Ramping up the lamp in a magical tale for the family
Aladdin Bord Gais Energy Theatre Until April 14 Verdict: Simply magic
★★★★✩
WITH no children of my own, I’ve managed to avoid much of what Disney churns out to keep the little darlings happy. I’m sure I’m in a minority of people who have never seen Frozen.
But in 1992, when the animated version of Aladdin came out, I was still very much in its demographic and it became one of my favourite films ever.
The inimitable Robin Williams was magnificent as the genie and it remains one of Disney’s finest works. I’m almost surprised it took until 2011 for a stage version to be developed — though when it was, it set a record-breaking run on Broadway.
Based on the Arabic folk tale One Thousand And One Nights and set in the ancient city of Amrabah, it tells the story of Aladdin, a kind but poor street urchin who uses his wits and wiles to steal food to survive but more often than not ends up giving it away to those less fortunate than himself.
He is in a constant cat and mouse game with the authorities, which makes for much hilarity as he and his friends make idiots of the local police.
Away from the bustling market, Amrabah’s royal family live a gilded life in a magnificent palace, with every whim catered to by a coterie of servants. But all is not as happy as it should be. Princess Jasmine is frustrating her father the Sultan by refusing to accept any of the suitors who come to ask for her hand in marriage. According to ancient law, the throne cannot be passed to Jasmine as she is a woman, so she must marry in order to ensure her future security.
This is all being watched carefully by the Sultan’s grand vizier Jafar, who wants the title of Sultan for himself.
While their worlds would never normally intersect, when Jasmine runs off to the market one day to act as a ‘commoner’ with her friends and bumps into Aladdin, it sets in motion a train of events that will change all their lives.
When Jafar is then told in a vision that a magic lamp exists which can only be activated by Aladdin, he devises a wicked plot to gain power.
Aladdin is taken to the Cave Of Wonders, which is when we first meet the true star of the show, Genie, via the musical number Friend Like Me.
Similar to Robin Williams in the movie, this is a show-stealing turn from Yeukayi Ushe. Fun, upbeat and oh so camp, every appearance by him is a delight.
Kudos too to Aaron Elijah Patel as Aladdin, who captures perfectly the young boy torn between courage, vulnerability and a desire to honour his mother’s memory. Gavin Adams plays the role during this run, though on the night we attended, Aaron was a worthy stand-in.
As well as the on-stage stars, special mention must also go to the choreographer, and set and costume designers.
Appearing like a Bollywood movie at times, the dance routines and colourful outfits are a feast for the senses. The Cave of Wonders is particularly impressive, though the bustling market is done equally well.
The highest praise, however, has to be reserved for the magic carpet scene, as Jasmine and Aladdin take to the skies to A Whole New World.
This staging whisks you off to incredible Amrabah, where despite elements of darkness, love, joy and magic reign supreme.