I saw Aida the night before last. The Elton John Aida, just to clarify.
What did you think of it?
I could definitely tell the music was by Elton John. The backgrounds were pretty simple. My favorite was the swimming pool scene with the people ‘swimming’ in the back. Now that’s cool. Amneris was stunning and I loved her songs.
Overall, though, it wasn’t nearly the overwhelming experience that Les Miserables or Phantom was.
So please fill me in - what’d you think?
Tibs.
I saw it a couple of years ago. It was good…in a Disneyfied sort of way. Definitely fun, and I even have the soundtrack and like listening to it, a bit campy at times (the whole “Stronger Suit” sequence), but I don’t think of it as a musical-musical. Not exactly on par with Les Mis. When I saw Chicago the following year, I was a lot more impressed.
On the whole, fun and cool, (I also thought the bathhouse scene was good, with the mist and all), but I don’t know if I’d reccomend it to someone just visiting New York, only able to see one musical. Sort of a fun detour in the world of musicals, but not la creme de la creme.
Also I found it a bit strange that everyone playing the Egyptians was lily white. I mean, I know you should cast based on talent, but it was unnerving. The clothing was kind of off, too, so it sort of seemed like it was Ancient Eygypt for the Masses, that type of thing.
I completely agree with you, Zoggie. Not on par with things like Phantom and Les Mis.
The whole thing reminded me a little of …well, what Jesus Christ Superstar is to the story of Christ - that’s what Elton’s Aida was to the opera. If that makes sense.
Tibs.