Cessy Newmon
Fun Facets: Aladdin is one story from The Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern and Indian folk tales. However, it did not appear in the original Arabic text. It was added by a French translator, who compiled 12 volumes of stories in the 1700’s. The original story is also set in China, and Aladdin is a lazy boy living with mom, not an orphaned street urchin.
It’s hard not to compare this version of Aladdin with the 1992 animated film and the more recent 2019 live-action movie. The animated version is fantastical, light, and one can only wonder at the bravery of the souls following Robin Williams as Genie. The 2019 film swings towards the other side, taking on darker tones. The stage musical seems to meet in the middle.
The show opens with the Genie setting the stage with “Arabian Nights”. Marcus M. Martin as Genie does not try to mimic the animated version of Genie. He doesn’t need to. This powerhouse has you wanting more from the moment he takes the stage.
The scene transitions to the colorful market of Agrabah. The first number with the ensemble is colorful, musical, energetic and truly sets the tone for the show. You’ll want to get up and dance with everyone. Preshow, I noted in the playbill that a lot of the cast had strong vocal backgrounds, giving me high hopes for the music. They do not disappoint! There is not a weak voice in the group. I could not tell what to expect in terms of choreography, since many of them do not refer to having done much dance. The choreography was amazing.
The storyline is a rags-to-riches love story. Adi Roy as the street urchin, Aladdin is very relatable, and he does a great job of leading the story. His love interest is Jasmine, and Senzel Ahmady portrays a classic Disney princess. Jasmine’s father, the Sultan (Sorab Wadia), is very credible in his role.
There is a distinct lack of animals as companions for the lead characters. Instead of one monkey, Aladdin has three best friends – Omar (Ben Chavez), Babkak (Jake Letts), and Kassim (Colt Prattes). These three not only ham it up, sing and dance well, but they work together and harmonize as a team, with Aladdin blending in seamlessly when they move to quartets. Jasmine has her own trio of attendants (Caro Daye Attayek, Victoria Byrd, and Lauren Mariasoosay) in lieu of a tiger. Again, well-blended voices and fabulous footwork.
Of course, I have to mention the bad guys. Jafar, played by Anand Nagraj, has a lovely deep voice and evil laugh. I did find myself wanting his character in general to be more over-the-top, but I don’t think it was written that way for stage. For Iago, his sidekick, Aaron Choi channels his inner parrot to the delight of the audience.
The costumes were deliciously colorful (and quite sexy). I have to wonder how many cities are now void of rhinestones, glitter, and bedazzling sets. There was also some serious quick-change artistry built into some costumes, with Jafar changing between three outfits onstage in the span of less than a minute.
The set was not overly complicated with a series of overhead fly-ins complemented with projections and set pieces. That does not make it any less stunning. Probably the biggest scenic transformation was to the Cave of Wonders, in which the lamp was hidden. This stunning scene was probably the most Broadway (vs. Disney) style of musical number (of course complete with tap shoes!). “Friend Like Me”, led by Genie and Aladdin, is a true show-stopper.
There were quite a few optical illusions, done by illusion designers (magicians), including the disappearing Genie, a disappearing magic box, green fog, quick changes, and of course the magic carpet ride. There are some very bright flashing lights at times, so individuals who are sensitive should be aware.
Overall, this musical has pieces to keep the youngsters’ attention with enough double-speak to amuse the young-at-heart. It’s fun and fast-paced. With intermission, the show runs about 2 ½ hours.
It was very nice to see the audience so full for this production. I don’t know if it was the show title that was the draw, or the fact that the ensemble includes Jacksonville native Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson. He is part of the wonderful ensemble, but he also understudies both Omar and Iago. As of this review, he will be performing as Iago at least the evening of the 11th! He is proof that locals who work hard for their dreams can make it into Broadway shows.
Part of the FSCJ Artist Series, ALADDIN is downtown January 10-15, 2023, with performances Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ticket prices vary based on show and seating. For tickets, go to fscjartistseries.org or call (904) 632-5000.
By Cessy Newmon
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