Aladdin Reviews- Page 2

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 10:23am

"Street Boy Band narrators = Spiderman's Geek Chorus "

what's sad is that Jonathan Schwartz was one of the Geek Chorus in Spiderman. It would be a shame if the same fate happen again.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 10:23 AM

[lambchop2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 10:23am

I do disagree with some of the Star reviewer's assertions, though. Like claiming the new book makes Jasmine spout 'feminist cliches' when the majority of her dialogue that might be construed as a "feminist cliche" (aka "a female character taking offense to being forced into marriage and treated like a game or prize") is directly from the film. Or the assertion that the Aladdin in the Toronto production is somehow "appealing from the start," unlike the from Aladdin in the film. Since when was Aladdin in the film 'crooked'? He gives the bread he stole to orphans as soon as he sees they need it more, he saves them from being whipped, he rescues Jasmine from having her hand cut off--he's the 'diamond in the rough' for a reason.

I totally agree with that. Now the question remains, will they fix it? Or with they just tighten a few sentences in the book and swap adjectives in the lyrics and call it an "overhaul?"

I have a tiny bit of hope because they did some significant changes when they revamped the show from the Seattle production (new numbers, reworking the 'narration' from the trio, trimming numbers that weren't moving the story along, majorly redoing the staging for A Whole New World) but since Disney has a history of shows with rewritten climaxes that just don't work, yet somehow do not get fixed even though they have time....

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:13pm

While they did make changes since Seattle, it seems that the biggest flaws from the original run remain in the Toronto production. The climax was dull and it didn't feel like Jafar was much of a threat. This is when they should have gone all out with the staging and effects.

Second, the carpet ride was boring. The static field of stars does not connote movement. I'd rather they used some projections at this point, something like a hyperspace-effect (but slower). What's happening on stage needs to be more exciting too. The miniatures used for the Aladdin spectacular work since they take the audience along on the journey. Why not design costumes for the ensemble reminiscent of this?

As far as Aladdin's boy band friends, I do like them. Maybe that's the problem, I like them so much that they take away some focus from Al. I like having them in the show though. I doubt Disney will make extensive changes for Broadway. If they hadn't made significant changes since Seattle and the numerous stagings worldwide since, they are unlikely to do anything now.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:46pm

Jafar's transformation into a Genie was actually pretty impressive and creepy in the theme park show. This entire version sounds lamer than that one in most ways...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:49pm

It's just a blank stage with the magic carpet? Lameo.

[newintown]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 1:59pm

I remember being taken as a kid to see Disney On Ice. I was very excited: I loved all those Disney animated films (this is the late 60s/early 70s we're talking about).

And the disappointment was indescribable - these weren't the Disney characters and songs I loved! These were lumbering giants in clearly fake costumes.

And that's how I've felt at every Disney stage musical (least of all with The Lion King) - they always seem to be leaden, expressionless imitations of gorgeous movies. Everything the movies do well - movement, song, animation, brisk storytelling - the stage versions can't come close, let alone surpass.

I know there's a huge demand for product like this (I'm not sure why, though), but for me, these stage versions just make me sad.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:11pm

Come back to us, Howard Ashman!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:25pm

Perhaps I will get my christmas wish and Krysta Rodriguez will be brought in as Jasmine

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:31pm

Did anyone who has seen this production have trouble with an Aladdin who looks like a 30-year-old gym rat, rather than a 20-year-old street rat?

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, from what I've seen and heard, the guy is very talented and very good looking. But he doesn't seem right for Aladdin, to me, mostly because of his age.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 02:31 PM

[lambchop2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:36pm

It's just a blank stage with the magic carpet? Lameo.

No, it's the night sky with various ensemble members who come in with 'additons' throughout the song, and a carpet that goes up, down and all around the stage. A Whole New World was gorgeous, IMO. It didn't need to be an epic sweeping adventure song, it was an intimate moment that left me breathless.

[lambchop2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:45pm

I didn't have a problem with Jacobs age. In a film, it wouldn't work. On stage, he looks fine .He has a great, natural earnestness about him in the role, too. Especially during Aladdin's softer moments, like Proud of Your Boy and A Million Miles Away.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:47pm

. Updated On: 11/22/13 at 02:47 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:47pm

Best12, this is musical theatre in the 21st century. Didn't you see NEWSIES? We only allow ripped, metrosexual adults with plenty of vibrato to play starving urchins.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 02:47 PM

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 2:53pm

I thought that Adam Jacobs did a fantastic job. I wasn't bothered by (in fact, didn't notice) his age. I was too busy being impressed by his beautiful singing, agile movement, and spot-on acting.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 3:02pm

That's why I was asking. The closeup shots don't work for me, but in a theatre it's different. I'm glad he's good in the role, but it sounds like they need to focus more on his character, so he's not swallowed up in production numbers.

