Disney's Aladdin the musical review
Music by Alan Menken | Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Directed and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
Theatre Royal, Glasgow | 7 November 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Disney Theatrical Productions have come to Glasgow for the first time ever with the musical staging of the beloved animated film Aladdin.
This production of Aladdin is everything you could wish for from a big budget Disney musical: Dazzling costumes, bright colours, stunning sets and a superb cast all backed by legend Alan Menken's music played by a phenomenal live orchestra. This UK tour production of Disney's Aladdin is a theatrical cave packed full of glittering wonders. It's spectacular!
Based on the 1992 animated film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights”, the musical remains faithful to the plot of the Disney movie as we follow poor street-urchin Aladdin (Gavin Adams) on his quest to find true love. When Aladdin meets Princess Jasmine (Desmonda Cathabel) and the dastardly Jafar (Adam Strong) in the markets of Agrabah, he is unwittingly pulled into an adventure where he finds a magical lamp and befriends a riotous genie (Damien Winchester).
With a West End quality cast and impeccable production values, this show oozes quality. The sparkling costumes are some of the finest I've seen. The staging is beautiful but deceptively simple at first, then with some very successful projections and lots of magic, it transforms into some of the most breathtaking backdrops you will ever see on stage. The cave scene, and what the Genie quite rightly describes as his 'show stopping number' in Act I, are simply spectacular. With a full tap dancing ensemble and a fantastic medley of songs from other Disney musicals, this whole sequence is worth the ticket price alone.
In Act II we have the wonder of the magical flying carpet and even more glittering costumes and magic. The company of stunning dancers and performers come from all over the world, and every one of them is impeccably presented, expertly directed and choreographed. There is nothing to rival Disney's attention to detail - even the finale and bows for this show are precisely timed to hit every beat of the music. A UK tour production of Aladdin this may be but it's exactly the kind of awe-inspiration extravaganza you'd expect to see in the West End or on Broadway.
Disney's Aladdin is a massive production both on and behind stage. And given the size and complexity of the set pieces, it's astonishing that I never once heard any movement or saw the slightest of wobbles. The staging is immaculate.
The soundtrack includes many cherished songs from the film including 'Arabian Nights', 'Friend like me', 'Prince Ali', and 'A Whole New World', as well as many new songs by Tony, Olivier, Grammy, Emmy and eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken. They are all gloriously played by the sensational live orchestra. The live music and enthusiastic conductor elevates this show to something even more special.
The central performances from Gavin Adams as Aladdin and Desmonda Cathabel as Jasmine are delightful. Both engaging and confident, they are the perfect Disney prince and princess. Accomplished theatre veteran Adam Strong is superb as the antagonist and Disney Villain extraordinaire Jafar, and Jo Servi is an excellent, regal Sultan.
Just as Robin William's performance as the dynamic genie was the highlight of the 1992 Disney film, so here Damien Winchester almost steals the show as the fan-favourite, blue, wise-cracking spirit. The energy the genie brings to the show is second to none and the kids in the audience adored him.
More humour and vitality comes from the terrific sidekicks: Jafar's parrot Iago is portrayed here in fabulous human form by the brilliant Angelo Paragoso; and Aladdin's three friends Nelson Bettencourt, Adam Taylor and Nay-Nay bring loads of brilliant jokes and fun to proceedings. It's this wealth of varied characters that adds a richness to Disney's Aladdin and that will help to hold younger audience members attentions. It's a true ensemble effort.
Disney's Aladdin feels like a pantomime at times and that is not a criticism. It would be the biggest, sparkliest, best pantomime you've ever seen! But we have the dashing Prince and beautiful Princess kept apart by the scheming baddie (boo!), the hilarious sidekicks, the glittering costumes, fun songs, a touch of magic and a spectacular white wedding at the end. Just like Panto, this Aladdin musical may well be some audience members first time in a theatre. What a great way to start a lifelong obsession!
I can't recommend Aladdin enough. It's aimed at kids yes, but it's also a full scale theatre production that's bound to wow audiences of all ages. It's a breathtaking extravaganza that showcases Disney at it's very best. Don't miss it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aladdin plays at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow until Saturday 30 November 2024 and then continues to the last venue on its UK tour at Liverpool Empire for Christmas 2024. Jump to Aladdin tour listings & tickets here
MORE: Also playing in Glasgow this month: 101 Dalmatians the musical. Read my review here 🐾
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Disney's Aladdin Cast - UK Tour 2024: Glasgow
Gavin Adams Aladdin
Yeukayi Ushe Genie*
Desmonda Cathabel Jasmine
Adam Strong Jafar
Angelo Paragoso Iago
Jo Servi Sultan
Nay-Nay Kassim
Adam Taylor Omar
Nelson Bettencourt Babkak
Juan Jackson Standby Jafar / Sultan
Damien Winchester Genie at certain performances*
For a full list of ensemble and swing cast and creatives see here:
*The genie was played by Damien Winchester at this performance.
📸 Production photos: Deen Van Meer
Disney's Aladdin UK Tour Listings and Tickets
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GLASGOW
Wednesday 6 November – Saturday 30 November 2024
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
LIVERPOOL
Wednesday 11 December 2024 - Sunday 5 January 2025
Liverpool Empire
Coming soon to Glasgow's theatres:
Disney's Aladdin review, UK Tour, Glasgow Theatre Royal November 2024
🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
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