Review: Aladdin at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Although I have seen Aladdin previously at Disney's California Adventure Theme Park, I have never seen the entire production on stage. Since Inna also wanted to see it, I purchased 3 tickets for the Aladdin Touring show at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.

I would have preferred to have seen the musical on Broadway (since Broadway shows tend to employ more vocally talented and gifted performers). However, this performance of Aladdin wasn't bad at all. Although Aladdin (played by Clinton Greenspan) had no strong voice, Genie (played by Major Attaway) sang with a strong bass/baritone, making the show enjoyable.

The decorations were first-rate and quite spectacular. The special effects, such as the flying carpet, were well done.

The dancing was fine, though not always well-coordinated (as I would have expected from a Disney production). I enjoyed the show but would have liked to have seen the Broadway production version.

National Tour Cast

• Aladdin - Clinton Greenspan
• Genie - Major Attaway
• Princess Jasmine - Lissa Deguzman
• Jafar - Jonathan Weir
• Iago - Jay Paranada
• Sultan - Jarod Vincent
• Omar - Philip Arroyo
• Babkak - Zach Bencal
• Kassim - Jed Feder

Act I The Genie welcomes the audience to the middle-eastern city of Agrabah. He notes that Agrabah is diverse, full of revered nobles, misfits, and even a few villains ("Arabian Nights"). Aladdin is a young man who spends his days stealing food from Agrabah's street vendors and his three best friends, Kassim, Omar, and Babkak ("One Jump Ahead"). After being referred to as a "worthless street rat," Aladdin expresses his dreams of showing the world he's more than just a common urchin ("One Jump Ahead" (Reprise)). He notes his guilt in thievery, having vowed to never steal again after the death of his mother ("Proud of Your Boy"). Meanwhile, in the palace of Agrabah, Princess Jasmine is scolded by her father, the Sultan, for refusing yet another suitor. The Sultan demands that Jasmine marry a noble prince before her birthday, only three days away. Jasmine laments the situation to her handmaidens ("These Palace Walls"). This news also disturbs the Sultan's Grand Vizier, Jafar, who wishes to usurp the throne. He and his assistant, Iago, search for a way to enter the "Cave of Wonders," a mysterious cavern in the desert said to hold untold power. The voice of the cave reveals that only one who is worthy, a "diamond in the rough," may enter. When Jafar asks about the identity of this "diamond in the rough," it is revealed to be Aladdin. Jafar and Iago set out to find him. While entertaining the locals ("Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim"), Aladdin bumps into Jasmine, who has disguised herself as a commoner to get a sense of life outside the palace. Aladdin has no idea who she is, but he is immediately smitten. After a brief scuffle with the authorities, he takes Jasmine to his hideout, where they each reveal their unhappiness ("A Million Miles Away"). Jasmine is discovered by the authorities and taken back to the palace. Aladdin is ordered to be killed, but he is saved by Jafar and Iago, who lead Aladdin to the Cave of Wonders ("Diamond in the Rough"). Aladdin is grateful for saving his life and honors Jafar's request to enter the cave. Once inside, Aladdin is instructed to bring the magic lamp to Jafar and touch nothing else. Astonished by all the treasure buried within the cave, Aladdin attempts to take some gold coins along with the lamp. The cave angrily seals itself, trapping Aladdin inside. Engulfed in darkness, Aladdin rubs the lamp, which, to his surprise, unleashes a magical Genie who offers to grant him three wishes. Aladdin initially shrugs this off in disbelief, prompting the Genie to display his powers with an impressive musical number ("Friend Like Me"). The Genie then reveals that he has limitations to his powers. He can't grant wishes that include murder, romance, a revival of the dead, or wishing for additional wishes. Amused and overjoyed at his good fortune, Aladdin tricks Genie into magically freeing them from the cave without actually using a wish; after that, Genie states that Aladdin will not receive any more magic help unless he explicitly states, "I wish." Genie muses that he would wish for freedom since he is a prisoner of his lamp. Aladdin promises to free Genie as his last wish. Aladdin decides to use his first wish to become a prince to be legally able to court Jasmine (Act One Finale: "Friend Like Me"/"Proud of Your Boy" (Reprises)). Act II A grand parade storms through the streets of Agrabah, led by Genie, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. They announce the arrival of "Prince Ali of Ababwa" ("Prince Ali"). Once at the palace, Aladdin, disguised as Prince Ali, expresses his desire to marry Jasmine to the Sultan. Jasmine overhears the conversation and perceives Ali to be just another shallow prince. Jafar, suspicious of Ali, tells him the location of Jasmine's bedroom, not mentioning that it is against Agrabah law for the Princess to have a suitor in her quarters unsupervised. Aladdin courts Jasmine with a ride on the magic carpet provided by Genie ("A Whole New World"). Once they return, Jasmine recognizes Aladdin as the man she met in the marketplace. Aladdin lies and says he really is a prince; he just sometimes likes to dress as a commoner to escape the pressures of palace living, much like Jasmine did that day. Jasmine kisses Aladdin good night because he isn't shallow and self-absorbed like the others. After she leaves, Jafar has Aladdin arrested for entering the Princess's room unsupervised. Upon hearing the news, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim storm the palace to rescue their friend ("High Adventure"). They are captured and thrown into the dungeon, but with Genie's help, Aladdin uses his second wish to free them ("Somebody's Got Your Back"). The Sultan greets Aladdin in the hall and gives him his blessing to marry Jasmine, meaning that Aladdin will inherit the throne as the new Sultan one day. Fearful of this great responsibility, he tells Genie he will save his third wish for a day he may need it rather than use it to free Genie as promised. Distraught, Genie returns to his lamp and refuses to speak to Aladdin. Aladdin laments ("Proud of Your Boy" (Reprise II)). Meanwhile, Jafar and Iago steal the lamp Aladdin carelessly discarded. As the Sultan announces to the public that Jasmine is to wed Prince Ali ("Prince Ali" (Sultan Reprise)), Jafar appears and reveals Ali to be merely a common street rat named Aladdin, whom the former then threatens to send to "the end of the road" if no one changes the latter's personality to meet his standards ("Prince Ali" (Jafar Reprise)). Genie then enters with Jasmine in chains, saying that Jafar is now his master and that his first wish was to make Jasmine his prisoner. Jafar uses his second wish to crown himself Sultan, which Genie reluctantly grants. Remembering what Genie told him earlier about the limitations of his powers, Aladdin tricks Jafar into wishing for himself to become a genie so that his power will be unmatched. Genie grants Jafar's wish, and Jafar is sucked into the lamp, bound to it for eternity. Aladdin uses his third and final wish to set Genie free. He then admits to Jasmine that he loves her but cannot pretend to be someone he's not. Seeing the nobility in Aladdin, the Sultan decrees that henceforth, the Princess can marry whomever she pleases. Babkak, Omar, and Kassim are made royal advisors, while Iago is arrested. Aladdin and Jasmine are married, and Genie prepares for a long-awaited vacation. All ends well as Aladdin and Jasmine board the magic carpet and take flight (Finale Ultimo: "Arabian Nights"/"A Whole New World" (Reprises)). Musical Numbers Act I "Overture" "Arabian Nights" (Ashman/Rice***) – Genie & Company "One Jump Ahead" (Rice) – Aladdin & Ensemble "One Jump Ahead (Reprise)" (Rice) – Aladdin "Proud of Your Boy" (Ashman*) – Aladdin "These Palace Walls" (Beguelin**) – Jasmine, Attendants "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim" (Ashman*) – Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim, Ensemble "A Million Miles Away" (Beguelin**) – Aladdin & Jasmine "Diamond in the Rough" (Beguelin**) – Jafar, Iago, Aladdin "Friend Like Me" (Ashman) – Genie, Aladdin, Ensemble Act One Finale (A Whole New World (Reprise) (Ashman)/Proud of Your Boy (Reprise I))  Act II "Prince Ali" (Ashman) – Genie, Babkak, Omar, Kassim, Ensemble "A Whole New World" (Rice) – Aladdin, Jasmine "High Adventure" (Ashman*) – Babkak, Omar, Kassim, Ensemble "Somebody's Got Your Back" (Beguelin**) – Aladdin, Genie, Babkak, Omar, & Kassim "Proud of Your Boy (Reprise II)" (Ashman) – Aladdin "Prince Ali (Sultan Reprise)" (Beguelin**) – Sultan & Company "Prince Ali (Jafar Reprise)" (Rice) – Jafar Finale Ultimo ("Arabian Nights (Reprise)" (Ashman/Beguelin*) / "A Whole New World (Reprise)" (Rice)) – Company Bows ("A Whole New World (Reprise II)") (Ashman) – Company