Starring: Luke Brady, Liam Tamne, Christine Allado, Alexia Khadime, Joe Dixon and Debbie Kurup
By Lauren Codling
MORE THAN two decades ago, DreamWorks hit gold when they released The Prince of Egypt, an animated take on the classic Bible story of Moses as he leads the Israelites out of Egypt. It grossed more than $218 million at the box office, making it the most successful non-Disney animated feature at the time.
Now, it has been adapted for the stage – probably in the hope that it will be as successful.
The story centralises on two brothers Moses and Rameses, who grew up as best friends but end up at odds as they battle against one another for the freedom of thousands of Hebrew slaves.
The fraternal relationship between the two leads feels natural – the actors have a spark and it shows.
The Oscar-winning song When You Believe, sang by Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime, is goose bump worthy – although it is hard to stack it against the Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston original. The rousing opening number Deliver Us, which is accompanied by stunning choreography as dancers imitate the Nile which takes the infant Moses downstream to his adopted family, is a promising start.
Throughout, the choreography is magnificent – impressive bodywork is used to convey a series of complicated scenes, including a chariot race and the parting of the Red Sea. They are impeccably played, and you cannot dismiss the efforts made to deliver as much energy as possible.
However, it is not without its faults.
The dialogue is, at times, unbearably cheesy – a conversation between Moses and his to-be wife Tzipporah as they compare their own growing attraction to that of a timorous ram attempting to gain the attention of a “courageous” sheep is next-level cringe.
There are a few stand-out songs featured in the original film, but the new tunes by Wicked’s Stephen Schwartz were utterly forgettable.
And despite the creative staging, at times, the glitz and glamour of Egypt felt as though the Biblical story was set in the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. It was almost surprising that slot machines were absent from the hieroglyphic-adorned set.
The Prince of Egypt is enjoyable, a great dance show with plenty of visual delights – but it is plagued with dodgy dialogue and questionable song choices. Avid fans of the film will love it. For others, it may be a tad hit and miss.
We give The Prince of Egypt three out of five stars.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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