Ahead of the Broadway and West End hit musical’s arrival in Dublin, RTÉ Entertainment’s John Byrne speak to Aladdin star Yeukayi Ushe.
The story of Aladdin, a genie and three wishes is a tale as old as the hills. But if there’s one thing Disney knows how to do, it’s to get an old story, cover it in Disney tinsel, add some tunes and - snap! - you’ve got a mini industry on the move. Aladdin’s a classic example.
The story goes back much further than it’s introduction to Europe in The Arabian Nights stories published in 1704. A pantomime version has been around for over 100 years.
But the Disney animated version in 1992 is probably the definitive one for most people under the age of 50. Who can forget the late, great Robin Williams as the Genie?
The film was developed into a musical that continues its record-breaking run on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre, and since opening there in March 2014, nine subsequent productions have launched around the world, including its 2016 West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre, London where the show ran until August 2019.
Now on tour, the production reaches the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on March 20 and plays until April 14. It stars Yeukayi Ushe (whose CV includes The Lion King, A Strange Loop, Kinky Boots and Motown The Musical) as Genie and introduces Gavin Adams as Aladdin.
A recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Gavin will be making his professional debut in the title role. Also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Desmonda Cathabel (Miss Saigon, From Here to Eternity) will play Jasmine.
Aladdin features the timeless songs from the animated film, as well as new music by multi-award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin, with a book by Beguelin.
No stranger to Dublin, the larger-than-life Yeukayi Ushe is perfectly cast as Genie, given the central role that character plays in Aladdin. And with the show setting up residence in the capital for nearly a month, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show the rest of the cast around.
Without pausing to consider what three wishes I should ask for, we get down to chatting about his latest adventure in Aladdin . . .
How is the tour going so far for you guys?
The tour is going so well. As we’re going up and down the UK - and then heading over to Ireland - everything is going great and we’re having a wonderful time.
I see the tour is lasting well over a year - by the time you get home again, no one’s going to recognise you!
If I’m going to the gym and doing this show every single day, I hope people don’t recognise me! They’ll be going: ‘Ooooh! Who’s this guy?’
I’d imagine that you’ve just got to be in good shape to do something like this?
Honestly, it’s more of a stamina aspect. You can be whatever shape, whatever size you want . . . Every genie I have ever spoken to, or indeed met, has been so varied in terms of appearance. But the amount of energy that you need to bring to the stage - in terms of joy, in terms of charisma, in terms of attitude - that’s what pulls it all together.
The term ‘iconic’ is thrown around, but it applies to Aladdin. And you’re playing Genie . . .
To be playing the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, and to be walking where people like Robin Williams have walked. And Will Smith. As a character everybody knows and loves . . . with songs everybody is familiar with, like A Friend Like Me.
There have been so many versions of it and everybody knows every single word too. So, to be able to play with that, and get on stage and give that to the audience, every single day - sometimes twice - it’s s dream that I did not know that I had, that I’m now getting to fulfil. It’s really fun.
And you have Disney ‘previous’. Can you tell m about that?
Yes, I played Simba in The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London for two years, just coming out of covid. A lot of people may have only done one Disney contract, but to have played two iconic Disney characters . . . Simba is a character that I grew up watching, as was Genie, and I was inspired by both of them.
To be inhabiting that space now is something out of this world.
So what can Dublin audiences expect when you guys come over in March?
What Dublin can expect is all of the things that come with the Disney spectacle. There is something in this show for absolutely everyone.
Whether that be in the incredible detail to the costumes, or in the sets, or even in the Desmonda Cathabel, who plays Jasmine, and Gavin Adams, who plays Aladdin, they have two of the most incredible voices, and some of the most amazing on-stage charisma that I’ve seen in such a long time.
They’re so wonderful, you’ll fall in love with them.
And then in terms of the genie, and the Disney magic that is on stage - there’s just something that will leave you gasping, or crying, or leave you with your heart-warmed. It’s truly the Disney spectacular on stage.
And of course, it’s a story that’s as old as the hills.
I think that’s what’s wonderful about the show. It gets people in such a nostalgic way. Whether you grew up watching it or whether the first one you saw was the Will Smith version and you went back and watched the 1992 version.
I’m personally showing my age here as I grew up with the 1992 version.
There’s something really timeless about the story, with Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s writing - and the Genie exists across all time. So, there are references throughout the show that I get to play with that are very modern - but also some that are very classical.
There’s a lot of shows that say they’re for all ages, but this show really is one for all the ages. Everyone will come away from this show feeling something.
Aladdin is at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from March 20 to April 14. Tickets are available from TicketMaster.
