Today is Thursday, March 20, marking the OFFICIAL opening night of ALADDIN on Broadway! Disney's latest screen-to-stage adaptation, playing the New Amsterdam! The 1992 Disney animated feature about a street rat's journey to capture the heart of a misunderstood princess — and the magical Genie he befriends along the way — comes to life 8 times a week! On a personal note: I've been anxious for this one ... for eons, and to have Jonathan Freeman up there fulfills a dream of mine! Sending a flurry of light and love to all involved!
I think itll be one of those shows to take for what it is. Looks entertaining for sure, so it might be a great family musical. I'm bringing my girlfriend for her birthday, because she loves disney. I wouldnt expect it to be perfect though.
I just saw it for the first time the other night and enjoyed it much more than I expected to. Iglehart will get very strong reviews. I also thought Adam Jacobs and Jonathan Freeman were very good (seeing Freeman was also a neat experience for me). I really had fun and was mesmerized by Iglehart's performance.
I'lll say pans-mixed reviews with a possible rave from NY1, which gives reviews with a production's target audience in mind. I do see Iglehart and the technical aspects of the production getting raves though.
I've run into two different sets of people at other shows who told me to see this because of how much they enjoyed it. I already have a seat sorted out for next week, but nice to hear people are enjoying it, at least the two I randomly chatted up at shows...
beensince1987 In all honesty, that I why I hold Roma's reviews with high regard. She knows what a show is trying to do and reviews it as such. She knows Aladdin is no Spring Awakening or Next to Normal, and will review it as a parent taking her kids and determine if it is worth the price tag.
First review I've seen is from today's issue of Entertainment Weekly, who gave it a B, and pretty much summed it up as "part children's theater, part magic show, and part Nick at Nite sitcom".
Part magic show? Most of the BWW reviews have said how little magic there is in it. Anyway, Entertainment Weekly is usually fairly generous with their reviews. A B with them is like a C or a D anywhere else.
Adam Feldman from Time Out is mixed, with 3 stars. The review also reads slightly more negative than that:
"But the plotting drifts into weightless silliness, with a surfeit of generic padding and glitz. There’s the rub: The musical is called Aladdin, but seems content to be Prince Ali"
He also knocks the magic carpet as looking like "a flying Craftmatic adjustable bed."