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Post by Stasia on Jun 29, 2016 7:42:37 GMT
I saw Alladin on Friday 17 matinee (brought a friend who won the lotto) and, as many here, left underwhelmed. I know that a Disney show can be deep, moving and as real as i like. It just wasn't that show.
Strangely (contradicting a few people who posted before me) the most real and genuine character for me was Dean's Al. Jade's Jasmin was totally not my cup of tea, as for me she looks rather arrogant and experienced and not as properly naive as Disney princess should be. And it was her side that lacked of chemistry.
Everything else as too shiny and glittery and despite that incredible amount of glitter and colour it overall looked cheap... Well, it was ok for 25 quid and the front row but I would be disappointed if I paid more, and I am definitely not planning a return visit.
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Post by avenueqresident on Jun 29, 2016 8:01:06 GMT
How's the lottery been for this? Drawing big crowds Book of Mormon style?
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Post by Stasia on Jun 29, 2016 9:01:09 GMT
It was my first ever lottery so nothing to compare with. Also it was a matinee and Friday matinee (when usually they have Thursday matinees and moved that one because of the opening night on Wed evening), and it was their second ever lottery...
I guess it was rather quiet, maybe 40 people? I saw pictures from Saturday lottery and the crowd was 2-3 times bigger?
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Post by cmcphail on Jun 29, 2016 9:14:55 GMT
How's the lottery been for this? Drawing big crowds Book of Mormon style? I won the lottery on Saturday night, and the woman running it told me that they normally have between 50 - 100 people entering, sometimes more. I also found the show a little underwhelming, but did really enjoy it whenever Aladdin's friends were involved. I did wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I could have heard the singing better. We were sitting lined up with the woodwind and brass section in the pit, so they drowned out most of the performers. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 30, 2016 19:41:49 GMT
I saw this today and must say i thought it was excellent. I loved it. And the magic carpet.....yes at one or two points i did see a hint of wire but 98% of the time you don't see anything and it really is magical. Not only that but i'd say if you aren't looking for it then you probably wouldn't notice but i couldn't help but to look out for something. Also i think in the dress you probably wouldn't see any hint of it, but i was in mid stalls.
Trevor is surely a shoe in for an Olivier i;d say, even at this early stage.Fantastic performance. I thought Dean was excellent though i couldn't really tell if his slightly awkward looking at times dancing was a character thing or him. I liked Jade but maybe her acting wasn't as strong as her singing at times. The 3 friends were all brilliant.
Oh and the orchestra sounded brilliant.
It's one of the only shows in a while that made me think i'd love to see it again tomorrow.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 2, 2016 20:02:17 GMT
Maybe it's just me or is A Whole New World too rushed in this? I watched and it felt like it was on fast forward, it just felt too fast and manic. I think it lost a bit of romance because of it. I don't know if it's because of the carpet or what?
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Post by longinthetooth on Jul 2, 2016 20:26:15 GMT
I have to say I was completely and utterly underwhelmed by this show. I had looked forward to it with great interest, but soon became bored. I thought the Genie was a pain in the **** and agree with Andy614 that A Whole New World was far too rushed. In fact I wasn't impressed with anyone's performance, although if I had to single anyone out it would be Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Kassim - he has a great voice and actually looked as if he was enjoying himself. I saw the pantomime Aladdin in Birmingham earlier in the year and thought their flying magic carpet was far more effective (ok, you could see how it worked, but it came out into the audience and turned upside down, which this one doesn't). Interesting to see quite a few of the ensemble of Miss Saigon appearing. I was glad when it ended. Sorry guys - I must have been having a bad day.
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Post by Mr Wallacio on Jul 2, 2016 20:34:53 GMT
I saw the matinee today and like others wasn't that impressed with the majority. Loved the Genie, but the first act is pretty dull until the Cave of Wonders then Friend Like Me kicks up the atmosphere.
But kids love the show no doubt so it'll sell for a while.
Not sure what I was expecting, but this was not it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2016 5:19:14 GMT
Maybe it's just me or is A Whole New World too rushed in this? I watched and it felt like it was on fast forward, it just felt too fast and manic. I think it lost a bit of romance because of it. I don't know if it's because of the carpet or what? I know what you mean but i rewatched the film recently and its not that long in that either. I think the limits of the stage doesnt help, you cant have it souring all over the place without giving away how it's done. The Toronto tryout had it sour past planets on sticks held by stage crew but that didnt work and was removed |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 3, 2016 6:56:34 GMT
I know what you mean but i rewatched the film recently and its not that long in that either. I think the limits of the stage doesnt help, you cant have it souring all over the place without giving away how it's done. The Toronto tryout had it sour past planets on sticks held by stage crew but that didnt work and was removed I don't mean the song/scene is too short really i mean the actual speed of the song, the pacing, is too fast. It feels as they rush singing/playing it. But that's my only issue with the show really. |
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Post by viserys on Jul 3, 2016 7:19:16 GMT
I know what you mean but i rewatched the film recently and its not that long in that either. I think the limits of the stage doesnt help, you cant have it souring all over the place without giving away how it's done. The Toronto tryout had it sour past planets on sticks held by stage crew but that didnt work and was removed I don't mean the song/scene is too short really i mean the actual speed of the song, the pacing, is too fast. It feels as they rush singing/playing it. But that's my only issue with the show really. I was also disappointed by A whole new world, which should have been one of the highlights of the show. The song itself felt rushed and even the twinkling stars in the background seemed to twinkle very fast. It was never the dreamy atmosphere it should have been. I understand the "planet on sticks" didn't work (this sounds like a terrible idea) but the twinkling stars alone were also a bit lame. Wish they would have done some sort of projections that see Aladdin and Jasmine fly above some famous sights like the pyramids and the Taj Mahal as in the movie. But maybe that wasn't feasible either because it would have revealed the wires. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 3, 2016 8:50:31 GMT
