Aladdin, UK Tour Review (2024)
Reviewed by Roni for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Ring bells, bang the drums- Disney's Aladdin has arrived at the Birmingham Hippodrome for a four week stint this autumn, bringing plenty of sparkly jewels and glitz with it. Coming to the end of a mammoth UK tour, the show is delighting audiences both old and new with its well-loved songs, spectacular sets, and a sprinkle of magic to boot. It promises to be a night of glittering entertainment- does this production live up to the incredible Disney standards we've come to know?
Aladdin is Disney's adaptation of the classic tale of a poor man living on the streets of Agrabah, stealing to survive, when he stumbles across a frustrated Princess in disguise. When the princess is revealed to have escaped from her palace walls to avoid the pressures from her father to marry a Prince, the pair grow close over their shared feelings of being trapped. However, Aladdin soon finds himself trapped when the evil Jafar tricks him into stealing a magic lamp from The Cave of Wonders, as part of his plans to marry the Princess and become Sultan. This lamp contains something a little different though- an all powerful genie who will grant his master 3 wishes. Can Aladdin turn his life around and marry the girl of his dreams - with a little magical help from a new friend?
Visually, this production goes above and beyond any expectations you may have. The sets are vast and genuinely take-your-breath-away stunning- from the simple streets of Agrabah to the glistening gilded Cave of Wonders. The costumes are bold, colourful and shimmering in the most deliciously eye-catching ways, some being replicas of the film designs while others put a new spin on the characters iconic looks. The musical numbers are of course second to none, giving that full out production value that only Disney can do. The iconic ‘Friend Like Me’ Has been extended into a 15 minute long spectacular full of skits, dance breaks and even a Disney medley – and it is golden. There is one thing that can always be said for a Disney production- they certainly know how to put on a show. There is a slight pantomime element at times, especially when there are villains involved, the this can, thankfully, be mostly overlooked due to a well behaved audience.
The wonderfully diverse cast are also exquisite, led by the incredible Yeukayi Ushe as the beloved genie. He captures the audience right from the off with his sparkling wit, charisma, and hilarious physicality. Putting your own touch on a renowned character is no mean feat, but Ushe pulls it off with finesse. He is accompanied by Gavin Adams who brings a subtle, yet cheeky flair to Aladdin, as well as Desmonda Cathabels’ suitably fierce Jasmine. Adam Strong is stoic as Jafar, which would usually be effective for the villainous character, were it not for him being consistently upstaged by Angelo Paragoso as Iago. Paragoso has a monopoly on the laughs here, which he plays to perfection and keeps the audience in stitches. The supporting cast are wonderful, with special mention going to Adam Taylor, Nelson Bettencourt and Nay-Nay as Aladdins’ colourful trio of sidekicks.
Overall, whilst this production isn’t exactly high-brow, it is certainly high calibre. Everything from costume to choreography is executed to perfection, and as such, both the show and its stars shine. Whilst there are a few choices that lean more towards slapstick, this is still a quality musical with plenty of catchy songs to send you happily on your way.
At Birmingham Hippodrome until 3 November, as part of its wider UK tour which finishes on 5 January 2025.
☆☆☆☆
