Review: Four stars for Aladdin's West End debut

PANTO season has arrived early in the West End as Aladdin has made its debut at The Prince Edward Theatre after previously being a success on Broadway for two years. 
As someone who has only seen a performance of the Disney classic during the Christmas period, it was hard to imagine director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw could pull off a show that would appeal to an different audience who didn’t want to shout, “He’s behind you!”
However, all the initial doubts vanished quickly the moment the lights went down, as the show was spectacular from start to finish. The setting transported us to a faraway land in the Middle East, where the local people depended on market stalls and bazaars as their main source of providing a living for their families and escaping the cruel grip of poverty. 
The stage was lit with an array of bright colours and the cast wore glittering costumes while they performed their opening number to introduce the main characters, Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. They also hinted at the beginning that true love is never easy, which foreshadowed a typical fairy tale plot of the hero being morally awakened and realising wealth and power means nothing if he can’t be with his princess. 
After being convinced we were in an Arabian city, it was surprising to hear the actors speak with exaggerated American accents that didn’t seem to fit with the setting – particularly from Dean John-Wilson, who played Aladdin, as his confident Yankee twang gave no clue he was actually from Middlesbrough in real life.
He was believable as the hero throughout and you empathised with his financial struggles and was even on his side as he stole a loaf of bread just so he could eat. In the beginning, he dreamed of making his dead parents proud by escaping his destitute living situation and becoming rich but after the Genie grants his wish of fame and wealth which turns him into Prince Ali later on in the story, he realises that is not enough to make him truly happy in life. 
The Genie stole the show. Actor Trevor Dion Nicholas had performed the role on the New York stage before moving over to London, so his delivery of each line was effortless and had the audience in stitches of laughter every time he stepped on stage.
We were introduced to his huge energy and personality when Aladdin entered the shimmering gold cave to retrieve the lamp for the evil Jafar and his comedy sidekick parrot, Iago, who was cleverly interpreted by seasoned West End performer Peter Howe.
The genie had many songs throughout, which included a mash-up of Disney songs from other musicals, as well as a massive musical number in which he convinced Aladdin he would be the best friend he’d ever have as he could make his wildest dreams come true- apart from getting girls to fall in love with him, of course. He had to figure that part out himself otherwise the story would have ended at that point.
Trevor’s performance was the most memorable but even he was overshadowed by the almost unbelievable effect of the magic carpet. 
There was certainly a feeling of awe as Aladdin snuck into Princess Jasmine’s bedroom to try and convince her that he was her prince but the strong willed heroine, played by former Sugababes member Jade Ewen, was having none of it at first, as she was a true feminist icon for young girls and wouldn’t just settle for any man who only offered her diamonds rather than a life of love and adventure. 
Aladdin then jumped out of her window but instead of plummeting to the ground and meeting an untimely death, he balanced on his magical flying carpet, where Jasmine joined him to sing the famous A Whole New World and she suddenly realised he could be the man she had been waiting for. 
No matter how hard you looked for strings being attached which would reveal how the carpet was able to float through the air, it was impossible to see how it was being supported and only added to the amazement of the audience, who gasped as the stage was illuminated with stars to convincingly show the two leads were flying through the romantic midnight sky.