It was solid. Entertaining. But more than anything it made me appreciate the movie even more.
I think perhaps that Aladdin is the hardest of all the Disney movies to adapt for stage. It’s so magical and elaborate. It’s already more epically theatrical than any real theater production can match.
The music. The tight narrative structure. The setups and payoffs. Even slight tweaks can (and do) break what was a perfect formulation in the original movie.
There are also so many beautiful, thoughtful, nuanced performances in the movie. But of course the top prize has to go to Robin Williams.
Most of the time when celebrities pass, I feel a tinge of regret and move on. When Robin passed, I mourned for days. He was an utterly unique human being who brought so much laughter and deep feeling into the world. Into my world.
The intentionality and energy with which he played the Genie (again, brought into stark relief by seeing another actor try) is beautiful to behold. His range - from zany million miles a minute energy, to the sad but hopeful realization that all he wants is to be free - is almost heartbreaking.
Ultimately, I think, any attempt to recreate the story, the magic and the genie is inevitably destined to fall short and leave audiences wanting.
We'll see how the upcoming movie remake goes. I wish them luck.
I wish I’d seen the Lion King. I imagine it would be an easier story to adapt.
