The audience sitting in the Bing Crosby Theater was whisked away to the city of Agrabah, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail.
The Christian Youth Theater of Spokane’s spring production of “Aladdin Jr.”, premiered May 24 at the Bing Crosby Theater.
Using several elements from the 1992 Disney adaptation of “Aladdin,” as well as pieces of the original story, the plot begins with the sorcerer Jafar seeking the throne of Agrabah to become sultan. To accomplish this he must find “diamond in the rough” to help him retrieve a treasure from the Cave of Wonders.
This diamond in the rough comes in the form of Aladdin, a young thief who encounters palace guards and Princess Jasmine, before he winds up in the clutches of the sorcerer. After he enters the cave and gets trapped, Aladdin rubs a lamp and summons two genies who grant him three wishes.
The lead roles of Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, played by Jonah Taylor and Abigail Hare respectively, captivate the audience during various scenes of the musical.
Although the portrayals of Aladdin and Jasmine stayed true to the characters from the Disney adaptation, the supporting cast also shined in their own unique ways throughout the musical.
The roles of Iago, portrayed by Louisa Jorgens, and the two genies, who were played by Nik Lyons and Jacob Sok, had the audience laughing and clapping, while the role of Jafar, played by Brian Pitchette, was able to entertain the audience during a song, which was not something that was originally in Disney’s version of the story.
In addition to the performances of the cast, the design of the buildings, the music played by the band offstage and the stage lighting helped bring Agrabah to life.
Perhaps the strongest aspect of the musical were the overall messages of the play: it is what is on the inside that counts and be yourself rather than trying to pretend you are someone else.
The show is for audiences of all ages. Fans of the Disney movie will enjoy this homage, as well as those who are looking to introduce their children to “Aladdin” and other classic tales.
If you go:
Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave.
May 30 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
May 31 at 7 p.m.
June 1 at 3 p.m.
June 2 at 7 p.m.
$12 – general admission ( www.cytspokane.com)
$14 – at the door
$11 – seniors and children up to 12 years old
$10 – in groups of 10 or more
