Is Aladdin Disneys worst show?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 10:41am

Saw the Australian production in Melbourne and wow what an awful disjointed mess. The same issues that made Lion King are mess are on stage here as well. A story that doesn't flow, cartoon characters that are so over the top and played for cheap laughs that you feel sorry for the actors. 

A stage that is mostly bare , sets that look cheap, direction that is sloppy and seems to place actors to fill in blank spaces where sets should have been. 

Its biggest crime is that it lacks magic. The cave of wonders was at times laughable and not in a good way.

I have little hope that frozen will be any better, at least Beauty was magical. 

Updated On: 5/14/17 at 10:41 AM

[HeatherDuke]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 10:45am

Aladdin I personally think is a great show (probably becuase I'm a Disney nerd)! But it was definitely one of my favs.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 10:57am

Of the Disney Theatricals shows, I've seen Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, and Newsies. I enjoyed Aladdin significantly more than Newsies, personally. I haven't seen Tarzan or The Little Mermaid, but I've noticed the general consensus seems to be that they were pretty awful. I wouldn't say the same for Aladdin, which received mixed to positive reviews (if I remember correctly), was nominated for several Tonys, and is still going strong on Broadway and internationally. I'm not saying those stats are the be-all-end-all indicators of quality, but given that Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Tarzan have roughly the same commercial appeal, I think it's fair to compare them based on their commercial success (in other words, we're not comparing Fun Home with Mamma Mia here) 

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:00am

I think Aladdin is very middle of the road Disney, its a very by the numbers movie to stage adaptation and in that I think it does a fine job.  Its nowhere near the level of Little Mermaid and Tarzan bad, it is just kind of serviceable.

I also have to say, I think Lion King is by far Disney's best stage adaptation.  It took all the right risks and ultimately made a puely theatrical experience that I think is spectacular.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:14am

I'm guessing no one saw TARZAN. YIKES!!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:19am

ACL2006 said: "I'm guessing no one saw TARZAN. YIKES!!

 

"

So far Australia has only seen Beauty, Lion King and Aladdin 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:19am

ACL2006 said: "I'm guessing no one saw TARZAN. YIKES!!

 

"

So far Australia has only seen Beauty, Lion King and Aladdin.Whoops edited to add Mary Poppins 

Updated On: 5/14/17 at 11:19 AM

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:20am

It sounds like Australia didn't get much of a production put together for its tour as the Broadway production was pretty much the opposite of what you describe.  In fact, when I saw it, my first reaction was this show (in it its costume and set design and talent pool) SHOULD be extravagant.  It's Disney, and they have an unlimited amount of money to throw at shows.  Everything they do SHOULD be top of the line. So it was appealing on that level.

I do agree though that it was pretty much straight from film to theater.  The only casting issue I had was I though the young lady who played Jasmine (from the original cast) was nothing special.

Surprised that Disney would put together such a mess for Australia.  

[jonahke]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:21am

ACL2006 said: "I'm guessing no one saw TARZAN. YIKES!!

 

"

Was the Broadway production of Tarzan different from the version that played in the Netherlands and is currently (since 200 still playing in Germany? Because in both Holland as Germany the musical was a hit. Or did the show change a lot after Broadway?

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:49am

rosscoe(au) said: "Saw the Australian production in Melbourne and wow what an awful disjointed mess. The same issues that made Lion King are mess are on stage here as well. A story that doesn't flow, cartoon characters that are so over the top and played for cheap laughs that you feel sorry for the actors. 

A stage that is mostly bare , sets that look cheap, direction that is sloppy and seems to place actors to fill in blank spaces where sets should have been. 

Its biggest crime is that it lacks magic. The cave of wonders was at times laughable and not in a good way.

I have little hope that frozen will be any better, at least Beauty was magical. 

 

It might just be Australia that's making the show seem like that. In the two years I lived there I never saw a professional, big budget show that I actually liked. Every block buster musical in Australia came across as subpar and tired - even some shows that were early in the run. Something about Australian theatre always seems so slow and lacking in energy. The best shows and best performers were in smaller, more intimate productions and amateurs.

Aladdin is by no means a great and wonderful show but it's by no means Disney's worst stage production. 

 

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 11:52am

I don't think its Disney's worst show by any means. I even enjoyed it more than The Lion King (which I personally can't stand). That being said, though, Aladdin is not that great either in my book. i definitely agree with the comments about the cheap set and lacking magic.

[Ziva56]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 12:06pm

Tarzan truly was the worst. Aladdin was in the middle for me as far as Disney shows. I also had problems with Mary Poppins's book but the overall production was more enjoyable than Tarzan. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 12:21pm

Aladdin is just serviceable, in my opinion. Nothing horrifically dreadful, nothing worth writing home about.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 12:26pm

Let's be honest, Australian productions are cheap at the best of times. 

[Princeton2]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 1:13pm

ive only seen the London production and while i really enjoyed it i do agree with some of the criticisms. I also thought it looked a bit minimal and cheap, i dont doubt it wasnt cheap. But to me the design looked it. I was also hugely disappointed with Jafar, one of Disneys best villains given a theatrepark looking costume and panto like scenes.

