Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed (Photo by Deen Van Meer
Disney Theatrical's bright, lively, tuneful and also very funny stage adaptation of its hugely successful 1992 cartoon film Aladdin, unapologetically asserts itself as a spoof-enhanced stage cartoon. Not exactly new to the stage since the burgeoning and blossoming of the golden era when composers Rodgers and Hart (The Boys from Syracuse) and Cole Porter (Out of this World), and even later Stephen Sondheim (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) were inspired to ramp up as well as camp up classic texts, old myths, and beloved fairy tales with topical, contemporary references.
Fans of the lauded film version of Aladdin will find significant but hardly discomforting changes in the supporting characters, none of which is bound to detract from the fun to be had as we are graciously invited by a Genie to a magical kingdom. This, as opposed to being hit over the head as was that Connecticut Yankee who came to in King Arthur's court. Except for the wondrously magical flight of that legendary magic carpet (you won't see any wires. . .wow!) we aren't otherwise overwhelmed by a lot of high-tech stage wizardry.
In truth, it's the rib-tickling jokes that fly the highest. Most of them reach their target or land without a thud. The unsubtle delivery of the lines and the slap-stick shtick is all a part of an entertaining ride. If children (of all ages) have gotten used to the tongue-in-cheek approach slavishly applied these days to adaptations and re-makes of famous stories, director Casey Nicholaw and book writer Chad Beguelin commendably send-up, if not the magic carpet, then everything else that isn't firmly grounded. To read the rest of the review and for more information on the production please go to: http://curtainup.com/aladdin14.html
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