Disney's Aladdin

Let me start with the seats, because they shaped the whole night. Ours weren't great. We were far enough over that a good chunk of the stage was a struggle to see. This is not a show you want to watch half of. There's a lot going on up there. If you can spend up for better seats, do it. You'll catch things we probably missed.

Unfortnetly with was a "no-fly" show (production without a flying carpet). During "A Whole New World" instead of the carpet actually lifting off, they had Aladdin and Jasmine ballroom dance their way around the palace during the number. No fault of the actors, but the lyrics of the song while grounded make it very awkward. The words "A hundred thousand things to see", "soaring, tumbling, freewheeling", "Unbelieveable sights, Indescribable feeling" while stationed on the ground removes the emotional heart of the whole thing. Without the flight, some of the wonder just leaks out of it.

And then there's "Friend Like Me."

Best single number I've ever seen on a stage. I'm not exaggerating. The Genie carried it and then kept going. Energetic, genuinely funny, the kind of performance that makes you sit up a little straighter. He was the heart of this production. If you only remember one thing about the night, it's him.

The one real letdown was Jafar. He never found the menace the part needs. He was fine, but "fine" isn't what you want from your villain. A great "Aladdin" runs on how much you love to hate him, and this one landed soft. Not bad. Just too polite, when he should have been dangerous.

Still, a great night. Rough seats, no carpet, and a slightly toothless villain, and I'd honestly go back. "Friend Like Me" alone was worth the ticket.