AIDA A musical in 2 acts: Music by: Elton John; Lyrics by: Tim Rice; Book by: Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang Palace Theatre, Broadway - 23 March, 2000 - September 5, 2004 (1,852 perfs) STORY: In the Egyptian Wing of a major museum, we find a group of contemporary museum-goers admiring artifacts of a time long ago. The crowd is gathered around the most mysterious of the objects; an ancient burial chamber. Soon, two of visitors, a very beautiful man and woman, begin to move toward the burial chamber as if they know of its secrets or as if they have seen it somewhere before. The man is Radames; the woman Aida. Their eyes meet as the powerful voice of Amneris explains that (“Every Story is a Love Story”) leaving the stage empty, with the exception of the two lovers, allowing their tale to unfold. Sails fly in as handsome Egyptian soldiers are discovered loading the riches and spoils of war onto the deck of their ship. They celebrate their courage, along with their captain, Radames. Their celebration is interrupted by the entrance of the enchanting Princess Aida, and her handmaidens, as they are forced onto the ship. They have been captured as slaves. As Aida is put into shackles, she snatches a soldier’s sword to challenge Radames. Radames, not knowing that she is a princess, recognises something special in Aida. He begins to give into his feelings for her and under the guise of seeing her as potentially dangerous, Radames escorts Aida to his personal berth in the ship’s lower quarters. Radames removes the manacles from Aida and boastfully gives her instructions in her new role as his slave. Aida, once again demonstrating herself as a free-thinker, rejects Radames’ perspective of war, reminding him that the Egyptians invaded her Nubian homeland robbing her people of their culture. Aida reveals a longing for her life of freedom as she contemplates her past, and the past of her people. Soon, much to her dismay, Aida finds herself in Egypt as the ship docks and the slaves are unloaded. Radames is greeted and congratulated on his bountiful return to Egypt by Mereb, his young servant, and Zoser, his father (who also happens to be the Chief Minister). Zoser, upon seeing the slave women, including Aida, suggests that they be sent to the deadly copper mines. Radames, recalling his feelings for Aida, has another idea. The women’s deaths will be spared by using them in the harvest with a special assignment for Aida; she will be a gift for the Princess of Egypt, Amneris. As Mereb takes Aida to the Princess, Zoser is left to enlist Radames’ help in his dark and evil plan. Zoser explains that the Pharaoh’s serious illness will force Radames to marry Princess Amneris sooner than he had planned, making Radames the King of Egypt. Zoser leaves Radames, and conducts a meeting with the ministers of Egypt where he confesses his plan to poison the Pharaoh. In a dance sequence, at a climactic moment in the meeting, a traitor is suspected among the ministers. Zoser orders the traitor’s death and finalises his plan for the rise of Radames. The beautiful Aida appears in the costume of a Palace Slave, as Mereb prepares her to meet the Princess. He admits to Aida that he recognises her as the Nubian Princess. Mereb and Aida form a bond as she asks him to keep her secret. They both concede that if the Egyptians were to discover her real identity, she would be put to death. Mereb also informs Aida that the Princess Amneris is the betrothed of Radames. We meet self-consumed Princess Amneris as she finishes her daily swim and beauty treatment, while complaining that her future husband has yet to visit her. To soften her mood, Mereb presents Aida to Amneris as a gift from Radames. At first, Amneris dismisses Aida as just another handmaiden, but Aida’s quick thinking and regal manner, allows Amneris to reconsider. Aida cinches the deal when she offers to make new clothing for Amneris, feeding her ego and placing her in close contact with the Princess. As Mereb leads Aida to the sewing room. The Pharaoh’s private banquet room is ablaze with activity. Radames, beginning to show his feelings for Aida, questions Mereb about the Nubian princess, just as Princess Amneris enters to greet him. To her
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