Aida Has Captured My Heart

Directed by Scott Ferguson
Music Direction by Robert Ollis and Jimmy Morehead
Choreography by Gary Abbott and Kevin Iega Jeff of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater

Ooh Aida, Aida, Aida! Now I understand how Harpo felt about Sophie in The Color Purple.  Aida, a Bailiwick Chicago production, was something special to see.  It’s been a long time since I was thoroughly immersed, from the beginning, in a relationship with the most wonderful woman in the world.  And Aida is that woman and I’m not ashamed to say that my nose is wide open!  Where can I begin? 

For starters, Aida opens with a rousing, upbeat number where Princess Amneris (Adriana Parson) wrestled my affections as she sings so melodiously that the hairs on the knap of your neck will stand  up at attention.  It is this opening number that sets up everyone in the audience for the kill throughout this play.  It gets better as time goes on and we are introduced to the stars of this production. 

Aida (Rashada Dawan) captivated the audience throughout with her rich, strong, and soulful vocals.  Yes, this play included the music and lyrics of Elton John and Tim Rice, so you would expect that the music would be great.  However, to say that she could sing is an understatement and an insult to this talented songstress.  She had me at the first note and when she was done, somehow I felt cheated.  

Complementing Aida, we are soon introduced to her requited love interest Radames (Brandon Chandler), and he puts together a memorable performance.  This guy could blow, but, not in the way that conjures up Teddy Pendergrass or Gerald Levert but with a spirit that summons the simplest emotions of love and romance that lives in all of us. 

n addition to these three great performers, the ensemble cast carried their weight and made this a very delightful production.  The integrated dance performances by Deeply Rooted Productions and the live music further enhanced and enriched the play.  The stage was full of so much energy that it could have easily filled a much larger stage (and, hopefully it will, as an extension would require relocation of this production).  Aida was very good at tugging at your heart strings as the story reached a very clever conclusion. 

Aida is one production that everyone should see.  If you like good music and like a good romantic story then you will adore Aida.  In fact, you will leave the theater with a renewed dedication to create that special romance in your life.  With Aida, I knoowz there is a God!

Larry D. Wayne
Larry@so-LAZE.com

Aida continues through August 1, 2010 at American Theater Company.