fun role. 'My Strongest Suit' gives me a chance to channel my inner goofball. But the character also grows and I'm playing a role with a variety of emotions," Allers says. "Amneris deepens into an altruistic person by the end of the show."

Though "My Strongest Suit" has been cited as John's excuse to do a vacuous "Crocodile Rock" fashion show, Allers says audiences roar with laughter through its broad comedy while enjoying the beautiful costumes designed by Emilio Sosa.

"To me, it's a highlight of the show. It's a girl's dream. What's not to like? The song features glittering clothing that's fantastic to wear," Allers says. "I'm a 'girly girl' in real life, so this is a fantasy world."

"Aida" is directed by Daniel Stewart, who directed the U.S. tour of "Tommy" as well as its international tour across Europe, Asia and South America. The show also features Marja Harmon as Aida and Casey Elliot as Radames.

"I want our audience to have laughed and cried and felt the whole gamut of emotions by the time they leave," Allers says. "I want them to come away having been moved and gone through a journey that makes them look at their own life."