Aladdin on GMA and The View- Page 2

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 6:41pm

I wonder how (and why) they filmed these two numbers? Was the audience invited? Obviously it's cheaper than taking the cast, costumes, crew etc. to a studio and since it's ABC, they get free range. Is the cast not paid extra for this, as they would if they actually appeared on these shows? The costumes look incredible but the staging is a little static with Genie center while dancers spin around him. But I bet this will sell a sh&tload of tix.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 6:44pm

I watched "Prince Ali" first and was severely underwhelmed. I get that this is a performance done out of the context of the entire show but it was very low energy. If you're going to show something on TV then it should be up to the caliber of seeing it on stage. Also the Genie's leisure suit before the quick change was not good.

"Arabian Nights" was a little better in that it shows us all the main players. Unfortunately I'm not feeling that Jafar costume. I will forever want to hear "where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face."

Obviously I'll reserve judgement until I see the show but this has lessened my excitement.

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 6:48pm

I just think being owned by Disney or the other way around they wanted to show it the best way possible to sell more tickets Updated On: 4/15/14 at 06:48 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 6:50pm

You think and want a lot, Simon.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 8:56pm

I liked what I saw, but I was expecting "Prince Ali" to have a little more energy like in the movie. "Arabian Nights" was more entertaining.

Updated On: 4/15/14 at 08:56 PM

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 9:56pm

Very presentational pageant-like staging, perhaps those two numbers shouldn't have been paired - very similar. The colors will certainly keep the kiddies awake.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 9:58pm

I was extremely underwhelmed by Arabian Night on GMA, as it blew me away when I saw the show in Toronto. I know they changed the opening, after the deletion of Aladdin's friends as narrators. But, understand what they are trying to do. But, its just not as magical or breathtaking as Toronto, sorry.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:44pm

Didn't catch the GMA appearance. The number performed on "The View" however was painfully boring.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:46pm

"But, its just not as magical or breathtaking as Toronto, sorry."

Unlike all the other morning talk show appearances where the show is more magical and alive than seeing it in person?!

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:01pm

I saw it in Toronto, so I saw the friends doing "Arabian Nights." Is it still them or does it belong to the Genie now?

I haven't seen the "Prince Ali" clip yet, but it was a bore on stage. I wanted more.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:10pm

Prince Ali clip is available...
Prince Ali on The View

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:25am

Count me in the "underwhelmed" camp! I was thoroughly unimpressed by the performances and Inglehart, he is no comparison to Robin Williams, nor does he have to be, but everything left me wanting more. I did look at the "Friend Like Me" youtube bootleg someone mentioned, again, unimpressed. I'm typically a razzle dazzle fan that's a sucker for a spectacle, but this was nothing I haven't seen before. "Matilda" was far more innovative and fresh, this holds no weight for me, just my opinion, but there are stronger shows that merit a bigger reward than this one! Could this go the way of "Mermaid"? I even thought "Mary Poppins" was a stronger work!

[hundredsofhats]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:28pm

[I saw it in Toronto, so I saw the friends doing "Arabian Nights." Is it still them or does it belong to the Genie now? ]

Genie leads "Arabian Nights" now.

I've watched that "Arabian Nights" clip over, and over, and over--just the colors, the movement, the lighting, the energy from the cast, and the beautiful arrangement of "Arabian Nights", such a delight for the eyes and ears. It really sparks the imagination without too much flash, a real old-school number. I like how all the main characters are introduced and that Jafar and Iago get to sing "Arabian Nights" with the rest of the Company. My favorite ensemble number in the whole show.

[artscallion]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 8:53pm

I think that the biggest flaw, for me, is that the genie doesn't have a strong or distinctive enough voice to lead the numbers. The genie should be BIG, BIG, BIG! This guy kind of blends into the background, vocally.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/16/14 at 9:33pm

I agree about Iglehart's voice, Sounds like he has a great voice for jazz or ballads, but I was expecting a bigger, stronger more belt/comedy type. And he seems to throw away a lot of the jokey asides which made Williams unforgettable.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 3:25pm

I just watched the Tornoto version of Arabian Nights and yeah, the beginning and the 3 friends were pretty bad. What we have now is so much better and relevant.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/17/14 at 4:55pm

I really liked "Arabian Nights" but was NOT impressed by "Prince Ali." I know that it can't be as bombastic as the movie version, but IMO you don't want the number to be minimalist either, which it came across as. Plus it seemed so low energy, as others have said.

[Tam96]

Posted: 4/18/14 at 7:11pm

I was excited to finally be able to see some performances from "Aladdin" but, like a lot of you, I was underwhelmed. "Prince Ali" is supposed to be a big spectacle but it was so blah. Even my daughter was not impressed & she usually likes everything!

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 4/18/14 at 8:55pm

Is "Arabian Nights" the opening number? If so, it feels like by the time the genie appears, it would be anticlimatic since he already has...appeared. No?

[hundredsofhats]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 8:30am

[Is "Arabian Nights" the opening number? If so, it feels like by the time the genie appears, it would be anticlimatic since he already has...appeared. No?]

In the original concept of the movie Aladdin, the Genie was the merchant that introduced the story, so it seems to go back to that concept in as far as that Genie appears at the very beginning.

From what I remember of seeing the show, the blocking for "Arabian Nights" was different and the principals moved around a lot more. The blocking might have been changed temporarily for the taping. I believe Genie had a longer intro leading up to "Arabian Nights"---this was probably shortened for TV. The song itself also sounds shortened--I don't remember Genie jumping right into the refrain of "Arabian Nights". Can anyone who saw it confirm if he sung "Oh I come from a land.." first?

As for Prince Ali I'm almost sure the staging was more or less the same--that's the big number showing the plethora of costumes, so maybe that's why it comes off as more 'restrained'. And it comes soon after "Friend Like Me", which is the big, crazy dance number where Genie, and the ensemble move a lot more.

The Behind the scenes GMA clip has an excerpt from "Friend Like Me", it's manically energetic.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 9:27am

According to audio I've been hearing, yes the Genie has a longer introduction in Arabian Nights. They cut it for GMA.

[hundredsofhats]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 3:07pm

Thank you for confirming. They didn't find and take down that audio yet? : )

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 5:26pm

Not yet :)