Aladdin (1979 musical)
Aladdin | ||
---|---|---|
Book Sandy Wilson | | |
Basis | Aladdin | |
Productions | 1979 London |
Aladdin is a
Background
The
Despite this, the show closely follows the traditional pantomime story line, including the "pantomime dame" character of Widow Twankey, renamed Tuang Kee Chung. In fact, the cast recording memorializes several rarely-recorded aspects of a traditional Aladdin pantomime, although the plot has fewer gratuitous twists, and the songs are more concerned with plot development than is usually the case in these productions.[4]
Synopsis
The wicked wizard Abanazar, in his desert home in Morocco, summons the spirits to tell him how he may obtain the magic lamp, the source of all power. He is somewhat bemused to discover that the source lies in a Chinese Laundry in Peking, and can be retrieved only by the launderess's ne'er-do-well son Aladdin. The ghostly chorus of the spirits takes us into the next scene, where Aladdin himself is discussing with his mother the virtues of idleness.
The emperor's herald proclaims that anyone looking upon the Princess Badroulbadour as she passes on her way to the baths will be instantly executed. This is just the kind of challenge that Aladdin likes, so he rushes off to try to catch a glimpse of the Princess. When he returns from his quest the Widow is relieved that he is alive, but very concerned that the young couple are in love. Everyone, including the emperor himself, has a pretty shrewd idea of what has happened – but, as he explains in song to his daughter, "Loves's a luxury" that royals must forgo for reasons of state.
Abanazar's arrival seems like just the thing. He quickly convinces the widow and her son (neither of whom is very bright) that he is the boy's long lost uncle and that he will make Aladdin rich. The upshot of this finds Aladdin trapped in the cave — where he inadvertently summons the
The Widow Twankey is now the Royal
Songs
- The spell
- Aladdin
- Hang-Chow
- The proclamation
- Tuang Kee Po
- It is written in the sands
- There and then
- Love's a luxury
- Dream about me
- Song of the genie of the ring
- Song of the genie of the lamp
- Chopsticks
- All I did
- Wicked
- The dirge
- Life in the laundry
- Give him the old kung fu
See also
- Aladdin (TV special)- by Cole Porter
- Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular - a musical stage show based on the Disney animation
References
- ^ Freedland, Michael and Michael Coveney. "Sandy Wilson obituary", The Guardian, 27 August 2014, accessed November 10, 2017
- ^ "Aladdin on It's-Behind-You.com". August 21, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
- ^ Sleeve notes, cast recording of Aladdin, President Records, 1980
- ^ Sleeve notes, cast recording of Aladdin, President Records, 1980
Original Cast Recording — President Records PTLS 1072 (1980)