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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.
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| 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.
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| 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
Aladdin Broadway Original Soundtrack
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust https://trustarts.org/