Actress Cathy Butler sings like an archangel. In the title role of Aida, a Nubian princess pressed into slavery in ancient Egypt, the Le Moyne College senior lends her sweet voice to such Act 1 numbers as the mellow “The Past is Another Land” and the rousing “The Gods Love Nubia.”
Butler seems to employ circular breathing on her Act 2 showcase, “Easy as Life,” which climaxes with an amazingly powerful, long-held note.
The current CNY Playhouse production of “Aida: The Timeless Love Story” – a 2000 Broadway musical by Elton John and Tim Rice – showcases several strong singers including Butler, Chip Weber as Aida’s lover Radames, Erin Williamson as Egyptian princess Amneris, and Christopher James as Radames’ scheming father, Zoser.
James makes the most of his relatively minor role, acting authoritatively and singing with strength and confidence songs such as “Another Pyramid” and “Like Father, Like Son.”
Williamson – fresh from an impressive acting performance in CNYP’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – shows off her estimable singing talents as Amneris, Aida’s rival for the affections of Radames. Amneris and her handmaidens turn in a rollicking gospel number, “My Strongest Suit” in Act 1, while Williamson seems to shed real tears for Act 2’s “I Know the Truth,” acknowledging Radames’ betrayal.
As Radames – the military man desired by two disparate princesses – Syracuse University student Chip Weber makes his mark with a razor-sharp tenor that cuts to the core on tunes like “Fortune Favors the Brave.” He also sings pitch-perfect duets with Butler such as “Elaborate Lives” and “Written in the Stars.”
The hot harmonies continue in four-part fashion on “Not Me” also including Williamson and Zach Siracuse, who plays the gossipy Nubian slave, Mereb.
With a cast of eight principals and an ensemble of 12, director Liam Fitzpatrick certainly had his hands full just making sure the players didn’t stumble into each other. Shannon Tompkins deft choreography helped keep everyone on track.
Fitzpatrick and CNYP artistic director Dustin Czarny created a remarkably versatile set embellished by scenic artist Morgan O’Donnell Curry. The ensemble players were called upon as scene-shifters to turn the clever pyramid-and-palace design into whatever was needed be it a boudoir, a prison cell or a riverside wharf.
Music director/pianist Abel Searor had a sure hand with the score as performed by his capable pit quartet.
Other technical failings detracted from the otherwise pleasing performances, including awkward lighting cues, microphone malfunctions and occasionally unintelligible dialogue. For instance, while her singing soars, Butler neglected time and again to properly project her dialogue. The same problem also plagued actor Carl Allen Jr. who appeared briefly in Act 2 as Aida’s imprisoned father.
The musical – based on Leontyne Price’s children’s storybook version of Verdi’s opera – premiered on Broadway on March 23, 2000, and ran for 1,852 performances until Sept. 5, 2004. Along the way “Aida” won four Tony Awards as well as a Grammy.
“Aida” runs at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 23, 24 and 25 and July 30, 31 and Aug. 1; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Tickets cost $22 on Thursdays and Sundays, and $25 Fridays and Saturday. A dinner show is schedule following a 6:30 p.m. meal on Saturday, July 25 ($39.95/dinner and show). CNY Playhouse is located near the Macy’s entrance at DeWitt’s ShoppingTown Mall; 885-8960; cnyplayhouse.com.
