By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Pettisville Music Department presented DreamWorks “The Prince of Egypt The Musical” with performances on Thursday, April 3rd, Friday, April 4th, Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 6th at 2:30 p.m.
“The Prince of Egypt The Musical” is set back in time over 3,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt when Hebrews labored under slavery while Egyptian soldiers sought to kill Hebrew firstborn boys.
Yocheved placed her newborn son in a basket on the Nile, where Queen Tuya found him and adopted him, naming him Moses.
As teenagers, Moses and Ramses race their chariots, infuriating Priest Hotep and angering Pharaoh Seti, who later commands Ramses to marry Princess Nefertari. Moses defends Ramses but wishes to make his own mark.
After Seti’s return from a campaign against Midianites, he gifts Ramses a captured slave, Tzipporah, who escapes and meets Moses. Miriam reveals Moses’ true heritage, and he recalls memories stirred by their mother’s lullaby.
He confronts Queen Tuya, who confirms his Hebrew origins, urging him to continue living as an Egyptian. The next day, Moses kills a guard whipping a Hebrew slave, prompting Hotep to demand punishment.
Moses flees into the desert, where he encounters the Midianites led by Jethro and falls in love with Tzipporah, becoming a shepherd.
Moses returns to Egypt and confronts Ramses, promising freedom for the Hebrews if Moses becomes his adviser. However, Ramses breaks the promise under the influence of Hotep and Nefertari.
The Hebrews drive Moses away. Plagues afflict Egypt as Moses warns Ramses of suffering if he does not free the Hebrews.
The final plague kills Egyptian firstborns, including Ramses’ son. Devastated, Ramses releases the Hebrews. Moses leads them to the Red Sea, where Tzipporah mourns her lost family.
The Egyptian army traps them, but Moses parts the Red Sea. Ramses refuses to kill Moses, breaking the cycle of death.
They embrace before Hotep pursues the Hebrews into the sea, drowning with his soldiers. Moses and Ramses follow separate paths, bound by brotherly support.
The casting for the show was excellent, with actors performing their roles effectively. The singing and dancing parts were outstanding, complemented by well-designed costumes and sets. Congratulations to the cast and crew at Pettisville High School on a job well done!
(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
