© DisneyĪs much as it regales with its music, narrative, and performances, Aladdin is simply mesmerizing to look at - a credit to scenic designer Bob Crowley whose jaw-dropping Cave of Wonders, among other grand set pieces, in combination with special effects by Jeremy Chernick and projections by Daniel Brodie, amount to a mélange of breathtaking sights. (L-R) Anand Nagraj as Jafar and Aaron Choi as Iago in the North American tour of Aladdin. The incredible talent of Casey Nicholaw can’t be understated, either, who functions as both director and choreographer, certifying Aladdin as one of the best paced musicals on stage given that the two-hour-and-thirty-minute runtime flies by, leaving attendees wanting more. Not to mention is perhaps the star of the show in the iconic Genie who, in granting Aladdin a trio of wishes, finds himself a friend of similar standing and joins in on an odyssey to reclaim his individual freedom.įront and center in this Arabian adventure are the behind-the-scenes virtuosos like Alan Menken whose music, in conjunction with lyricists Tim Rice, Howard Ashman, and Chad Beguelin (who also wrote the book), sets the literal tone with melodies and phrasing that woo the listener just as they originally did three decades ago. Getting in the way of the improbably amorous union is the nefarious Jafar who is swooned by the notion of becoming the Sultan of Agrabah to this aim, he consults his unholy book which tells of a lamp and a “diamond in the rough” who can retrieve it. Of course, the premise, notwithstanding its exotic setting, draws on the tried-and-true forbidden-lovers trope between its titular character, the “street rat” Aladdin, and his love interest, the well-heeled Princess Jasmine who feels “trapped” by antiquated customs forcing a betrothal. Martin as the Genie (center) with the company of the North American tour of Aladdin.
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