Aladdin Previews- Page 4

[Tag]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:41pm

All of the problems related from this first preview are the same comments that were made during the Toronto run. If things weren't changed since Toronto, it's not going to happen. This is Little Mermaid 2.0.

[lambchop2]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:42pm

The three friends make the most referential jokes, likely because they were originally narrators who broke the fourth wall. Did they definitely scrap this, people who just saw the first Broadway preview?

Updated On: 2/26/14 at 11:42 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:43pm

Wasn't LITTLE MERMAID 2.0 also TARZAN 2.0? Oh! So many duds, who can remember them all?

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:44pm

@lambchop they are 100% no longer the narrators, the only one who could possibly be considered one now is Genie.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:45pm

The three friends were definitely not narrators tonight. If they used to be narrators I'm glad they now just characters.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:49pm

Did they still drop their camels at the beginning? Because that was horrendous.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:50pm

No, there were no camels.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:54pm

Thank God.

[Tag]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:55pm

In Toronto the 3 friends would narrate and sing (Arabian Nights over and over) downstage of the curtain while the set was being changed. What has replaced this?

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:55pm

^ book scenes

[eyehrtfood]

Posted: 2/26/14 at 11:57pm

Saw show in Toronto, post Xmas... My thoughts:

The GOOD: Freeman = fun to see. Jacobs = winning as Aladdin/great voice (LOVE "Proud of Your Boy" - audio is online... listen to it), Inglehart = works hard and crowd loved. The song "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kasim" (Seattle vid online - infectious), "Somebody's Got Your Back" and a few others. "Friend Like Me" pulled out all the stops...

The BAD: Jasmine, Jasmine, Jasmine... No spark. Wife and I both questioned whether she'd make it to NYC - and apparently others on board already feel the same. The Magic Carpet = literally better/more advanced at the shortened Disneyland Aladdin show (vid online)... The opening number - hopefully changed for NYC - which was so great/mood-setting from the film - "Arabian Nights" - was a forced/contrived in Toronto... OH - and the overall staging... I was NOT impressed. Hopefully, that's changed and Casey's golden touch is shining through(?)

overall, the show was so-so at best... Lame-ish... For recent Disney - liked the visually-striking Tarzan better and BatB and Mary are masterpieces compared to this, at least in Toronto form.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:01am

They really cut all the "Arabian Nights" reprises? What's the song list now then? Has anything been switched around?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:03am

Tag, the set change scenes are mostly Jafar, Iago and the Sultan chatting or scheming in front of a palace backdrop.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:09am

Hm. I'm on the fence about this.

Casey doesn't seem the best director for a "spectacle" type show. Book of Mormon is lacking in the visual department. As was "Drowsy." Hm.... I wish they had picked a better, more visionary director.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:09am

Whizzer you have become softer with your first preview reports!

[brdway411]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:09am

Song list
Arabian Nights
One Jump Ahead
Proud Of Your Boy
These Palace Walls
Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
A Million Miles Away
Diamond in the Rough
Friend Like Me
Act One Finale

Prince Ali
A Whole New World
High Adventure
Somebody's Got Your Back
Proud Of Your Boy Reprise II
Prince Ali Reprise
Finale Ultimo Arabian Nights Reprise/ A Whole New World Reprise

[dave1606]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:12am

I saw the show tonight. Great seats from Rear mezzanine.

The show is big, and looks great. Stunning costumes, an Friend Like Me is just incredible. Most Broadway shows wish they could have a number with half of an impact that this one does.

Courtney Reed is making a terrible impression. Every note was off pitch, and her line readings were totally flat. Those harmonies with Adam Jacobs? Well they weren't harmonies.

Adam on the other hand is really coming out a star here. Warm, funny, and in great voice the audience really loved him, and rightfully so.

The magic carpet ride. Can we talk about what is going on below the carpet onstage? Why did it have to be so distracting?!! SPOILER let's remove those colorful planets ASAP.

There is no real conflict in the story, and I really think Jafar needs to be a better character. The conflict at the end dissipates faster than it was set up.

Overall I appreciated how old fashioned the show was. The tap in Friend Like Me, the very little use of projections, and a large ensemble, its nice to see a show not relying entirely on graphics for once! It could be better, probably should be better, but I will take it for what it is right now.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:14am

Blaxx- Ha, well I would have been harsher if I had disliked it more. I try to let my tone reflect my feelings and there was plenty to like in Aladdin, so although I still had reservations and issues, there was no need to be mean.

If you want mean look up Soul Doctor, Time To Kill and Bronx Bombers! :)

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:15am

Oh yeah, you are right about Soul Doctor. That was a huge oucher.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:18am

"Book of Mormon is lacking in the visual department. As was "Drowsy.""

I thought one of Drowsy's BIGGEST take-aways was its visuals.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:20am

Yeah, I mean Aladdin is nowhere in the same realm as Soul Doctor or First Date. It was far, far from painful, so I'll reserve the bitchery for a show that deserves it, haha.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:32am

I saw Drowsy on tour, so maybe I'm off-base, but I don't think he has much experience with a "spectacle" type show.

And can he ever do show that doesn't have to have a big tap number? C'mon.

And I want to see this show if only to see Courtney Reed.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:37am

It's good to see positive reports of Jonathan Freeman. I know he's got a lot of talent on stage, so I was hoping his casting wouldn't prove just to be a novelty or cutesy idea.

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 6:53am

Pleasant to a point, with a surprisingly good number of laughs, but it runs down as it runs along. The songs aren't much; the sets and costumes are attractive. I felt the magic carpet ride lacked the requisite magic. I guess the same could be said for the entire show really, which is why I don't foresee it having the same bust-out success as the Disney mega-hits. It's likable enough entertainment, though.

And let's hear it for family entertainment like Aladdin, not even so much for what it provides, but for what it safeguards us from. We know we can go to a show like this and can sit back and relax with the assurance that at least for 2+ hours we won't be subjected to a grimacing wuss wailing his angst on a guitar or a ten year old whining prepubescent longing for a delivery woman in jeans.

And that's something. In fact, that's a lot.





Updated On: 2/27/14 at 06:53 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/27/14 at 8:03am