| 'ALADDIN' last night ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 10:48 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I liked it. Quite a lot. Many of you have already heard much of this before, I suppose, but indulge me. I had a terrific fourth row orchestra seat (I like being way down front, even for big musicals), and four rows behind me on the aisle sat composer Alan Menkin himself (with wife and friends?) On the other side of the orchestra, also in an aisle seat all alone, sat our director/choreographer for the evening, Casey Nicholaw. I love going to previews, if only to see guys like this at work. But I can't imagine there'll be many (if ANY) changes, at this point. The show's in great shape, and would appear to be frozen. Is 'ALADDIN' another blockbuster like 'THE LION KING'? No. Is it another disaster like 'TARZAN' or 'THE LITTLE MERMAID'? No. No. What it is is a lavish, big old fashioned romantic musical comedy that will do an 'AIDA'/'MARY POPPINS' and have a very respectable five or six year run, I'd guess. Tony Award nominations? Yes. Several. Tony Award wins? To Gregg ('FOLLIES') Barnes for Best Costumes and, for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, James Monroe Iglehart who plays the Genie and practically steals the show, leading the showstopping number to end ALL showstopping numbers near the end of Act One called "Friend Like Me," which is filled up with more sequins and fireworks than should be allowed in any single number on any given stage, ever. Not only did that song stop the show, the entire audience STOOD for it. In over fifty years of theatre-going on Broadway, I have personally never witnessed a standing ovation in the middle of a show for any single showstopping number, that I can recall. I've heard about 'em, but never witnessed one. So this was a first for me, and I was rather flabbergasted by it. There's also a genuine "magic carpet" that the young couple take a couple of rides on. And from my fourth row orchestra seat I could not, for the life of me, see any wires or figure out how exactly they made it fly!? It was like ... magic! I smell a HIT! The cast is terrific. I think there was a monkey side-kick in the cartoon version of this piece (which I am not very familiar with), but he's mercifully been eliminated here. Of course it's a show for kids as well as adults. And a little boy about seven years old sat next to me on my left, and two little girls about ten years of age sat next to me on my right (both sneezing throughout the show - yikes!) And they were all very well behaved and completely attentive to what was happening on that stage, by the way. For two-aand-a-half hours. They enjoyed it, their parents enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it. Very entertaining. Another winner for Disney. | |
| reply to this message | | |
| They've eliminated Abu!?!? | |
| Posted by: | Jonesy 04:03 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | 'ALADDIN' last night ... - flaguy 10:48 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Oh well. Yeah, I suppose that was a bit hard to make work. What about Iago? (the parrot) | |
| reply to this message | | |
| They've eliminated Iago too. I guess. (nm) | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 04:38 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | They've eliminated Abu!?!? - Jonesy 04:03 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I remember no parrot. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: They've eliminated Iago too. I guess. (nm) | |
| Posted by: | Jonesy 04:55 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | They've eliminated Iago too. I guess. (nm) - flaguy 04:38 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Ah... thanks. I guess the stage show is very different from the movie. Aladdin without Abu and Iago is like... Lucy without Ethel, The Honeymooners without Ed and Trixie, Will and Grace without Jack and Karen, The Lion King without Timon and Pumba, Bambi without Thumper and Flower... | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: They've eliminated Iago too. I guess. (nm) | |
| Posted by: | wadkins75 11:44 am EDT 03/13/14 |
| In reply to: | re: They've eliminated Iago too. I guess. (nm) - Jonesy 04:55 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Iago is indeed in the show, just not as a parrot. He is played by Don Darryl Rivera and is quite hilarious. | |
| Link | Aladdin Broadway Cast |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Costumes Tony win? | |
| Posted by: | DistantDrumming 02:04 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | 'ALADDIN' last night ... - flaguy 10:48 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I can't wait to see this show (and it's designs), but do you really think it would win over Isabel Toledo's widely celebrated designs for 'After Midnight'? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Costumes Tony win? | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 04:34 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | Costumes Tony win? - DistantDrumming 02:04 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I loved everything about 'AFTER MIDNIGHT' (with Fantasia), but 'ALADDIN' would certainly get MY Best Costume vote. If I had a vote. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Holy Toledo, what a designer! | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 06:36 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Costumes Tony win? - flaguy 04:34 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I loved ''After Midnight'' (and loved it even more with k.d. lang), but I especially adored the Art Deco costumes by Isabel Toledo. They were so smart and stylish, and the acrobatic dancers and wonderful singers looked so stunning in them. | |
| Link | Vanity Fair: ''After Midnight'': Sketches and costumes |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Holy Toledo, what a designer! | |
| Posted by: | DistantDrumming 08:11 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | Holy Toledo, what a designer! - WaymanWong 06:36 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Agreed. And nearly every review of the show commented on the stunning costumes. Such wonderful color and motion and sense of whimsy. She certainly knows how to fit a dancer's body perfectly. Incredibly impressive for her very first Broadway show. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Holy Toledo, what a designer! | |
| Posted by: | Dale 09:26 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Holy Toledo, what a designer! - DistantDrumming 08:11 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Plus gloves and hat! Depend who guest stars in the future this will be a treat to see ( and hear ) again! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: 'ALADDIN' last night ... | |
| Posted by: | StageLover 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | 'ALADDIN' last night ... - flaguy 10:48 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I was also in the 4th row last night and will agree with you on just about everything except "Not only did that song stop the show, the entire audience STOOD for it." Well, no. I'd say about only 10% of the audience stood, but I'd agree, the FRIEND IN ME number is truly spectacular. ALADDIN is definitely a hit! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: 'ALADDIN' mid-show standing ovation ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 11:01 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: 'ALADDIN' last night ... - StageLover 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| EVERYONE around me stood, forcing ME to stand. I then turned around and saw EVERYONE standing, including those up in the mezz. I can't imagine what theatre you were in!? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: 'ALADDIN' mid-show standing ovation ... | |
