IMO ALADDIN sticks to the Disney brand and pulls it off pretty well. You see every cent they spent on it up there on the stage. It's all eye-popping spectacle (especially the flying carpet), more style over substance, but I didn't mind because it's presented so gorgeously. The bad guy and his henchman, Aladdin's three cohorts, and of course the genie steal the show from the romantic leads. You could do a lot worse.
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE was giddily delightful throughout. Lots if laughs, very clever lyrics and period-suitable melodies are delivered by a very able cast. Jefferson Mays is not to be missed as all the murder victims, nor should Bryce Pinkham as the perpetrator.
I thought KINKY BOOTS was a fun, pleasant evening with something to say about tolerance and respect. But I am not as big a fan as many others. IMO the infinitely superior MATILDA should have won the Best Musical Tony in addition to Best Score. BOOTS is cute in spots, especially "The History of Wrong Guys," the show's best number. But I found score fairly banal and generic ("Everybody Say Yeah") for the most part. Overall, it's colorful and feel-good, but meh.
Updated On: 9/14/14 at 07:59 AM