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ALADDIN IS ALL ABOUT THE GENIE

Written by CHRISTOPHER EHLERS Posted August 3, 2018 Filed Under: A+E, Performing Arts

Friend Like Me. Aladdin North American Tour. Photo by Deen van Meer.
Friend Like Me. Aladdin North American Tour. Photo by Deen van Meer.

 

★★★★☆

 

Aladdin may not boast the artistry of The Lion King or the heart of Beauty and the Beast—Disney’s best stage adaptations—but it proves to be a pretty decent musical with much to admire. Just as Robin Williams’s film Genie gave adults plenty to delight in, this Genie—played on tour by the sensational Michael James Scott—is worth the price of admission alone.

 

The musical’s Agrabah, sumptuously designed by the great Bob Crowley, is a place where even the poor look like a million bucks and everyone has zero percent body fat. Falling just short of a circus, the show is rife with silly gags and is, despite my dislike of cheese, pure Disney fun. Aladdin is also the rare Disney stage musical that never drags, thanks to Casey Nicholaw’s swift direction and Chad Beguelin’s clever book.

 

The musical isn’t perfect, but it is the best Disney stage musical in 20 years. Between a mesmerizing magic carpet ride and Michael James Scott’s incredible performance, Aladdin is the most fun you’ll have at the theater this summer.

 

ALADDIN. THROUGH 8.5 AT THE BOSTON OPERA HOUSE, 539 TREMONT ST., BOSTON. BOSTON.BROADWAY.COM

Christopher Ehlers
CHRISTOPHER EHLERS

Theater critic for TheaterMania & WBUR’s TheArtery | Theater Editor for DigBoston | film and music critic for EDGE Media | Boston Theater Critics Association.

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Filed Under: A+E, Performing Arts Tagged With: Aladdin, Boston Opera House, Broadway in Boston, Casey Nicholaw, Chad Beguelin, Disney, Michael James Scott

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DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]