| Posted by: | mikem 12:35 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: 'ALADDIN' mid-show standing ovation ... - flaguy 11:01 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I saw the show last week, and the standing ovation at my show was very forced. At the conclusion of the number, about 10 people stood. But they held and held and held and held and held so that eventually more people started standing, eventually creating a cascade so that there was a standing ovation. But it was not organic at all. Andrea Martin got a standing ovation when I saw Pippin in previews, but she didn't when I went back again several months later. I liked but did not love the show. I would give it three stars out of five in its current version. The first two-thirds is well-done but the last third drags and the climax isn't much of a climax. I also think the show is very good at what it is trying to achieve, but it doesn't set the bar as high as it could. I think James Monroe Iglehart is giving a Tony-worthy performance, but I wish he were giving a more distinctive performance. There are a lot of actors whom I could imagine in that part giving an equally good performance. I think the real find is Adam Jacobs. It's hard for me to think of a lot of actors who fit the part physically as much as he does who could do as good a job. And he's effortlessly charming, while Iglehart is showing you how hard he works. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| agree, mostly ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 12:41 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: 'ALADDIN' mid-show standing ovation ... - mikem 12:35 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I do agree with pretty much everything you say here. It dragged a bit for me around the song "High Adventure." But I'd give it four stars out of five, for it's sheer entertainment value. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: agree, mostly ... | |
| Posted by: | mikem 01:03 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | agree, mostly ... - flaguy 12:41 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| "High Adventure" goes on too long, and then is closely followed by the too-long dungeon number. The three friends were fine in small doses earlier in the show, but they kind of take over in the middle of the second act. Did they still include the part where the friends are bayoneting and killing the guards (rather than just knocking them out)? That didn't seem to go over too well with the audience around me. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: agree, mostly ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 04:35 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: agree, mostly ... - mikem 01:03 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Yes. Bayoneting and killing the guards, as I remember it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: agree, mostly ... | |
| Posted by: | mikem 07:26 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: agree, mostly ... - flaguy 04:35 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| The person next to me actually recoiled during that part. It seems a little un-Disney for us to be rooting for people who are killing other people. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: 'ALADDIN' last night ... | |
| Posted by: | pitslre 10:52 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | 'ALADDIN' last night ... - flaguy 10:48 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| It seems like every season there's a show or two with a mid-show ovation (last year Pippin & Kinky Boots)...yet we forget it by the time the next season roles around and act like it's such unique. Maybe less rare than we think? Glad you enjoyed the show! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| HUH?! ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: 'ALADDIN' last night ... - pitslre 10:52 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Gee, I saw 'KINKY BOOTS'' & 'PIPPIN' early in their runs, and witnessed NO mid-show standing ovations at either show. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: HUH?! ... | |
| Posted by: | jero 05:43 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | HUH?! ... - flaguy 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| I felt compelled to stand for "Hold me in your heart" at kinky boots. I believe I was the only one but it was something I felt strongly about. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: HUH?! ... | |
| Posted by: | StageDoorEddie 11:08 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | HUH?! ... - flaguy 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Thanks for your report. It might get me to see this one, as I've passed on the other Disney efforts. I don't remember one in KINKY BOOTS, but at the performance of PIPPIN I attended, most of the audience did stand after Andrea Martin finished "No Time At All." | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: HUH?! ... | |
| Posted by: | Deirdre 11:08 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | HUH?! ... - flaguy 10:59 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Andrea Martin got a standing ovation the night I saw "Pippin" after "No Time At All." | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Same at the Wednesday matinee I saw the first full week of previews | |
| Posted by: | Esther 11:15 am EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | re: HUH?! ... - Deirdre 11:08 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| That was only the second mid-show standing O I've ever witnessed to date, Betty Buckely/Sunset Blvd singing "With One Look" being the other. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Well, believe it or not, ... | |
| Posted by: | flaguy 12:25 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | Same at the Wednesday matinee I saw the first full week of previews - Esther 11:15 am EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Andrea got wild applause when I saw it, but no standing o that I noticed. However, I saw the final preview of the original 'PIPPIN' (from a box seat, as I recall), and it is my belief Irene Ryan got even WILDER applause, bless her heart. Without a trapeze! At least, that's how I remember it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Well, believe it or not, ... | |
| Posted by: | Thom915 (Thom915@aol.com) 01:58 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
| In reply to: | Well, believe it or not, ... - flaguy 12:25 pm EDT 03/12/14 |
|
| |
| Dunno what it is about this show which I thought had middlin word of mouth out of town but they must have worked on it. Not only is it getting raves here on this board but friends not on these chat boards are also loving it. Nobody is calling it the greatest musical ever but they are loving it! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
All That Chat is intended for the discussion of
theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)
Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.
[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]
Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]
Time to render: 1.200557 seconds.