Aladdin- Tuacahn Theater

[jbm2]

Anyone else see this? A couple of strong performances. 1 or 2 memorable songs, and a very weak script. Shocked this is scheduled to open on Broadway in 2014.

[PlayItAgain]

^ this isn't the version going, the broadway version is planned to be a composite of the various regional versions done this past summer and previously.

[Nickhutson]

1 or 2 memorable songs? Surely Friend Line Me, Prince Ali, A Whole New World = 3 memorable songs at least?

[Starship]

I just don't see how Disney and all three regional productions went wrong with Aladdin. Although I adore originality, I really do wish the Broadway production would follow the footsteps of the Disney California Adventure production. Such an amazing piece of theatre.

[ClydeBarrow]

They already ruined my favorite Disney movie (The Little Mermaid). I don't really need them to do it with my second fav.

[Starship]

I approve the above message.

[desiree armfeldt]

my feeling is that although it is coming to BWAY, 2014 is just a rumor....a lot more work will be done before it happens.

[TheatreKid3]

So help me if they leave that ridiculous 'OH EM GEE" lyric in there, I will lose most of the hope in Disney Theatricals that NEWSIES gave me after they practically botched MERMAID (which I didn't think was as bad overall as some, but parts of it didn't do the material justice). OMG is not period for the piece and should not be in there. The only character that could work for is Genie. And, in my opinion, they should get rid of the three sidekicks and bring Abu back, and make Iago like Zazu in LION KING.

[darquegk]

I don't know much about the concept at Tuacahn, but the stylistic brush used in Seattle was convoluted to say the least.

The show was SORT OF a show-within-a-show presented by the three sidekicks, Babkak, Omar and Kasim, Aladdin's friends and fellow street con artists. All three were essentially played as Brooklyn toughs and wise guys, a sort of Rat Pack figure. They "broke character," interacted with the fourth wall, and slipped in and out of the story, repeatedly commenting on the action, the audience, and the cheapness of the sets.

In that setting, the OMG line, and a few other especially corny lines, were somewhat more appropriate, as they were played as jokey, quasi-improvisational straight to the audience bits (a very standard convention in old Rat Pack performances), not as "real lyrics" in the way "A Whole New World" was. I don't know if the line is being played straight in new reboots, but a lot of what I see now has the newly revamped "Aladdin" ditching much of its improv-styled and low-budget "poor theatre" roots.

[Starship]

Definitely ditch the three sidekicks and corny lines and bring back the puppet Iago.

[ClydeBarrow]

Wait a sec. There is no Abu or Iago?!?!

[TheatreKid3]

Abu was replaced with the three sidekicks, kind of like the now cut 'Geek' Chorus from the SPDIER-MAN's first incarnation. Iago is now a human.

[JohnyBroadway]

I have a feeling that Aladdin is being developed as a national tour first before an NY enegagement.

[EricMontreal22]

This is well known, but the three sidekicks come from Ashman's original story concepts for the film, which (as in Seattle I believe) was meant to be kinda a modern take on those Bob Hope road movies. I sorta liked the idea of returning to that concept, even if I don't know how well it worked.

Where's the new OMG line used?

[TheatreKid3]

It was in a song that the sidekicks sing. I don't know a name or any major part of the song, I just heard it in a preview clip and had to rewind it to make sure I had heard what I heard. I was appalled.

[jbm2]

The Tuacahn production had the 3 "wise guy narrators" as well. I thought it was a horrible addition- they need to loose it.
The 3-D part was the worst idea.... They CANNOT include that going forward.

[EricMontreal22]

3D?

[jbm2]

Yes.... 3D
I knew it was going to be trouble when walking in they handed everyone 3D glasses. Then is the middle of the show the 3 men pop out and say "now is the time to put on your glasses"
I would be very very surprised if they included this in th Broadway run. Or any runs going forward, for that matter.