Aladdin Previews — Page 5

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#101

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 10:43am

Better "a grimacing wuss wailing his angst on a guitar or a ten year old whining prepubescent longing for a delivery woman in jeans"

than the below-the-belt, sophomoric, pop culture laden and terribly "unpunny" jokes this production tried to shove down the throats of audiences last night.

There's a clever way to do the type of jokes this show attempted to do, and there's the "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" way. This is the latter, and I found it embarrassing.

Not to mention the woeful performance of Courtney Reed, the hilarious aforementioned "outer space" segment of the flying carpet, the ridiculously unnecessary and misguided characters that are Aladdin's friends, and the overabundance of sequins. Everything felt like a cheap high school production. Not a mega Broadway musical.

And you're right. There's absolutely no magic at all. Which is a major mistake in a show that should have been very magical indeed.

Updated On: 2/27/14 at 10:43 AM

#102

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:09am

I was at the 1st preview last night. This show is more of a return to the good old fashioned type musical. Its mush less DISNEY-fied than any of their other shows. Sure there is spectacle, but nothing like Mermaid or Tarzan. This one reminds me more of Aida. You can tell a lot of work has gone into this show from all departments. It was a visual treat for the eyes!

The sound was PERFECT! It was crisp, clear and loud. I love it when you can hear all the orchestra parts and the singers. The ensemble has to be one of the hardest working on Broadway. There are multiple costume changes during each of the production numbers and the constant choreography was a treat. The show is VERY tight and clean for a first preview.The production numbers just keep coming one after another and they are wonderful.

I did feel that in Act 2 the show did start to loose steam and then the ending just happen out of nowhere. It could definitely use a bigger ending.

James Iglehart IS the show. If he gets a supporting Tony nod its as good as his. His Genie is hilarious and on point. I can't even imagine the type of energy it takes to perform that role 8x a week. More power to him. He is the reason people leapt to the their feet after "Friend Like Me".

Everyone I was with hated Jasmine. While i didn't hate her, i felt like she sounded like she had a cold. She was very nasal and off pitch at times. My problem with her was she just didn't come off to me as a Disney Princess. We've been spoiled by actresses like Sierra Bogdess who OWNED Ariel. She just doesn't work as Jasmine.

Overall Its going to be a HIT for Disney. I like that its more of a return to the traditional type musical and not the theme park show that was LM. With a few tweaks it could really be a contender for Best Musical.

#103

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:12am

Oh and the Planets HAVE TO GO!!!! I forgot about that. That was a cringe worthy moment.

#104

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:54am

Who is Jasmine's understudy? So interesting to hear they've tried to make the character more likable but not it seems more of mismatch for the actress.

#105

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:55am

Famebroadway: Agreed, James Iglehart definitely does not disappoint! I had really been looking forward to his performance and thought he was great. I saw it with a friend who is generally pretty critical, and she left saying the same things about the sound: super clear and refreshing.

#106

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:44pm

Would anybody at the first preview be able to post the orchestra list? I'm curious the size and quality of the orchestrations, especially with the great sound. Thanks!

#107

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 12:54pm

#108

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 3:53pm

I've searched high and low for years to find a theatre critic that I am in sync with... I think my search is over.

If After Eight has any one positive thing to say about a show, I know it's going to be trash. If a bitchy wrath is unleashed against every single person remotely involved with a production, I know it'll be a sure-fire hit in my book. Thanks cranky!!!

"I shall stay until the wind changes."

#109

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 3:58pm

"I've searched high and low for years to find a theatre critic that I am in sync with... I think my search is over.

If After Eight has any one positive thing to say about a show, I know it's going to be trash. If a bitchy wrath is unleashed against every single person remotely involved with a production, I know it'll be a sure-fire hit in my book. Thanks cranky!!!"

Not sure how well that will work as he pretty much hates EVERYTHING.

#110

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 10:21pm

I saw a 45-minute Aladdin at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim a few weeks ago. It was stunning. It sounds like the songs were the ones from the Broadway show. Does anyone know if the staging is similar (for example, the magic carpet)? BTW, in the theme park version, the genie stole the show, though I daresay his effeminate characterization was not politically correct.

Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.

#111

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 10:27pm

^ magic carpet is not at all the same staging.

