Saturday, September 1, 2018

Day 297-Aladdin-PNC Broadway Pittsburgh-A Fun Colorful Magic Carpet Ride






One of my blog inspiration books, Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a (Disney) Little Golden Book  reminds us that, "All you need is a little magic in your life!". Disney's Aladdin  which kicks off the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series brings magic to the stage with a  jazzy musical score, an explosion of color, energetic dance and a genie that takes us all on a fun magic carpet ride.


Opening with "Arabian Nights" an explosion of color and dance
Reflection
Aladdin is your basic fairytale rags to riches happily ever after Cinderella story. This  time a genie grants the wish that transforms a poor handsome hunk of a guy, Aladdin, into a prince (Prince Ali), in order to win over the princess Jasmine. The musical Aladdin is  based on the Disney cartoon with the same name. This vibrant show of bold color and almost non- stop dancing, is a magical journey from start to end.


Genie (Trevor Dion Nicholas)

The show opens with an explosion of  pinks, blues, and yellows as Genie introduces the  middle-eastern city of Agrabah. In“Arabian Nights" ripped muscular sword dancers  and sultry  belly dancers energize the stage.  The charismatic Genie (Trevor Dion Nicholas) is one of the best parts of this show. He is larger than life with potent big show productions and his motor mouth innuendos elicit repetitive audience laughter. 


 Aladdin (Clinton Greenspan) who is a street thief, vows to show the world that he can do more  with his life and make his deceased mother  Proud of [her] Your Boy".  This beautifully sung song by Greenspan touched a personal cord since  I am  single mom with one son.


The musical gives us a more independent modern princess who is adverse to picking a prince to rule Agrabah. She desires to find love and an equal partnership with her prince. Feeling trapped in "These Palace Walls" , she ventures to experience life outside the palace. She meets her man and the smitten couple bond over their  common desire to flee present life circumstances in “Million Miles Away”.  It’s one of those swept away moments.

Like in all fairytales, there is also a  villain, the Sultan’s adviser, Jafar (Jonathan Weir) and his side kick, Iago (Jay Paranda) who add brilliant   humorous tension  to the play.  Jafar desires to gain the throne, setting out to find the magic lamp.  The first Act ends with a show stopping production  when Aladdin rubs  the infamous lamp and out comes Genie scatting with his friends in a big jazzy tap dancing number in a "Friend Like Me". It pure visual and musical fun. 


Act II  bursts with a sparkling sea of whiteness and glitter as  "Prince Ali" enters the palace to get the girl. The  anticipated carpet ride in “A Whole New World” is a fantastic visual. Aladdin and Jasmine  actually  soar above a star filled stage.

This show is visually magical, the music is magical, and love is  always magical. The iconic Genie keeps you laughing as Aladdin takes you on a magical carpet ride of fun!  

(Aladdin runs from August 22 to September 9, 2018 at the Benedum Center. For tickets go to trustarts.org.)

Credits: Photo's by Deen van Meer

Other Sources
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust https://trustarts.org/