AIDA by Anna
As soon as I read the study guide for this performance I knew that I was going to enjoy Aida a lot. I love Broadway musicals so I knew that I would enjoy this play. The storyline matched the play very well and was what I expected, except for when you’re watching the actual play instead of just reading it, it’s so much more emotional. It’s amazing how into the play you get and the emotions that arise in you. That also goes for my first impressions. I was super excited for the play before it started and as soon as it starts that emotion just keeps building up and I didn’t want the play to end. I think the talent that these actors and actresses have just blows you away and leaves you in awe because of what they can do.
My favorite aspect of the performance was how everything got complicated but love prevails over all and everything worked out for the best. How Radames loves Aida, and Aida loves Radames but her father won’t allow it and she’s also friends with Amneris, who loves Radames. The whole thing is just a confusing circle of love and that’s what keeps the audience on the edges of their chairs in suspense. You don’t know what’s going to happen next or how it’s going to turn out in the end. My least favorite aspects of the performance was the very beginning and end. I was confused in the very beginning how it started out with people at a museum but then at the end it becomes clear because they repeat the same scene again but a little bit different. At the end, the intensity is high when Radames and Aida are buried together in the tomb and then the museum scene continues and your emotions just start to die down from there. I think it would have been cool to just end it when they got buried together so the emotion was still strong. I understand, thought, why they have that last scene to show reincarnation and how they were together in the next life.
Describing the performance to someone who has never heard of the show would be hard because I think the only way to truly understand a musical with so much detail is to experience it yourself. When I came back to school and people asked how Aida was all I could say was that it was amazing. I don’t even think words can describe how amazing it was and I don’t think that people understand that until they see it. When explaining the play I would mention that it’s a Broadway musical that incorporates love, jealousy, patriotism, fate, treason, determinations, and loyalty. I would also explain the storyline, plot and setting of the play.
What I learned from this performance was that when things get tough and you have to choose between this or that, love usually always comes out on top of everything. I think Aida alone just teaches you so much: to be loyal to your country, listen to your heart, put others first, take leadership, and many others. Even though I learned a lot from the performance, I learned even more from talking to the actual performers. This was my favorite part of the whole night, was talking to the three main characters from Aida. They were just so real and they seemed like they actually enjoyed talking to us. They had a very busy day and were tired yet they didn’t rush when talking to us. One of the things I learned about the performing arts was that it shares the same principles of any other career out there. They mentioned that preparation was probably the most important of them all in any career that you choose to pursue. They also mentioned dedication, commitment, practice, and many others that are the same for any job that you are interested in. I also learned that doing a Broadway musical and having acting as a career in general isn’t just a walk in the park, and that it’s actually harder than most jobs. They have to constantly pay for vocal, dance, and acting lessons. Also, when they’re on the job, if they choose not to hit a certain note or miss it multiple times in a row, that they’ll actually get docked off their paycheck. I had no idea that was the case. They also mentioned how it’s a lot of fun and they have a family environment but when it comes down to business its very precise and serious but still fun. I also learned that when they’re on tout they get a little time to go home and visit loved ones. I had a lot of respect for their loved ones who let their sons, daughters, wives, or husbands pursue this career and support them even though they don’t get to seee them all the time. Another thing I learned was that all the singing is real and live, and that they never lip sync. They did give some examples of when they do lip sync though, like when they have a long dance routine that they’re supposed to be singing also, its hard to keep your vocals loud and accurate during the whole thing because you’re running out of breath from dancing. In those cases they prerecord the song and then lip sync while they’re dancing, but they never had to do that in Aida.
From this experience, I definitely learned a couple of things about myself. I learned that I’m definitely not near as strong as Aida is. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with all the stuff that she went through. Through it all though, she never gave up, she kept going and knew that is was her job to help her people and sort everything out. I also learned that there’s no way I could ever pursue the performing arts if I wanted to, because of how hard it is and how much talent is necessary for it. I just don’t think people realize how difficult it actually is. I have great respect for these performers that do this as a career and look forward to seeing our next performance.
My favorite aspect of the performance was how everything got complicated but love prevails over all and everything worked out for the best. How Radames loves Aida, and Aida loves Radames but her father won’t allow it and she’s also friends with Amneris, who loves Radames. The whole thing is just a confusing circle of love and that’s what keeps the audience on the edges of their chairs in suspense. You don’t know what’s going to happen next or how it’s going to turn out in the end. My least favorite aspects of the performance was the very beginning and end. I was confused in the very beginning how it started out with people at a museum but then at the end it becomes clear because they repeat the same scene again but a little bit different. At the end, the intensity is high when Radames and Aida are buried together in the tomb and then the museum scene continues and your emotions just start to die down from there. I think it would have been cool to just end it when they got buried together so the emotion was still strong. I understand, thought, why they have that last scene to show reincarnation and how they were together in the next life.
Describing the performance to someone who has never heard of the show would be hard because I think the only way to truly understand a musical with so much detail is to experience it yourself. When I came back to school and people asked how Aida was all I could say was that it was amazing. I don’t even think words can describe how amazing it was and I don’t think that people understand that until they see it. When explaining the play I would mention that it’s a Broadway musical that incorporates love, jealousy, patriotism, fate, treason, determinations, and loyalty. I would also explain the storyline, plot and setting of the play.
What I learned from this performance was that when things get tough and you have to choose between this or that, love usually always comes out on top of everything. I think Aida alone just teaches you so much: to be loyal to your country, listen to your heart, put others first, take leadership, and many others. Even though I learned a lot from the performance, I learned even more from talking to the actual performers. This was my favorite part of the whole night, was talking to the three main characters from Aida. They were just so real and they seemed like they actually enjoyed talking to us. They had a very busy day and were tired yet they didn’t rush when talking to us. One of the things I learned about the performing arts was that it shares the same principles of any other career out there. They mentioned that preparation was probably the most important of them all in any career that you choose to pursue. They also mentioned dedication, commitment, practice, and many others that are the same for any job that you are interested in. I also learned that doing a Broadway musical and having acting as a career in general isn’t just a walk in the park, and that it’s actually harder than most jobs. They have to constantly pay for vocal, dance, and acting lessons. Also, when they’re on the job, if they choose not to hit a certain note or miss it multiple times in a row, that they’ll actually get docked off their paycheck. I had no idea that was the case. They also mentioned how it’s a lot of fun and they have a family environment but when it comes down to business its very precise and serious but still fun. I also learned that when they’re on tout they get a little time to go home and visit loved ones. I had a lot of respect for their loved ones who let their sons, daughters, wives, or husbands pursue this career and support them even though they don’t get to seee them all the time. Another thing I learned was that all the singing is real and live, and that they never lip sync. They did give some examples of when they do lip sync though, like when they have a long dance routine that they’re supposed to be singing also, its hard to keep your vocals loud and accurate during the whole thing because you’re running out of breath from dancing. In those cases they prerecord the song and then lip sync while they’re dancing, but they never had to do that in Aida.
From this experience, I definitely learned a couple of things about myself. I learned that I’m definitely not near as strong as Aida is. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with all the stuff that she went through. Through it all though, she never gave up, she kept going and knew that is was her job to help her people and sort everything out. I also learned that there’s no way I could ever pursue the performing arts if I wanted to, because of how hard it is and how much talent is necessary for it. I just don’t think people realize how difficult it actually is. I have great respect for these performers that do this as a career and look forward to seeing our next performance.
posted by ISC On Stage @ 2:39 PM
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