This review has been reposted courtesy of the League of Cincinnati Theatres. For more LCT reviews click here to visit their reviews page.
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati production of Disney’s Aladdin, Jr. was what you look for in a classic Disney story brought to the stage. Combining elements of the live theatre production of “The Lion King” this production did what is supposed to do – entertain the little Friends Like Me!
Megan Ainsley as Jasmine, Bob Herzog as the Genie & Korey Harlow as Aladdin.
The narrator enters the stage to the familiar opening scene of the palace of Agrabah while he leads a life-size camel ( a puppeteer like the aforementioned Lion King). from there the pace of the show explodes non-stop with additions of the Cincinnati Circus performers, whose aerial tricks contributed to the larger-than-life feel of the show.
Inside the palace gates, Princess Jasmine (Megan Ainsley Callahan) prepares to choose from a parade of suitors (Prince Da-Doo Ran Ran!). The vizier, Jafar (oozing silent screen villainy by Sam Rueff) and his sidekick ( a remarkable and delightful puppeteer, Mia Bella D’Ascenzo who channeled the movie’s Gilbert Godfrey) secretly re-write a law so that the Princess will have to marry Jafar if she fails to choose a husband within the allotted time. When Jasmine escapes the palace and goes to the marketplace she runs into Aladdin (Korey Harlow as a natural personified goofy teen).
Aladdin is captured and thrown into Jafar’s secret hiding place, the Cave of Wonders, where he finds a lamp. Rubbing it clean, and through something akin to Disney magic, the Genie (an always delightful Bob Herzog channeling a bit of Robin William, but with bold characterizations and a wonderful sense of timing) grants “Al” three wishes.
Since the “Jr.” production is a pared down script based on the original movie, things happen quickly. But that’s a good thing to keep the young ones in the audience occupied. Once the genie is out of the bottle it’s showtime! The addition of the Cincinnati Circus brought a new level to the marketplace opening number, but in the Genie’s “Friend Like Me” showstopper they really pulled out all of the stops. Aerial acrobatics such as seen with Cirque De Soleil productions, flash pots, smoke and all kinds of razzle dazzle made for a terrific introduction to showstoppers for the little ones. The adults have a lot of fun too – with Herzog’s ad-libbing a few local jokes regarding traffic on “the cut-in-the-hill” while taking Aladdin on the magic carpet to meet the princess. While the adults were laughing one child in the seat behind this reviewer remarked “the carpet is just fantastic, fantastic….I want one, Mommy.”
Director and choreographer Roderick Justice did a fine job with the cast. They were energetic and kept the humor, characterizations and tempo of the original Disney classic. Lighting design was a bit awkward at times, the follow shots seeming to have a hard time finding their actors while other cues were making it feel like they were being made up on the fly. The flying effect of the magic carpet was a nice addition.
Overall this fast-paced adventure is a perfect introduction to the theatre for young – and old – alike. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati has done a marvelous job of keeping the magic of theatre alive with imagination and fun.
For more information on the production, click here.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 