Blog: Don’t Miss 'Aida' at High Street Arts Center! You Won't Be Disappointed.

There’s a gem of a small theater in historic downtown Moorpark that I’ve recently discovered. High Street Arts Center is a community theater that produces popular musicals and plays. Located just 20 minutes from Agoura Hills, off the 23 freeway, the aisles are wide, every seat is a good one and adult tickets are only $20.

This past Saturday night my husband and I had the pleasure of seeing their latest production, Aida. We went to support Nick Newkirk, recreation supervisor for the City of Agoura Hills and Agoura High alum. Not only is he the musical director of the show, but he is also starring as one of the leads. 

The only other thing I knew about this show prior to arriving at the theater was that the music and lyrics were written by Elton John and Tim Rice (of The Lion King and Billy Elliott fame). It was produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions in 2000 and won four Tony awards.

This is a show not to be missed! It has something for everyone: treachery, love triangle, divided loyalties, betrayal, humor, passion, tragedy. And the songs are beautiful.

The story of “Aida” is classic Romeo and Juliet but with an Egyptian flavor. In ancient times, Egypt is at war with Nubia, a fictitious African country which borders its lands. Each country’s soldiers battle each other and capture men and women who are forced into slavery. 

The Pharaoh sends Radames, his best army captain (played by Newkirk) to Nubia and, unbeknownst to him, he captures the princess of Nubia, Aida (played by Darrienne Lissette). Aida does not act like a slave should (she answers him defiantly, doesn’t cower) and this intrigues Radames.

Meanwhile, back in Egypt, Radames’ father, Zoser (played by John Tedrick), who has been grooming Rademes to marry the Pharaoh’s daughter, is plotting to kill the Pharaoh and install his son on the throne so he can secure his own power. Radames and the Princess Amneris (played by Melissa Martinez) have known each other since childhood and have been engaged for nine years. She truly loves him. When Radames arrives home, he gives Aida to Amneris as a gift. But he can’t stop thinking about her and, despite their backgrounds and feuding countries, they fall in love. 

I’m not going to reveal more so as not to spoil the twist and turns in all the relationships; just remember that it’s very similar to Romeo and Juliet.

This show is full of high drama, a little levity and much singing. And the cast is up to all the challenges. Starting with Ms. Lissette as Aida. Her range of vocals is remarkable. She has a number of intense solos and you can feel her pain when she must choose between her duties as a Nubian princess and a forbidden love.  Mr. Newkirk also has an impressive voice and he, too, has the acting chops to convey strong emotions. By the end of the show he has evolved from a killing machine just caring about his next adventure to a sensitive and loving man, also wanting to do the right thing, even it is means personal sacrifice and a lifetime of unhappiness.

Princess Amneris starts out two-dimensional. At first she is a classic spoiled rich girl and you think she will be the butt of all the jokes. But Ms. Martinez gives her depth and we see her mature into a capable and strong leader of her people.  Even though her “man done her wrong,” she shows compassion; as much as she can given the times she lives in.

The rest of the cast is in fine voice and there are also a few well-choreographed dance numbers. The scenery changes are effective and appropriate. Minimal costume changes, but then, how many clothes did slaves have back then? 

The change from one scene to the next flows smoothly. There are some gaps in the story, though. You just know something else happened that we aren’t told about. You feel this more in the second act than in the first. But it’s not the fault of this production; it’s how the musical was created. The show is based on Verde’s four-act opera, so you understand a lot had to have been cut to get the running time down to the usual 2 ½ hours.

 I recommend seeing this show. While there were some children in the audience, I wouldn’t recommend to under age 14. It did not get what we think of as “the Disney treatment” when adapted (as opposed to The Little Mermaid, which changed Hans Christian Anderson’s original ending to make it happily ever after).

Aida is playing now through March 17, 2013: Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Visit the website at www.highstreetartscenter.com or call 805-529-8700 for tickets. Stay a few minutes after it ends and meet the cast outside.