Aida @ The Merchants' Hall

This story of a Nubian princess captured by Egyptians originated from a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, and has been emblazoned upon popular culture since Verdi wrote one of the most popular operas of all time by the same name, spawning films and storybooks to follow. In March of 2000, Elton John and Tim Rice brought the story to Broadway in this rock-musical, which won four Tony Awards.

Aida, captured by Radames – a military captain betrothed to the daughter of the Pharaoh - endears herself to the fashion-loving Egyptian princess, Amneris, by offering to make her a dress such that she would love. Amneris (Emma Anderson) sings, “Dress has always been my strongest suit.” Meanwhile Radames, who longs for nothing more than to return to sea, also falls under Aida’s spell and the two dream of an impossible elopement.

The songs are excellent: Elaborate Lives is quintessential Elton John, with driving piano chords and backbeat, and as Zoser clashes with his son Radames, who wishes to run away from his marriage to Amneris, they sing Like Father Like Son, which packs some punch: “I’m not a chip off anybody’s block.”

Some of this young cast from Spotlites Youth Theatre are still to grow into their voices, and so on the whole the acting is stronger than the singing. The changes in pace in the music don’t really communicate into a driving increase in excitement, although when these up-to-17s dance you feel they really love to move, and it comes across with great charm. Luke Millard, as Radames shows his strength as an actor by the way his initial indifference to this slave girl gradually evolves into affection. Tanya Bridgeman plays Aida with great spirit worthy of a Nubian Princess. [Antony Sammeroff]