#112

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 10:37pm

The magic carpet at Disneyland/California Adventure is similar to Poppins' flight into the audience at the end of that show ... out over the audience and into the heights of the theater... up/down/back/forth/high/low/fast/slow/dives, etc... - thrilling. They use doubles for this effect.

The magic carpet in Aladdin Toronto that I saw stayed within the proscenium - with the actors riding, not doubles. Went up a bit and down a bit, back and forth a bit. So much less effective on Broadway (if like Toronto).

Updated On: 2/27/14 at 10:37 PM

#113

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:03pm

The main problem with having the carpet come out over the audience is that it eliminates the view of the actors from everyone in the orchestra level. People would have definitely complained about that in a Broadway show, much more so than they would in a 45 minute theme park adaptation. With that in mind, it just seems like an unnecessary technical nightmare. Also, the song is so beautiful that it should be the true spectacle of the moment, or at least the song combined effectively with powerful staging. I think I do prefer this simpler, yet beautiful approach. Though, I must agree, the planet thing sounds really odd and out of place.

#114

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:20pm

Having both seen the Toronto try-out and the DisneyLand version, it's so sad for me to say that I much prefer the theme-park version in just about every aspect. The carpet flying through the theatre is so incredibly magical regardless of where you were sitting. Them barely moving onstage with rainbow planets dancing around them in Toronto left much to be desired.

#115

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:28pm

^They don't barely move, in fact they move quite a bit (just not out over the audience). The problem with the whole scene is that the ensemble below are too distracting and completely pull focus from the magic carpet.

#116

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:43pm

Let's not also forget that in the theme park version they actually GET OFF the carpet (while it is supposed to be in mid air) 3/4 of the way through the song and finish the rest while walking in the "clouds." Never understood that staging.

Updated On: 2/27/14 at 11:43 PM

#117

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/27/14 at 11:51pm

Could they not drop the carpet down into the aisle and then fly it back out over the audience? I think that would have been a cooler effect - to have it go out over the audience - then keep it within the proscenium.

#118

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 6:54am

And this might be why they don't do the magic carpet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ8u4I0K53M

#119

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 9:06am

^^^ Thats not even the bad one. The one that took it out of the show for almost two years is when it flipped upside down and left the 2 actors hanging upside down and VERY scared. It took them almost two years to put the carpet back in the show. I don't like posting the clip because it is a little difficult to watch due to the actress playing Jasmine being very frightened and tourists just trying to take a picture of the mishap.

#120

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 9:24am

I just feel like with Mary Poppins flying over the audience, the animals entering through the audience in Lion King, and Spiderman flying all over the place, people have come to expect a bit of a spectacle. And sounds like this is lacking in that dept.

#121

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 10:14am

Am I the only one that thinks the whole thing is corny? Flying in general hasn't ever really been "magical" to me. It looks mechanical and I spend the entire wondering how its done. I haven't seen Aladdin yet but I'd be happy with them on a piece of plywood.

One of the reasons I liked Wicked so much is they made "flying" more abstract.

#122

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 11:16am

So, I saw the show last night and I didn't think the flying was corny at all. In fact, had they flown out into the house, that would've upped the cheesy factor exponentially. The effect they used was really quite beautiful, but not difficult to figure out. I think what throws people off was is fact that it's assumed that the dark stage during A Whole New World masks cables supporting the carpet but ***SPOILER!*** the carpet makes another appearance in the finale in a fully lit stage as it carries Jasmine and Aladdin off. It looked gorgeous.

Of course, it was certainly supported by wires, but the material they used was so close to invisible, they achieved quite an impressive look. I'm curious to see the mechanism that flew the carpet around like a giant puppet. It was very precisely programed/choreographed. A Whole New World ended with the carpet descending as it spun in circles and landed perfectly for the two of them to hop off and kiss.

#123

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 11:46am

I just want them to get rid of the planets...

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

#124

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 11:52am

They use doubles and have two carpets as well... The carpet effect is actually pretty cool as it is now. It would cool if they went over the first couple rows of the audience though.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

#125

Aladdin Previews

Posted: 2/28/14 at 12:16pm

Last night the carpet never left the view of the audience so no doubles and no second carpet at the New Amsterdam.

I won't rule out that the one at the end is different and maybe even a different bit of disney magic in the fully lit sequence

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