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Aida by Starlight Musical Theatre  Starlight Musical Theatre has kicked off their 61st
season with the San Diego premiere of Disney’s Aida, a multiple-Tony
Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice.
The story, based on Verdi’s opera (and Auguste Mariette’s original plot) is set
in ancient Egypt. The Nubian princess Aida has been captured and enslaved by
the Egyptian General Radames who is unaware of her royalty, yet he sees a
strength in beauty in her that moves him. Rather than sending her to the mines,
he keeps her close by offering Aida as a gift to the Pharaoh’s daughter Amneris
– his betrothed in an arranged marriage that Radames is reluctant to
consummate. A reluctance that becomes all the greater as Radames and Aida fall
in love with each other.
The opening night to the Starlight season started off with a frightening bang. Just a couple minutes into it, one of the stage lights exploded from above and showered down on the stage, fortunately and miraculously not hurting anyone. Director Carlos Mendoza and a remarkable cast made sure everything else went far more smoothly. That cast is led by three excellent leads, with Marja Harmon reprising the role of Aida which she performed in the North American Tour. Both inwardly and outwardly, Marja has that royal strength and beauty that Radames sees, along with humility and genuine love for her people. Todd Fournier is a strong presence as the confident Radames who finds himself falling hard for a woman that could turn him from a future prince into a traitor facing execution. Both have exceptional vocals for the rock opera score and turn in some fantastic duets, culminating in Elaborate Lives. Joining them as the third part of the love triangle is an actress who was in the original Broadway production and later earned a Helen Hayes Award for her performance as Egyptian princess Amneris, Kelli Provart. Kelli has a great comic knack as the ditzy blonde who is obsessed with fashion and looking for My Strongest Suit. The plot will turn her into a sad and wise ruler, which is a bit of a jolt, but she does her best to make the transition believable.
Performs June 14-24, 2007.
~ Cast ~
 Amneris: Kelli ProvartRadames: Todd Fournier Aida: Marja Harmon Mereb: Joseph Almohaya Zoser: Ed Hollingsworth Pharaoh: Jesse MacKinnon Nehebka: Chondra Profit Amonasro: Shaun T. Evans Young Aida: Timyra-Joi Young Radames: Benjamin Shaffer Exotic Dancer: Analilya Calzada Male Ensemble: Zachary N. Bryant Kevane L. Coleman Rocky DeHaro Robby Hartson Anthony Houck Reggie Hutchins Perry Lee Chris J. Martin Kevin Morin Eric von Metzke Female Ensemble: Joyelle Cabato Analilya Calzada Courtney Evans Crystal Flournoy-Frazier Karla Ruth Gilbert Shalonda Hunt Laura Izbicki Marianne Nevitt-Tashchian Nakiya Olds-Edwards Sarah Petrella Director/Choreographer: Carlos Mendoza Production Stage Manager: Debbie Luce Costumer: Sparks Moeller Lighting Designer: Eric Lotze Sound Designer: Steve Stopper & the Stopper Group Musical Director and Conductor: Parmer Fuller |
Local actors Ed Hollingsworth and Shaun T. Evans
do impressive work as rival kings, the fathers of the two lovers who could
never accept such a union. Joseph Almohaya cuts to the heart of the
conflict between nations as the young Nubian slave who recognizes Aida and
pleads with her to lead them out of slavery, his song How I Know You
definitely being one of the best written in the score. The vocally rich ensemble, led by a
captivating Chondra Profit, turn the Act One closer The Gods Love
Nubia into a rousing call to arms.