Aida review:
two thumbs up!
by Tina Mata'afa
Samoa News Writer
The cast of "Aida"
received a standing ovation on Thursday night, May 1 when the
musical production opened for a three-night run that ended on
Saturday.
Incredible vocals,
dancing and acting talent from Ruth Ann Tuasivi (Aida), Tracey
Sene (Amneris), Daniel Helsham (Radames) and the entire Nile
Company - brought to life an Egyptian tale that touched the heart
and showcased the vast amount of talent American Samoa has to
offer in the performing arts.
"Aida"
is set around 3,000 B.C., when Egypt was ruled by the mighty
God-king Pharoah who conquered and enslaved neighboring people
to construct his wondrous pyramids.
The musical play,
an Egyptian rendition of Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet,
tells the story of a love that flourished during a time of hate
between an unlikely pair.
The story moves
along through an acclaimed musical score composed by world-famous
singer/songwriter Elton John and Broadway legend Tim Rice, the
same team responsible for the well-loved tunes from Disney's
"The Lion King".
"The composers
really bring the ancient story of 'Aida' to life for today's
audiences by making the music absolutely modern," said "Aida"
director Carmela Gallace in an earlier statement. "You can
hear beautiful Broadway-style ballads, but also reggae, Motown,
Rock & Roll, gospel, and pop."
She said the
score was "like nothing we've tried before" and thanked
colleague Kuki Tuiasosopo for helping the cast master the vocal
parts.
The audience
that attended the first showing was very impressed by the performance.
Following curtain call, viewers rose to their feet to thank cast,
crew and Gallace, for the show.
Costumes, make-up
and a set design true to Egyptian civilization-dominated by hieroglyphics
and the post and lintel architecture created by the Egyptians-viewers
were easily pulled into the days of the Pharaoh, played by Henry
Utoaluga on night one.
Artistic director
of "Aida" was art instructor Regina "Reggie"
Meredith, who also has two years of opera training and helped
to guide the cast through vocal techniques and exercises.
After extensive
research on ancient Egypt, Meredith and her students incorporated
genuine hieroglyphic designs into their stage backdrops, creating
a visual fusion between the ancient and the contemporary.
Gallace spent
most of this semester putting not just one, but three separate
casts through the demanding paces "Aida" requires.
"It was
fun," Tuasivi, who played Aida on Thursday night, told Samoa
News. "It was worth all the hard work."
On Saturday,
she played the Egyptian princess Amneris.
The Nile Company
performed for a packed house on opening night that included Gov.
Togiola Tulafono and First Lady Maryann Tulafono, educators,
parents, friends, families and even an English class from Tafuna
High School.
Tafuna High freshman
Nuupaia Mika, who watched "Aida" with his classmates
for an English 130 assignment, said he was very impressed with
the show and that the student cast has inspired him to pursue
his own love for the arts in college.
"The show
was very nice and I know I want to get into acting and singing
too when I get into college," he told Samoa News.
During her opening
night speech Gallace, who teaches drama at ASCC, said "Aida"
was "by far, the most advanced level we've ever been able
to work at."
"We're able
to give Broadway a run for their money," she said.
She added that
her time at ASCC has been "exciting" because "there
is so much talent in the arts."
"My vision
is to create career opportunities...and take it to the next level,"
Gallace said.
She said that
six college students who were among the "Aida" cast
are well on their way making acting a career and have been selected
to attend the three-week Broadway Theater Project (BTP) to be
held in Florida this summer.
She said for
BTP, ASCC students actors were in competition with many trained
students in the United States.
ASCC's Nubian
Company took the stage Friday night and the Egyptian Company
closed the three-night performance Saturday, May 3.
Gallace thanked
college leaders and her colleagues Namulauulu Dr. Paul Pouesi,
Meredith and Tuiasosopo for their help in making "Aida"
a reality.
All proceeds
from "Aida" will go towards arts scholarships, said
Gallace, who urges the "need to support more of our young
people in the arts."
Reach the
reporter at tina@samoanews.com.
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