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The Daughter and I had arranged to spend the weekend in London, as we were going to the theatre on the Saturday as her birthday present. This left the Friday evening free, so she suggested she take me to see something for my birthday. There was nothing I particularly wanted to see, so TD suggested we go to see Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre.
This is the version that was first performed on Broadway, and is based on the Disney film. At first I wasn't particularly taken - the set and the colours were great, the action less so. And Aladdin reminded me of Granville in Open All Hours, which made it very hard for me to take him seriously. But slowly the magic started to work, and the tap dance number which reminded me of 42nd Street pulled me in. (I was impressed with myself when I read in the programme that they had based the routine on that musical.)
Then after the interval I really got into the performance. Part way through streamers fell from the theatre ceiling, so I collected some up and brought them home in my coat pocket. Aladdin's three friends, Babkak, Kassim and Omar, came into their own, rather than being just sidekicks. Aladdin grew up and took responsibility for his actions - one of the songs in the production which was cut from the Disney film was 'Proud of your Boy' and by placing importance on that the musical had perhaps more depth.
So by the end of the evening I was really enjoying myself and delighted to have seen it. I now have an Aladdin latte mug (present from TD), whilst she has a fleece blanket in the style of a magic carpet.
This is the version that was first performed on Broadway, and is based on the Disney film. At first I wasn't particularly taken - the set and the colours were great, the action less so. And Aladdin reminded me of Granville in Open All Hours, which made it very hard for me to take him seriously. But slowly the magic started to work, and the tap dance number which reminded me of 42nd Street pulled me in. (I was impressed with myself when I read in the programme that they had based the routine on that musical.)
Then after the interval I really got into the performance. Part way through streamers fell from the theatre ceiling, so I collected some up and brought them home in my coat pocket. Aladdin's three friends, Babkak, Kassim and Omar, came into their own, rather than being just sidekicks. Aladdin grew up and took responsibility for his actions - one of the songs in the production which was cut from the Disney film was 'Proud of your Boy' and by placing importance on that the musical had perhaps more depth.
So by the end of the evening I was really enjoying myself and delighted to have seen it. I now have an Aladdin latte mug (present from TD), whilst she has a fleece blanket in the style of a magic carpet.
