THE BASICS: Disney’s ALADDIN, the Broadway tour, with music by Alan Menken; lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin; book by Chad Beguelin, opened Tuesday and runs Friday, November 25 at both 1:00 and 7:30, Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00, Sunday at 1:00 (no evening performance) at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. (716) 847-1410 sheas.org WARNING – ALADDIN is intended for guests 6 and up. Children under the age of 2 will not be admitted. All guests must have a ticket. Note: visit sheas.org for access to a digital playbill and other “behind the scenes” material.
Runtime: 2-1/2 hours with one 20-minute intermission
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Based on the 1992 Disney animated film “Aladdin” (featuring Robin Williams as the Genie) the touring stage musical features delightful music by Alan Menken (with melodies from his “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Pocahontas” reprised as a sort of inside joke) with clever lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin. The musical includes three songs originally written by Ashman for the film which were never used and four new songs written by Menken and Beguelin. It’s a more feminist take on the old “boy meets girl, complications ensue, boy gets girl back” which might be, from Jasmine’s point of view, restated as “girl meets boy, complications ensue, girl gets boy back” and judging from the number of would-be princesses (and princes) in the audience, that message of empowerment is not a bad idea at all.
The Broadway touring production follows the Disney animated feature very closely. We meet Aladdin, the “street rat” and his buddies, who steal, connive, and scheme (when in Egypt they invented “the pyramid scheme”) and avoid the authorities. Enter Princess Jasmine, who doesn’t want to get married yet, and certainly not to the various princes her father keeps introducing to her, who runs off to see what life outside the palace is like. And that’s where the “meet-cute” happens.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: I was hoping that this current production would be as thrilling, the Genie just as funny, and the big dance numbers just as “wow” as when a Broadway tour of Aladdin last came to Shea’s in 2018. It was. Marcus M. Martin in his national tour debut as the Genie was a big and loveable as ever. And he loved the audience back with his huge smile and big voice.
In fact, this time around, Aladdin, played by Adi Roy, was possibly better than last time. Everyone on stage can of course act and sing and dance (it’s Broadway, after all) but the way Roy moves on stage is something to behold.
And of course, Senzel Ahmady as Jasmine is beautiful and sassy; Anand Nagraj as the evil Vizier Jafar had “the voice,” and Aaron Choi as his sidekick Iago (“Don’t parrot everything I say”) brings a new angle to the role.
Disney musicals are known for their special effects and this musical is full of them with perhaps the scene in the cave “Friend Like Me” as the most over the top while the magic carpet ride (how DO they do that?) when Aladdin and Jasmine sing “A Whole New World” is something I’m sure many in the audience will never forget.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!
Lead image: Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Aladdin, the North American tour, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin, starring: Adi Roy (Aladdin), Marcus M. Martin (Genie), Senzel Ahmady (Jasmine), Jake Letts (Babkak), Colt Prattes (Kassim), Ben Chavez (Omar), Anand Nagraj (Jafar), Aaron Choi (Iago) and Sorab Wadia (Sultan) directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw