I was at the first preview tonight and the good news is that it's leagues better than The Little Mermaid. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just been the Genie and Aladdin (ensemble too) in an All About Me me style concert, or they could just perform "Friend Like Me" for two hours and I'd be fine with that too
I was surprised by the tone of the piece, which was very Mel Brooks/Borscht Belt inducing groan after groan after groan, but I will say that the tone was consistent throughout. I get the Genie making jokes like that because Robin Williams was exactly "period" in the film, but when everyone is cracking wise it took a little getting used to. (Just a few examples: When Aladdin's friends are discussing methods of thievery one asks, "What was that Egyptian method? A pyramid scheme?"; "This is awful! This is awful!/Did somebody say falafel?")
There were also pop culture references galore, including a Dancing With The Scimitars sequence and the Genie shouting "Move That Bus!" to reveal Prince Ali in costume for the first time.
Needless to say, the book was my least favorite part of the evening. Well, the book and Jasmine...but let's get to some good stuff.
"Friend Like Me" was truly showstopping and will keep the show running for years alone. I think James Monroe Iglehart will probably be the only acting Tony nomination Aladdin receives, and it will be well-deserved. He's hilarious keeps the audience like putty in his hands.
Adam Jacobs is real find as Aladdin too. He's earnest, but not so much so that he's boring, and he's got good chemistry with his friends and Iglehart. (All five of them get to sing the only Positoovity number in the show, called "Somebody's Got Your Back." It has a lyric about "OMG they are BFFs" or something like that..."
I was worried the three friends were going to be like the Geek Chorus, but they actually were pretty fun. They carry the brunt of the groaners and are pretty game to throw them at the audience without much embarrassment.
Normally I would cut an actor slack at the first preview, but Courtney Reed was just not very good as Jasmine. Her first number sits in a weird break in her voice and she had trouble finding a few pitches. Her vocals in A Whole New World were lackluster and her acting wasn't in sync with everyone else. With everyone hamming it up her blandness was all the more accentuated.
Seeing Jonathan Freeman live will fulfill many dreams of those in love with the film; Don Darryl Rivera seemed to be a hit with the audience, but I found him to be a bit grating. He's like Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King on Broadway- imitate your movie counterpart and you'll keep your job.
Technically the show is a marvel. Not a dime was spared on costumes or the set. Very impressive stuff pleasant to look at for a few hours.
Was it fine and fun? Yes. Did I love it? No, but maybe fine and fun is all it will need to succeed.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
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