LONDON
London Theatre Review :
DISNEY ’ S ALADDIN
by Sarah Green
IT ’ S LIKELY THAT YOU KNOW THE DISNEY ANIMATION OF ALADDIN . IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES , YOU ’ RE A FAN OF ROBIN WILLIAMS , OR EVEN IF YOU ’ RE JUST INTO DISNEY , YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IT A NUMBER OF TIMES . SO YOU MIGHT THINK YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN GOING ALONG TO THE NEW WEST END STAGE VERSION OF THAT VERY MOVIE . IF THAT ’ S THE CASE , YOU ’ LL HAVE TO THINK AGAIN . Photos by Deen van Meer © Disney
Expectations are shaken up , trampled by camels and then taken on a magic carpet ride of wonder before being handed back to you by a raucous cast of roaring songs and stunning scenery , changed very much for the better . This version of Aladdin is a whole new world of delights and adventure that will cause you to alternate between cheering wildly for the good guys , jeering at the bad guys , and shedding the tiniest tear of happiness for the lovers too . Oh , and you ’ ll laugh . You will definitely laugh .
Aladdin is packed full of jokes for all ages , giving everyone the change to really get into the story . It ’ s that genial Genie that does it when it comes to the comedy element ( although everyone has a funny line or two ). Played by Trevor Dion Nicholas , this larger-than-life character moves and grooves around the stage surprisingly nimbly , making his performance even more magical . And Dean John-Wilson ’ s Aladdin is as tough and yet as innocent as he has to be to make him seem real .
Jade Ewan plays Jasmine with a joyous kind of knowing ; she is the princess , after all , and who wouldn ’ t want to be a Disney princess ? The good news is , there are no 2D characters in this production .
That includes the fabled magic carpet . Just as much a character as Aladdin , Jasmine , Genie and Jafar , the carpet floats majestically above the audience , and , try as hard as you might , you won ’ t see any strings . How it ’ s all done is a mystery – or it ’ s actually magic . When it comes to a sumptuous production like this , it ’ s hard to tell the difference .
There is something of the pantomime about Aladdin . That ’ s no bad thing ; we love a good panto in the UK , and being able to enjoy one all year long is a treat . It ’ s because the distinction between good and bad is so absolutely clear . We have heroes and we have villains , and that ’ s that . We also have a well-known story with impressively choreographed dance routines and belting ballads or tonguetwisting up-tempo numbers that get everyone clapping along .
The sets are breathtakingly spectacular – from the streets of Agrabah to Aladdin ’ s cave , it all looks as though you could step right in and live it . With 350 different and increasingly lavish costumes along with special effects that would make Hollywood blush , Aladdin is exactly what you wished for .
www . aladdinthemusical . co . uk
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