A Magic Carpet Ride

Yesterday, I went to my second musical with Club Blume. One of the things I love is that before the show is that we get to enjoy a pre-show party. That musical would be Aladdin- the last musical and show of Blumenthal’s 2018-2019 season.

Cast:

Aladdin: Jonah Ho’Okano

Genie: Korie Lee Blossey

Jafar: Patrick R. Brown

Iago: Reggie De’Leon

Jasmine: Kaenaon Alani Kekoa

Babkak: Zach Bencal

Omar: Ben Chavez

Kassim: Colt Prattes

Review:

My mom and I had incredible seats- row B right near the center of the balcony. With Club Blume- all you can say is what section you want; not what seats you want.

Korie Lee Blossey as the Genie always knows how to make an incredible entrance. His “Friend Like Me” was incredible. He felt like the genie in my eyes. In Charlotte, this was his second day as the Genie.

Jonah Ho ‘Okano as Aladdin was amazing. Just like the Genie, his Aladdin journey began in Charlotte. During “Proud of Your Boy”, I got a little emotional. I began to feel chemistry between his Aladdin and Kaenaon Alani Kekoa’s Jasmine during the song he was singing between his Aladdin and his three friends. Even though there was no Abu, Aladdin’s friends were a wonderful substitute.

Kaeonaon’s Alanı Kekoa’s Jasmine was amazing from the moment I saw her. She especially started to shine during “These Palace Walls”. I loved when she started to have chemistry during Aladdin, which was in the middle of the song Aladdin sang with his friends. During their first duet, “A Million Miles Away”, the chemistry started to get stronger. It only started to get weaker when Prince Ali (who is Aladdin) arrived, which showed her reluctance towards marrying a prince. The question is why did she trust Prince Ali on the magic carpet during “A Whole New World”, which is Aladdin and Jasmine’s main love song.

It is hard to know what to think of Patrick R. Brown’s Jafar. However, I know what to think of Reggie De’Leon’s Iago, who is Jafar’s sidekick. Reggie was hilarious- in almost every time he even said anything, you couldn’t help but laugh along despite being the villain’s sidekick.

When it comes to Zach Bencal, Ben Chavez, Colt Prattes as Babkak, Omar, Kassim, I loved seeing the three of them. I do not know what it was about the three of them. I somehow knew I loved those three. I loved their relationship to Aladdin. They were an incredible substitute-Abu is in the two movies: so like I said, an incredible substitute.

Songs:

• This is mainly about the added songs to the stage show. I loved the added songs. It gave the show more texture and complexity and emotional value to the characters and plot. Songs like “Proud of Your Boy”, “A Million Miles Away”, and “These Palaces Walls” are just some of the added songs I loved- like I said earlier I got a bit emotional during “Proud of Your Boy”.

Staging

Costumes:

• I loved all the sparkly, glittery, and colorful costumes. I even loved the costumes that were not- like Aladdin’s costumes before he dressed like a prince. Each costume fit each character perfectly.

Set:

• I was expecting to be loving The Cave of Wonders set, and I did love it. It was full of gold, and it was also the same place where “Friend Like Me” takes place and where the magic lamp is located. Every set is amazing- another set I love is the night sky- that is where “A Whole New World” takes place. Literally the magic carpet does fly in this stage show.

Choreography/Spectacle:

• From fight scenes to dancing to flying on a magic carpet to lights going around the entire theatre to fireworks, etc. I loved the sight of it all. Aladdin is a stunning show to just look at