Listening to some clips, I think he's very talented.

[zepka102]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 3:18pm

I haven't read the reviews thoroughly (I've had some personal family things going on that have distracted me when I need the distractions from that), but from what I read here and from what I saw on the stage 2 weeks ago, I agree that a lot of the problems are indeed fixable. The climax feels extremely rushed. Jasmine needs more, perhaps even closer to what is in the movie, to feel less of a throwaway character. Besty, Adam is fantastic as Aladdin. His age doesn't really bother me. Although I think the other problems make you forget.

My biggest problem is the friends. I think they are given TOO much in the show, half of it completely unnecessary. I walked out feeling like it wasn't a show about Aladdin and Jasmine. There needs to be a little more weight on them.

Dance numbers do need to be trimmed, mainly the opening number. The finale, as stated, feels rushed and ineffective, watching Jafar go crazy as everyone else just stands around, not reacting. The book needs cuts and sprucing up. The actors need a jolt so you can feel more energy.

I understand that they are trying to stick closer to the ORIGINAL concept of the movie, focusing more on "adventure" than love, but look at how the movie turned out. It's fantastic. Maybe they should lean a little more toward it.

Contrary to how this sounds, a lot of the how I DID enjoy. The visuals are beautiful and most of the orchestrations work (although "A Whole New World" needs a little punching up). But a lot of the problems seem, as a spectator, so easy to fix. But as someone said a little earlier in this thread: we probably won't see the changes come in. That's what will hurt it.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 3:23pm

I was in the third-row orchestra (subscriber seats), so i could see all of the actors up-close, and the age thing didn't register even from there. His renditions of Proud of Your Boy were beautiful character moments that the film was lacking. I was much more sympathetic to the Aladdin character in this production than in the movie. And since i didn't really enjoy the big fight scenes with Jafar in the movie, I was a much bigger fan of the stage production's tap and dance numbers and intimate character moments with Aladdin and additional scene with Aladdin and Jasmine in act 1, and did not wish for a bigger action-packed climax as some here would have preferred.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:09pm

"The visuals are beautiful and most of the orchestrations work (although "A Whole New World" needs a little punching up)"

I thought that the arrangement for "A Whole New World" was very beautiful. It stands apart from the film version in a good way. It's very intimate.

Adam is great onstage as Aladdin. That photo they released on EW doesn't do him any favors. He looks younger than that. As far as Courtney, I don't think it's entirely her fault that the character of Jasmine falls flat. She just isn't given anything memorable to do.

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:21pm

Jasmine is a thankless role anyway. The character really just doesn't have much to do and really isn't developed.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:27pm

I really hope they fix everything come the Spring. This has soooo much potential(but so did The Little Mermaid).

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:30pm

This should be such a stylish show. No idea why they have gone with such a generic look when the film had that fluid, fun, sophisticated Al Hirschfeld style going for it.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 04:30 PM

[lambchop2]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:45pm

what do you think is generic about the look of the show, scarywarhol?

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:48pm

I just don't get why transferring their classics has become so difficult for them. This makes me extremely scared for HUNCHBACK...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:51pm

lambchop, to be fair, I am only going off of the production photos. But it just looks like a very generic fantasy setting...neither realistic nor boldly stylized. It's such a heightened reality in the film. If they weren't going to ground it in a more earthy setting, I would have liked to see them go with the bouncy visual sensibility of the film. Or a very strong influence from Arabian art. There doesn't seem to be any coherent design sensibility. Just sorta cheap-looking bigness. Again, from the photos only.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 04:51 PM

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 11/22/13 at 4:57pm

This may be one of those cases where you have to see the show to know what the set is like. The most spectacular sets were the inside and outside of the cave of wonders, which are not shown in the photos (perhaps to avoid spoilers). And the pictures of Agrabah don't fully convey how the buildings move around and transform during the scene to represent Aladdin's quick movement through the town. It looks much better in person than in the pictures.

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 04:57 PM