Liong King is stunning visually and at times musically, even with a few pacing issues as an adaption it is Disneys best in terms of theatricality. However for me.as a complete piece BATB wins out and also captures disney magic the best.

Mary Poppins ive seen 4 times and sometimes it can be cold and dull but with a strong cast it can elevate it. There are some stand out moments though

[JennH]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 3:38pm

Oh def not. It's mediocre as hell, but not THE worst one. That's Tarzan and it seems many here agree and for the same reason. Tarzan didn't/doesn't make any sense as a stage musical since that movie utilizes music in a completely different way than it predecessors, plus add to the fact it's a pop/rock writer. Phil is obviously a legend, and the movie and the music he wrote for it have become Disney classics in their own rite, but you can't mesh songs that are sung in third person omniscient (or third person of any kind) and first person in a stage musical...

 

As for Lion King on stage...I'm curious what makes you think it's problematic, especially when you say that Aladdin has the same issues. LK is a MASTERPIECE. One wouldn't think it would work on stage, and everyone thought so when it first premiered, but it's pretty damn cleverly done considering...animal characters. Now a song or two certainly aren't the best, I know most people detest Chow Down, but for some stupid reason...it's my JAM! Don't ask...

Aladdin is enjoyable as best, but but the criticisms it got were correct. It's merely a tourist trap. And yes I hope they run with Frozen like they should have to begin with, with the film. The current DCA and DCL productions are proving you can't just throw this one on stage and live to tell about it. It needs work. And we all know this will run for ages, so they might as well make it amazing while they're at it. I want it be cleverly done and be surprised. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 3:42pm

you've never heard of 101 Dalmatians, The Musical

[JennH]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 3:45pm

Princeton2 said: 

Liong King is stunning visually and at times musically, even with a few pacing issues as an adaption it is Disneys best in terms of theatricality. However for me.as a complete piece BATB wins out and also captures disney magic the best.
 

 

"

Precisely.

However, not that the new live action and and the B is all that great, BUT I felt one thing was nailed. Now that we have those two connecting over their love of literature and them being intellectual equals...I now wonder about that plot point in the stage musical about him being nearly illiterate. I get the bonding over her helping him re-learning to read, but I feel like it's a MUCH more compelling to have two outsiders connect over feeling that no one appreciates their intellect. I only say this since I now have the two pieces to compare. I didn't mind that stage plot point but when I saw the new film...I was wondering why in the world they didn't do that in the first place. Totally off tangent, my apologies. Needed to throw that out there.

[JennH]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 3:47pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "you've never heard of 101 Dalmatians, The Musical

 

"

Wait....I know MTI licenses a super short Kids version...what's this one?? I feel like something is tickling my memory now.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 4:00pm

I actually hated the Lion King.  I think that the new songs are terrible, with the exceptions of "He Lives in You" and "Shadowland," and you may as well just watch the movie for the rest of it. The staging was cool but that's about it. 

Aladdin seems pretty bad, too, though.

Updated On: 5/14/17 at 04:00 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 5:18pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "you've never heard of 101 Dalmatians, The Musical"

Disney had nothing to do with that. 

 

As for the worst Disney show, does nobody remember The Little Mermaid?

[Steve C.]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 5:26pm

Yes, yes, The Little Mermaid was an absolute perfect storm. How on earth (or Under The Sea) did they ever effff this up? Poor Faith Prince was a trooper, and Sierra tried...but all those plexi glass sea scapes and the fricking scooters!! I wanted Ursula to win!

Casey Nickolaw saved Aladdin. I think Frozen can be amazing but we'll see... 

[JennH]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 5:27pm

trpguyy said: "Alex Kulak2 said: "you've never heard of 101 Dalmatians, The Musical"

Disney had nothing to do with that. 

 

As for the worst Disney show, does nobody remember The Little Mermaid?

 

"

HAHA this is just me, but at least I'm able to sit through that one without wondering what the fresh hell I'm witnessing. I even remember thinking right before it was announced that LM would be brought to the stage, that it could work with some creativity. It just wasn't creative, but at least I can stomach it. Tarzan makes me wonder who the idiot was that thought the movie has any stage essence about it and thought it would somehow work on stage. The fact that Tarzan came to the stage before Hunchback did still confuses and depresses the crap out of me. If Hunchback happened sooner, maybe it wouldn't be the misguided, childish kind of story theater format show with an identity crisis it ended up being. 

[JennH]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 5:29pm

Steve C. said: "Yes, yes, The Little Mermaid was an absolute perfect storm. How on earth (or Under The Sea) did they ever effff this up? Poor Faith Prince was a trooper, and Sierra tried...but all those plexi glass sea scapes and the fricking scooters!! I wanted Ursula to win!

Casey Nickolaw saved Aladdin. I think Frozen can be amazing but we'll see... 

 

"

I'm assuming you mean Sheri? Faith replaced her but Sheri is the originator. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/14/17 at 5:37pm

Steve C. said: "Casey Nickolaw saved Aladdin."

Interesting... I think Casey Nicholaw was the PROBLEM with Aladdin.