It’s not easy translating an amination to the stage — especially one as beloved as Aladdin. This production navigates it perfectly, adding new elements to the story that are a marked improvement.
I have had Arabian nights stuck in my head since leaving the theatre days ago now and that isn’t even close enough a testament to the exquisite music pieces this show gave us and let me tell you it gave us a lot. On its first ever UK and Ireland tour, the Broadway and West End musical has a level of production like nothing else. The costumes, set, and special effects are above and beyond, a whole new world of theatre given to us by Disney.
With his spectacular first-act number, "Friend Like Me," and his unwavering intensity, The Genie, played by Yeukayi Ushe, truly stole the show. The level of performance was untouched by anything else in the first act. The second act had its blockbuster moment with “A Whole New World’. The simplicity of the set design — focusing on the legendary magic carpet in front of the stars — brought awe to even the youngest members of the audience. Gavin Adams as Aladdin and Desmonda Cathabel as Princess Jasmine were an impeccable vocal duo and did justice to the classic ballad.
The script was trite, and the acting was somewhat clunky for a Broadway show, but honestly these moments were few and far between the exotic numbers and hardly distracting. If anything, the entire experience would have been better marketed as a dance show, each number was impeccably executed start to finish at a genuinely beautiful standard. Disney Theatrical Productions excels at providing a sweet fairy tale and sense of magic for children interspersed with biting commentary and quips for its grown-ups.
The transition from animation to stage is handled very well with most key moments intact. The main change was the removal of the animal sidekicks. Abu — Aladdin’s money was replaced with a trio of friends. A much-welcomed change as a Lion King-esque puppet wouldn't have been as effective. Aladdin’s trio of friends performed a wicked original song High Adventure, complete with comical sword fighting and playful dance, in fact the whole way through they provided a fun dialogue and depth to Aladdin’s story. Sadly, the end felt rushed which was strange considering the amount of time they were able to dedicate to the singing and dancing numbers.
The Disney magic sprinkled all over the production elevates this musical to the next level. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing show over the holidays, Aladdin at the Wales Millennium Centre is definably the diamond in the rough.