Aladdin on Broadway

Aladdin

There have been a slew of Disney films that have gotten the Broadway treatment. Of those, only three have been on my to watch list (although I gladly would have watched any of them if the opportunity presented itself).

While in New York I finally got to watch one that had been on my list since it opened. Aladdin opened back in 2014 and is directed by Casey Nicholaw. There were some changes that had to be made to work on stage, but it was glorious. The technical aspects alone made it worthwhile.

I previously saw Mr. Nicholaw's work last year when I watched Tuck Everlasting and that was good as well, so it was interesting to see another adaptation he directed come to life. The score is the same as that of the film, but there are new songs that did not make the film's final cut. The choreography was stunning and of course extravagant.

The musical is based on the 1992 film of the same name, and the most memorable character is Robin Williams' Genie. In the musical, James Monroe Iglehart's Genie is just as memorable. He is a showstopper. He is hilarious and he also adds an incredible amount of sass to Genie. Iglehart is having the time of his life on stage and you can not help but smile whenever he is on stage.

Iglehart's introduction comes with "Friend Like Me". It is a spectacle like no other. There are pop culture references, dancing, magic tricks and it all takes place in the glittering Cave of Wonders.

Adam Jacobs in Aladdin

 It is the most extravagant of the musical numbers and that is saying a lot. All of the numbers are almost over the top and fun to watch, but at the core remains the story. Jasmine (Courtney Reed) is expected to marry and her father, the Sultan (Clifton Davis) is determined to find her the perfect husband.

Jasmine wants to make her own decision as to who she gets to marry and Reed plays her faithfully to her film counterpart.

Frustrated, Jasmine escapes the palace to see life outside of the royal walls. While in the marketplace she meets Aladdin (Adam Jacobs). He is cute and oh, so charming. He and his human friends (there is no Abu in this version) live on the streets and fight every day to survive.

Jafar (played by Jonathan Freeman who also voiced the character in the film) finds out Aladdin is his "diamond in the rough" and goes in search for him with the help of Iago (also a human played by Don Darryl Rivera) in order to send him into the Cave of Wonders.

The biggest flaw is that, with the exception of "Proud of Your Boy", the songs that do not have the extravagant aspects are easily forgotten. "A Whole New World" is still great. It is absolute magic to see the carpet flying along the stage. It is absolutely breathtaking.

I waited quite a bit to see Aladdin and it was worth the wait. I did miss some of the elements of the film that could not be translated to the stage, but overall I am glad my first Disney Broadway show was Aladdin. It was fun and of course, magical.