There’s a million and one puns we could use to tell you about Disney’s ALADDIN which is spending Christmas and New Year at the Wales Millennium Centre. Such as – ‘You’ve Never See a Show Like This‘ or, ‘It’s a Whole New World‘ of musical entertainment. But let’s keep this really simple – WOW.
It’s bright and colourful, lively and funny, and with some of the best on stage magic, which only Disney can deliver, it really is a touch of Genie-Us (see what we did there).
It’s like all the things you love about Panto, minus the dame, Widow Twankee and Wishee Washee, with a Disney budget the size of Agrabah. This is a musical extravaganza like no other and will take you on a magic carpet ride that will have you talking long after the show finishes.
Which is where we’re going to start. Here’s the most positive reaction from last nights audience. We also asked the question – ‘if you had one wish, what would it be?’……..
I’m sure you know how the story goes by now. Aladdin is a poor ‘street rat‘ boy (GAVIN ADAMS) who falls in love with Jasmine, a sassy, no-nonsense princess (DESMONDA CATHABEL). With the help of an equally audacious, cheeky and incredibly charming genie (YEUKAYI USHE) manages to get the better of the evil Jafar (ADAM STRONG).
So, let’s start with our genie, appropriately named, as Yeukayi is the most genial genie you’ll ever meet – not that we’re ever likely to bump into a genie down the Bay. From the moment his huge frame bursts onto the stage you really wish you had a friend like him. He invites us into his house for the best ever party and boy does he serve up a feast.
This is absolutely no disrespect to any of the other cast as they are all superb, but the Genie is worth the price of admission alone, and when he performs his big number – lasting ten minutes, you are left breathless, but still have plenty of energy for a mental standing ovation, which the routine really deserved last night.
To say it is an all singing and dancing number is an understatement. As I watched, in complete awe at the strength, versatility and stamina Yeukayi put into ‘Friend like me‘ I couldn’t help but think of those classic routines in ‘42nd Street‘ and ‘Singin’ in The Rain‘ both of which have been on the Donald Gordon stage over the last year. Only this time there’s that special Disney magic I mentioned.
There’s colourful costumes, incredible effects and a set which is so eye-popping bright, it feels like Christmas has burst onto the stage. You can watch our visit to the Disney set, with our interviews with the cast, here – ON STAGE SPECIAL.
Also in the cast is Jo Servi as Sultan, Angelo Paragoso as Iago, Nay-Nay as Babkak, he was also the Prince in the New Theatre Panto last year, and Nelson Bettencourt as Kassim.
Also Hannah Amin, Dammi Aregbeshola, Rico Bakker, Daisy Barnett, Sarah Benbelaid, Adam Taylor is Omar and comes from Penarth. Erin Gisele Chapman, Tau-En Chien, Zac Frieze, Juan Jackson, James Lim, Harriet Millier, Aaron Elijah Patel, Abbie Platts, Joseph Poulton, Olivier Scheers, Kerry Spark, Ricardo Spriggs, Damien Winchester and Niko Wirachman.
Aladdin and Jasmine were the perfect match, with our Princess even getting a little whoop from some girls in the audience when she stood up to her Dad the Sultan, demanding she made the choices in her own life
The set by BOB CROWLEY is something to behold. It’s glamorous, bright and incredibly slick. Things happen on stage which leave you in awe, and the nice thing is, everything looks like it should, although still captures something a little different to the movies. The palace looks palatial, Agrabah resembles a colourful street market and the magic carpet is magic – it really does fly. Incidentally, if you wondering how the genie bursts magically from the lamp, let me just tell you that he does.
The music of Aladdin has always been loved and some of the songs hold a special place for many of us. Whether it’s the rousing ‘Friend Like Me’, ‘Prince Ali’ or ‘Arabian Nights’. Parents everywhere have watched, and listened as our kids singalong to these classic tunes. But for me, there’s one you really can’t mess with and that’s ‘A Whole New World‘. I know Zayn and Zhavia Ward did the live action movie version in 2020, but those of us who remember, it was Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle who brought multi award-winning magic to this song.
Well, with much anticipation, and a huge sigh of relief, let me tell you that Desmonda and Gavin absolutely smashed it out of the park with the song. The staging, lighting, and whole routine was as stunning as their incredible vocals, and with a really magical carpet ride, it was a real high point in the show.
We’ve already mentioned a few of the stand out performances. You can throw Adam as Jafar into the mix and Angelo was hilarious as Iago. But in true Disney fashion, it really is everyone who makes this show what it is, and having seen what goes on behind the scenes, I really do mean everyone.
I want to give credit to the orchestra who are out of this world. The Aladdin soundtrack demands a big sound to accompany it, and that’s exactly what this incredible ten piece band give us, under the direction of DAVE ROSE. Incidentally, take a look at the programme and you’ll see WILL SMITH is on trumpet – not the movie genie one, but nevertheless, equally talented.
If you need a lesson in what live theatre is all about Aladdin is the one to show you. It’s a shining, shimmering magic carpet ride of non stop fun and thrills from start to finish. As they say in the song, there’s unbelievable sights with a hundred thousand things to see, and they’re all on the Donald Gordon stage right now.
Disney’s ALADDIN is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to Sunday 14th January 2024. For more information go HERE. Incidentally, the performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including an interval.
