I am going to have to defer to the audience who seemed to be riding a magic carpet of rapture during the world premier of the musical “Aladdin” at the 5th Avenue Theatre.
They could barely contain themselves after the opening number “Arabian Nights” and many leapt to their feet applauding madly. They were swooning when the princess appeared and were in absolute laughing convulsions when Genie began strutting his hilarious stuff on stage.
The audience LOVED THIS SHOW.
The audience involved many children and for this show they are most welcome. Like good old Disney, this musical was one made for the masses.
“Aladdin” safely followed the animated film about a smart street kid whose life changes when he gets a hold of a magic lamp. And no worries parents, there isn’t a lot of bare skin and the sword fights aren’t scary so much as choreography.
And perhaps that’s why “Aladdin” just didn’t take off for me.
Personally, I thought the show was rather bland, even weak in parts, with several ballads that just fell flat like pita and worthy of slicing out with a sword.
There were certainly lots of six-pack abs and silk scarves and sparkly princesses but otherwise I wondered where the big Disney powerhouse was in this partnership it had with the 5th Avenue on this production.
I was wrongly expecting some Pixar pizazz when it came to sets and special effects but both left me thinking, meh. I mean the scene with one of the best songs from the film, “A Whole New World,” had the “flying” carpet suspended atop a big pole. Seriously.
Still, there were highlights, starting with some stunning direction by Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”) with certain performances soaring, such as Adam Jacobs in his sincere and genuine role as Aladdin, the wonderfully villainous Jonathan Freeman as Jafar and show stealer James Monroe Iglehart as Genie – “Oprah is gone, but Genie is here!”
The Genie pulled off the money number in this show too, with “Friend Like Me” a huge rousing success.
The lovely Courtney Reed put the razz back in the razzmatazz in this production as Jazzmine. Brandon O’Neill as Kassim turned many a scene into pure gold, and I always have to give a shout out to one of my favorite actors, Nick Desantis, who was in the ensemble and playing Razoul and who grants my wish whenever he appears on stage.
“Aladdin” plays at various times through July 31 at the 5th Avenue Theatre
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