Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
Wow! So far, so good. Let's hope it'll be this way for the night. i seriously doubt it
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
Good things for James, rest is pretty negative including "unremarkable first act" and "The musical’s famous anthem, “A Whole New World,” is prettily sung by Jacobs and Reed as they float languidly across the stage on a magic carpet–a stage effect that by today’s imagineering standards feels like a mere kiddie ride."
ouch
Washington Post
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
ETA: Associated Press was already posted.
Updated On: 3/20/14 at 09:20 PM
...........I'm kind of shocked.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/06
Plenty of pull quotes that Disney can use for advertising purposes. The reviews are slightly better than I was expecting.
The Bottom Line
While it doesn't rival the imagination or innovation of "The Lion King," the show's ebullient comic spirit should make it a popular hit.
Hollywood Reporter
What we have here, in other words, is a show for the kids, one that's not quite interesting enough to hold the attention of an unaccompanied grownup other than intermittently. If you're a parent, though, rest assured that your pre-adolescent children will be glad they came
Wall St Journal
Pleasantly surprised to see a mostly positive reaction to this. I was expecting much worse. Of course, the night is young...
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Variety is NEGATIVE.
"The magic-carpet ride is magical. The Cave of Wonders is wonderful. And yes, you’ll hear the tunes you loved in the 1992 movie. But the notion that “Disney Aladdin” somehow resurrects the spirit of the late Howard Ashman, who had the original inspiration for the movie and contributed most of its clever lyrics, is a joke. Restoring a person’s work without respecting his artistic sensibility is no tribute at all."
Broadway Review: ‘Disney Aladdin’
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/11
"But the notion that “Disney Aladdin” somehow resurrects the spirit of the late Howard Ashman [...] is a joke."
THIS...
Can't really disagree with that. Howard Ashman was able to mix winking irony with real emotion- not to mention he could turn a phrase like few other lyricists. This production is all winks and no heart.
These "raves" are some of the most apathetic I have ever read.
Most of the numbers not involving chorus members in chest-baring vests and harem pants tend to pass by without making much of an impression.
If you can’t be yourself, just be fabulous.
NY Times
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
USA Today loved it. They gave the show 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.
It's genie-us! 'Aladdin' rubs you the right way
Understudy Joined: 8/1/13
None of these reviews inspire me to see this show (although if I had kids that would be a different story). But I am looking forward to seeing "Friend Like Me" performed at the Tony Awards.
If the show is nominated. And even then, the song is the show's ace-in-the-hole- they may instead opt for "Arabian Nights," which still features Inglehart and requires less stagecraft.
Brantley's review was a lot less severe than I was expecting, given the reviews on this board for the show.
Isherwood reviewed it.
Chorus Member Joined: 3/2/10
"Brantley's review was a lot less severe than I was expecting, given the reviews on this board for the show."
Especially considering Brantley didn't write the review.
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