DISNEY’S ALADDIN A MUST-SEE
The Aladdin cast is about to unveil its exuberant production in Brisbane having already won over audiences far and wide
THERE’S a line in Disney’s musical extravaganza Aladdin that garners “ooohs” and cheers from the audience every night.
When fiery Princess Jasmine questions “What’s wrong with a woman running the kingdom?” the show stops briefly.
“It’s such a powerful message and so relevant now,” says Hiba Elchikhe, the British actor playing Jasmine in the show’s Australian production.
The Tony Award-winning musical adapted by Disney from screen to stage is opening in Brisbane this month after sellout seasons in Melbourne and Sydney.
And unlike most shows where an original cast will stick with the production for a year (give or take a little) the stars of Aladdin aren’t going anywhere.
Former Hi-5 performer Ainsley Melham is 18 months into the Aussie run as Aladdin (and is “still loving it”) and Stateside, the original
Broadway stars – Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed – remain with the show after four years. It’s practically unheard of.
“When you get a role like this it’s like living out a part of your childhood,” Melham says.
“It’s thrilling to see the audience react to your performance every night and I suspect that’s why people, like Adam (Jacobs) and myself, stick with it. You’re living out a fantasy.
Elchikhe agrees, saying: “I think any person that gets a chance to play Jasmine feels extremely lucky and would want to hold onto the role.
“It sounds cliche but I’m living every little girl’s dream.”
The plotline – defiant princess meets spunky commoner meets ostentatious genie – remains true to the 1992 movie, but is told with plenty more frills, baubles and bangles.
The maniacally entertaining Act 1 closer Friend Like Me was always going to be a highlight (it interpolates snippets of other hits from the Disney mothership such as Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid) but the new songs written for bumbling trio Babkak, Omar and Kassim, who trail Aladdin, cracking hackneyed jokes, also land well.
“One of my favourite songs is Somebody’s Got Your Back which I sing with the new characters Babkak, Omar and Kassim,” Melham says.
“It’s sort of a ’40s soft shoe shuffle ... we’re thrilled to have this new material in the show.”
Melham’s casting in 2016 came as somewhat of a surprise, with many expecting Disney would cast an international star to play alongside Broadway’s Michael James Scott as the Genie.
“(Producers) aren’t afraid to bring in international stars so it was really humbling, as an Aussie,” Melham says. “I left Hi-5 without a job lined up, then went into auditions for Aladdin.
“I was having a nap one day and woke up to all these missed calls from my agent.
“When I called back she was like ‘hold onto your hat’ and that’s when I knew ... There was so much excitement and so much relief, knowing that my gamble had paid off.
“This job is what I had been working toward for all those years.”
Co-star Elchikhe, who was flown in from London to star in the show, said the pair hit it off right away. “We’re similar ages so we got along straight away,” she says.
“When I arrived in Australia he was like ‘don’t worry I’ll show you around’ which was so great of him; plus we’re both massive nerds, we love everything Disney and everything Marvel.
“I’m so excited to visit the Gold Coast when we come to Queensland. When you think of Australia, the Gold Coast beaches are what you imagine.”