REVIEW: Aladdin musical brings a whole new world of Disney magic to Singapore
SINGAPORE — Disney’s Aladdin musical has opened at Marina Bay Sands and will run until 1 September. Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore was at the opening last Thursday (25 July) and, oh boy – what a show it was! Aladdin pulls out all the stops in terms of entertainment and production value and is an absolutely magical experience.
This particular production of the Broadway and West End hit has travelled in Australia and New Zealand, and Singapore is the last stop on its tour, as well as the only stop in Asia.
Gareth Jacobs makes the role of the Genie his own, bringing immense charisma and flamboyance to the character. “Did you miss me?” he asks the audience near the beginning when he returns to the stage, breaking the fourth wall. You will indeed miss his Genie in every scene that he is not present.
Friend Like Me, the song that introduces Genie and his powers to Aladdin (Graeme Isaako) in the Cave of Wonders scene, has been expanded into an epic eight-minute showstopper for the musical. Genie and his host of conjured pals present a series of song-and-dance sequences and you keep wondering when this spectacle will end, though you don’t want it to. One week after watching the musical, this reviewer still can’t stop humming Friend Like Me all day.
It’s spellbinding to see how Disney incorporated all sorts of real magic tricks into the show to display Genie’s magical powers. The crowning achievement in terms of props is the flying carpet. No one, to this day, knows how Disney created this technical marvel as it’s kept top-secret. During the classic A Whole New World sequence, the carpet carries Aladdin and Jasmine (Shubshri Kandiah) and floats around the stage with no visible wires. You’re left wondering what kind of flying technology makes no noise and bears the weight of two adults, yet can be hidden in the slim form of the carpet. A drone comes to mind and yet I know of no drone that can do these things!
It was interesting how many shirtless abs were on display throughout the musical, besides those of Aladdin, who wears a tiny vest for most of the show. Yes, I know Agrabah is supposed to be in the middle of the hot desert, but there were so many hunky, skimpily clothed actors and dancers that I couldn’t help feeling as if I were at a Chippendales show. I’m not complaining about the eye candy, though!
Some characters and songs that did not feature in the original film were introduced in the musical. Aladdin’s pet monkey Abu is replaced by three bumbling but loyal human friends. Jafar’s parrot sidekick, Iago, has also been turned into a human character in the musical. The two villains, played by Patrick Brown and Doron Chester, deserve special mention for providing much comic relief despite being irredeemably evil.
Numbers performed in the musical that are not found in Disney’s Aladdin films include One Jump Ahead, Proud of your Boy and High Adventure. The quality of singing of the cast is very good all-round.
Aladdin is a very self-aware production. There were so many references to other Disney films during the musical – have fun spotting them! At one point, the Genie even whips out a Merlion from his pocket as an homage to the venue they’re performing in.
All in all, the show was a blast. You’ll leave the theatre believing more than ever in the magic of Disney.
Disney’s Aladdin is showing at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands until 1 September. Tickets are available from $68 and upwards and can be purchased via SISTIC and Marina Bay Sands ticketing.
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