Aida (Act 1)

Well, hello. This week I am going to write about the progress in the school play, the story outline, and some other fun stuff. If you didn't know already, this year I am the male lead (Radames) in our school play Aida. Now you are probably thinking, "How'd you swing that?" But the truth is theater is a big part of my life. Anyway, this blog will basically just inform you about the progress and story of Aida.

So, I will first summarize to you the story. Radames (Myself) is the Egyptian captain for the Pharaoh's army. While I am off mapping out Nubia, a country that Egypt was at war with at the time, we capture some Nubian women off the shore of the Nile River, and we take them with us back to Egypt as slaves. I do notice Aida (Maddie Klitgaard), who to me, is just another slave that I've captured, but in reality she is the Nubian Princess, and I take a special interest in her. In other words, I find her very attractive. When we get back from my 6-month journey, we meet more characters. Zoser, my father, also a bad guy, greets me with enthusiasm. He tries to send the new captured slaves to underground mines, so they can work to death, but I deny. I send them to the Palace Grounds keeper, saving their lives. But I take Aida, who I still think is just another slave, and give her as a gift to Amneris (Celeste Stringham), who is my wife-to-be. Amneris and I have a very complex relationship. We've known each other since we were kids, but I think of her as a sister. Yet I am engaged to her. She is also the Pharaoh's daughter, so when we marry, I will become Pharaoh when he passes on. Anyway, I give her to Amneris, who also realizes that Aida is special, and they become friends. Meanwhile, Zoser tells me that Pharaoh has fallen ill, and he doesn't have much more time in this world. Which, you guessed it, means I will become the Pharaoh when he dies and Amneris and I marry. Zoser reveals to the audience after I leave that he is poisoning Pharaoh slowly, so I will become the Pharaoh even faster. At a banquet, Pharaoh announces our wedding date, and then refuses to send me out on any more expeditions. Depressed, I spill my feelings out on Aida, who does the same. I soon fall madly in love with her, and now arises the problem that I'm engaged to someone, and I love someone else. I know, I know; that makes me a man slut. But while I'm all confused on what to do, Aida's people soon recognize her as their princess, thanks to Mereb(Justin Carver), who is my personal assistant and friend, also a captured Nubian. Aida struggles with the fact that loving me means she is a traitor to her people, who need her. Amneris struggles with the fact that it doesn't seem that I want to marry her, and the pressure that she is put through.

As you can tell, It's a love triangle. And I will continue with Act two in my next post, and I will also tell you about the progress that is being made and such. Until then, Adieu.