Review: ALADDIN JR. Wonderfully Charms

This past weekend at the South Bend Civic Theatre, Aladdin Jr. opened with two different young casts: the Abu cast and the Iago cast. I had the privilege of seeing the Iago cast, which is the older of the set. While I won't go into great detail about the plot because there is still a final weekend of performances left, Aladdin Jr. is a musical adaptation of the animated Disney film Aladdin. If you've seen Aladdin, you pretty much know the plotline to the Jr. version which was made for younger audiences to be able to perform on stage. That being said, knowing the plot doesn't take away from the charm. Even if you think you know what to expect because of the movie (an Arabian market, maybe a palace, and some cool costumes) it is still breathtaking to see it come alive on stage and see the attention to detail that SBCT has provided. Prepare to be blown away by the curtains revealing the magnificently bright city of Agrabah, a bustling market place with set pieces designed by Jacee Rohlck. The setting is made even more astounding by the projected sunset designed by Matt Davidson. Combined, they pronounce the impressive beginning tone for the entire show. There's more: the costumes go above and beyond, with every collection of characters (such as the guards) or even the main heroes/villains (Aladdin, Jasmine, the Sultan) showing off costume designer Amber Klinker's knack for fun and detailed designs. There are even more creative design elements present in the show, all the way from boisterous sound effects to an eerie fog that makes seeing the show a thrill.

Beyond these wonderful aesthetic appeals, the cast I saw were equally enjoyable and notable in their performances. You'll be astounded by Aladdin, played by Noah Johnson, with his impeccable acting skills and beautiful voice. Princess Jasmine, played by Lucy Barron, has an equally illustrious voice. Together, they dominated the best song of the whole show, "A Whole New World", with a maturity that leaves you wanting to hear more from these precocious teenagers. There are hilarious performances put on by the Captain of the Guards chasing Aladdin, who are played by Kara Foldesi and Cristian Marquez. The dynamic duo of Jafar, played by Sulton Williams, and Iago, played by Dominick King, play off each other's energies perfectly. Of course, nothing beats the powerful presence of the Genie, played by Jalen Tobar, who sings, dances, and acts with abandon. You will cry with laughter over the Magic Carpet, played by Nick Matthy's - I won't say much as to why he is so funny as to not spoil it, other than you have to see it for yourself.

All of this combined makes for a charming show that will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face; if not for the amazing production quality, then definitely for the youths' performances. Don't miss out on an incredible opportunity to see a show that kids of all ages, and even parents, can enjoy.

Here are the last few show dates and times with their corresponding cast:

March 18th 7:30pm, Abu Cast

March 19th 2:00pm, Iago Cast

March 19th 7:30pm, Iago Cast

March 20th 2:00pm, Abu Cast

To purchase tickets or find out more, visit SBCT's website here:

http://sbct.org/shows/2016/disneys-aladdin-jr/

Photo Credit: Jon Gilchrist

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