If all you wanted was projections of them flying over landmarks- why didn't you just watch the film instead? I suspect they didn't do it because theatrically it would have been lame. I don't mean the song/scene is too short really i mean the actual speed of the song, the pacing, is too fast. It feels as they rush singing/playing it. But that's my only issue with the show really. I was also disappointed by A whole new world, which should have been one of the highlights of the show. The song itself felt rushed and even the twinkling stars in the background seemed to twinkle very fast. It was never the dreamy atmosphere it should have been. I understand the "planet on sticks" didn't work (this sounds like a terrible idea) but the twinkling stars alone were also a bit lame. Wish they would have done some sort of projections that see Aladdin and Jasmine fly above some famous sights like the pyramids and the Taj Mahal as in the movie. But maybe that wasn't feasible either because it would have revealed the wires. |
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Post by Ade on Jul 3, 2016 9:25:45 GMT
I had no problem with the twinkling but the above nails it for me. It just felt far too rushed through. That and the fact that the carpet just goes back to its original position like it was resetting back ready for its next performance (I get that this was related to the position of the balcony) just made it feel like an anti-climax.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 7, 2016 23:57:29 GMT
Finally saw Aladdin the Disney musical tonight at the Prince Edward. A whole new world? Nahhh.... I thought it was just bubble gum and has all been done before. I so wanted it to be different and much more sophisticated than a panto and well.... the show was fine but just nothing special.
The story is blah, acting is "acting", the set basic and just awful (cardboard 2 dimension set/old fashioned painted show cloths) for a huge new multi million pound Broadway show? We were disappointed.
The Genie and Friend Like Me routine were super and worth seeing as was the flying carpet.
Enjoyed it but should have been much better. 6/10
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 8, 2016 0:22:53 GMT
I have to say I was completely and utterly underwhelmed by this show. I had looked forward to it with great interest, but soon became bored. I thought the Genie was a pain in the **** and agree with Andy614 that A Whole New World was far too rushed. In fact I wasn't impressed with anyone's performance, although if I had to single anyone out it would be Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Kassim - he has a great voice and actually looked as if he was enjoying himself. I saw the pantomime Aladdin in Birmingham earlier in the year and thought their flying magic carpet was far more effective (ok, you could see how it worked, but it came out into the audience and turned upside down, which this one doesn't). Interesting to see quite a few of the ensemble of Miss Saigon appearing. I was glad when it ended. Sorry guys - I must have been having a bad day. I completely agree after watching the show tonight. I was bored in the first act!!!! |
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 8, 2016 0:34:00 GMT
Even the cave is quite minimal, albeit very gold. You thought so? Stopped the show with applause when it trundled in to view, the night I saw it. Looked fabulous, I thought. Out of interest, which sets do you consider spectacular, then? I went with a group of ten tonight. We all hated the cheap looking set. Sorry it's the general opinion. |
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Post by argon on Jul 8, 2016 19:44:59 GMT
I thank the genie for keeping me awake, a dull production that is grossly overpriced
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Post by mrbarnaby on Jul 8, 2016 19:48:43 GMT
I hear that it's not selling as well as expected..
Maybe it won't be much of a runner after all
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Post by Michael on Jul 8, 2016 19:52:36 GMT
I hear that it's not selling as well as expected.. If only they had gotten strong leads... |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 19:52:42 GMT
I hear that it's not selling as well as expected.. Maybe it won't be much of a runner after all You're kidding, right? It's summer weeks are second only to Harry Potter or Lion King. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jul 8, 2016 19:56:12 GMT
Is this Beauty and the Beast Mark 2, what I mean a super show on Broadway, but poorly produced in London?
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Post by horton on Jul 8, 2016 20:05:43 GMT
I wonder whether it is slightly undercut by all the panto Aladdin's people have seen before- not unique like LK.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2016 20:23:52 GMT
No, I saw it on Broadway and thought it was far from super.
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Post by westendwendy on Jul 9, 2016 10:06:40 GMT
I hear that it's not selling as well as expected.. Maybe it won't be much of a runner after all Everyone will see it and word of mouth will be the same from everyone - the show just isn't that good. A friend like me is great but it never reaches that climax again. Without the Genie the show is dull. The show isn't funny, the story weak, singing wasn't brilliant and the set awful and cheap looking. Who on earth at Disney thought it was ok to have show cloths?!!! The panto duo were painful to watch. I soooo wanted it to be miles ahead from Aladdin the panto (Beauty and the Beast was) this wasn't and everyone will say the same. It will run for 2-3 years then tour. I preferred Tarzan, Aida and dare I say it even Little Mermaid over this! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2016 13:05:55 GMT
I hear that it's not selling as well as expected.. Maybe it won't be much of a runner after all Everyone will see it and word of mouth will be the same from everyone - the show just isn't that good. A friend like me is great but it never reaches that climax again. Without the Genie the show is dull. The show isn't funny, the story weak, singing wasn't brilliant and the set awful and cheap looking. Who on earth at Disney thought it was ok to have show cloths?!!! The panto duo were painful to watch. I soooo wanted it to be miles ahead from Aladdin the panto (Beauty and the Beast was) this wasn't and everyone will say the same. It will run for 2-3 years then tour. I preferred Tarzan, Aida and dare I say it even Little Mermaid over this! They might well say the same thing about your profile picture |
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