THespians Delight Audience WIth Aida |
by Alexis Torres |
The Spring Valley High School Thespian Troupe 721 performed their spring musical, Aida, a production written by Elton John and Tim Rice, on March 17th, 18th, and 19th. If you couldn’t attend, you really missed out on a great show. The cast was phenomenal. From the singing and dancing to the acting -- it all seemed so perfect. With Brianna Knight playing Aida, and her love interest Radames played by Enoch Jones, the onstage chemistry was captivating. Although their character’s love was forbidden, it became intriguing throughout the play to see how they, as well as others, handled their situation since both families are from different backgrounds.
Superstar is a word to describe the talented actress and singer Brianna Knight. Her voice is breathtaking and her acting superb. Enoch Jones, a student athlete and all-star defensive linemen, starred in his first ever musical. When you see him act, you wouldn’t believe that this was his first production. Onstage, he seemed so experienced. He was born to do this. The way both of them captured the audience, especially when they had their onstage kiss, left many in the audience speechless.
Michael Sanders, who played Mereb, is a senior at Spring Valley High School. Being such a gifted actor, his voice and personality will make you fall in love with him. The passion in his eyes makes you understand that he loves singing and acting. His motto, and that of the entire troupe, is a quote by Alexander Pope -- “Act well your part. There all your honor lies.” “I fully immerse myself in the role I’m playing and become that character to convey the message that the character needs to convey. That is where I’ll receive the most amount of honor in what I’m doing,” Sanders says. This allows him to go onstage and be fearless.
The cast did face a crisis when their lead actress, Brianna Knight, got sick during the first show. She abruptly left during the second half, leaving it up to understudy Melissa Denizard to step into the action. The show must go on and this did not set them back. They somehow managed to make it through, performing an amazing show.
It wasn’t just the cast who made the show so spectacular. Credit is also due to the backstage crew who help make sure everything is in place for the next scene or next act. They moved so fast, making it very hard to even notice they were putting everything into place. And of course, no musical would be complete without an amazing performance by our orchestra in the pit.
I asked Mrs. Tirro what made her choose the show Aida and she told me "I really liked the variety of musical genres represented throughout the play - there was a powerful African dance, a sinister reggae song, a 60's doo-wop number about fashion sense, among many others. The lead was a strong female who endured a terrible conflict of the heart - choosing between true love and love for her oppressed people. There is a great deal of drama and power in the piece and Aida gave students a chance to explore the art, culture and lives of people in ancient Egypt, an incredible time in our world's history."
Performing Aida meant a lot to Mrs. Tirro, as it marked her 20th anniversary as director of Thespians. "It was very special - I am always trying to stretch myself in the choices I make for these pieces and Aida was one that made me nervous - in a good way. I always think, 'if we can pull this off, we will rise to a new level of excellence.' I saw the show on Broadway with Heather Headley and wondered if I would ever get the chance to be a part of a show like this one. And here, in my 20th year, I got to mount the piece with the largest cast we've ever had in Thespians. And following shows like In The Heights and West Side Story, where we really outdid ourselves, I am proud to say that Aida stood tall next to those giants. This senior class is one of the few who will be able to say that they were part of productions of such intensity and excellence," she said.