Review: Disney’s Aladdin, Bristol Hippodrome – ‘Great performances let down by underwhelming production’

The name Disney is always attached to the word magical. Can the magic from the big screen and theme parks be translated to the stage?

Disney’s films always promise a different league of entertainment, and Aladdin, one of my all-time favourite Disney movies, stands out with its stunning soundtrack and engaging characters from the very beginning.

The big question is, will the stage show live up to the legendary film? The Bristol Hippodrome, the city’s home for big-name West End shows, is currently home to Disney’s Aladdin, billed as a lavish adaptation of the animated classic film.

Based on the 1992 animated classic, which was elevated by the incredible performance of Robin Williams and the genie, Aladdin tells the tale of a kind-hearted but poor “diamond in the rough” named Aladdin in the fictional city of Agrabah.

His life changes when he discovers a magical lamp containing a genie who grants him three wishes. These wishes set him on a journey to win the heart of Princess Jasmine and thwart the evil plans of Jafar, who seeks to seize the kingdom’s wealth.

Gavin Adams delivers an excellent and believable performance as Aladdin, while Desmonda Cathabel portrays Princess Jasmine as a modern princess who values her worth beyond simply becoming someone’s wife, making her both aspirational and timeless.

Iago, the sidekick to the evil Jafar, is there for laughs and Angelo Paragoso does a fine job of injecting some humour into the proceedings. In this stage adaptation, Aladdin has three friends, Babkak, Omar and Kassim, who sing and dance and keep the show light-hearted, but here lies the first problem with the show.

While the performances are excellent, the jokes are not, and are mostly misses. The set design, while functional, would not look out of place in a school production. The costumes are bright and colourful, with well-choreographed dance routines, but this does not make up for the generally disappointing whole. In fact, the first hour feels like a Panto minus the dame. Until you reach the cave scene, everything is underwhelming and misses any hint of Disney magic.

Thankfully, things pick up when Aladdin finds the lamp and we are introduced to Yeukayi Ushe as the Genie. His performance is nothing short of magical, commanding the stage with an energy and presence that would have Robin Williams screaming with delight. That scene alone helps you forget everything that has gone before, and the second half just about manages to keep some of that energy.

To a person, the cast are excellent, with standout performances from Gavin Adams and Yeukayi Ushe along with a fabulous live orchestra playing beloved songs like Arabian Nights, Friend Like Me and A Whole New World.

The lasting impression though is that the show lacks the magic you come to expect from Disney, particularly the cut-price stage design. The audience seems to enjoy it and the kids go home happy, but I doubt if this will be the show they never forget. If you can only afford one show with the kids this year, save your money and go and see the Panto at the Hippodrome this Christmas instead.

Disney’s Aladdin is at Bristol Hippodrome from July 10-August 11; times vary (no shows Monday or Tuesday). Tickets are available at www.atgtickets.com.

All photos: Deen Van Meer

Read next:

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• Review: Arabian Nights, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A dynamic, brilliantly performed and visually stunning show’
• Review: The Lion King, Bristol Hippodrome – ‘A roaring delight’