Aladdin: Dual Language Edition

Creative Cauldron

Photo credits: William T. Gallagher Photography

¡Bienvenidos a Agrabah!

Welcome to Agrabah! In a city where caravan camels roam and genies grant wishes, almost nothing seems impossible… except the language barrier between the royalty and the common people. 

Creative Cauldron’s spirited production of “Aladdin: Dual Language Edition” reignited the magic of the classic Disney film with a bilingual twist. This dedicated cast skillfully brought their characters to life: their bold expressions and clever costumes truly took the audience on a magic carpet ride through the wondrous city of Agrabah!

Ready to climb aboard?

Dual Language Edition

In Creative Cauldron’s production of “Aladdin: Dual Language Edition,” the classic tale is delivered in two languages: the royalty of Agrabah can only speak Spanish, while the common citizens can only speak English. Any hope of translation is controlled by the royal vizier Jafar. As such, each song was reimagined to incorporate both Spanish and English, and the dialogue itself was evenly split between both languages.

The cast, which included children, teens, and professional actors, did an excellent job transcending the story beyond language barriers. Trust me: even after taking Spanish for three years in high school, I’m far from a fluent speaker. With limited knowledge of the language, I was able to grasp enough of the dialect to understand the whole plot! It helped that the cast used bold expressions and gestures to convey the story, and that animal sidekicks like Rajah and Iago often acted as translators to make sure the audience didn’t miss any important plot points.

This Production

Creative Cauldron is home to a small black box theater in Falls Church, which was set up in a thrust configuration for this production. In other words, the audience surrounded the central stage on three sides, and the performers had to cater to multiple angles to accommodate. 

Margie Jervis’s clever set consisted of a small central platform and a series of curtains in the back, which could be raised and lowered by the actors to reveal a back entrance. At the beginning of the show, the performers gathered a canopy to be raised high into the air as they sang “Arabian Nights/Noches de Arabia,” enveloping the audience into the scene of the bustling marketplace. 

Another technical highlight was Lynn Joslin’s lighting and Nicholas J Goodman’s stellar use of projections, which effectively transformed the space. The stage shone with a golden sheen during a scene in Jafar’s treasure trove, while a disco ball cast stars across the theater walls during “A Whole New World/Un Mundo Ideal.” One of my personal favorite moments was the projection Goodman implemented whenever the genie granted a wish: cartoon swirls and sparkles were cast against the back curtains. When Jafar seized ultimate power near the end of the show, this effect took on a more sinister tone and made for a thrilling moment.

Standout Performances

Brian Dauglash embodied the titular street urchin with gusto. His performance of Aladdin was reminiscent of the movie’s courageous, bright-eyed hero, especially as he dashed across the stage with his adorable sidekick Abu (played by Whit Jenkins at this reviewer’s performance) in the number “One Jump Ahead,” and dodged the swift Christian Bustillos as Razu. Dauglash also demonstrated a softness as he won over Odette Gutiérrez del Arroyo’s Princess Jazmin. Gutiérrez del Arroyo did an excellent job highlighting the princess’s fiery side as she fought against her father’s wishes, which were sharply conveyed by Alex Lopez. 

No tale is without its villain, and Alan Gutierrez-Urista was truly vicious in the role of Jafar. His malicious intentions were clear with every cackle, and his boiling anger was palpable with every slam of his staff. Opposite Gutierrez-Urista was Anna Longnecker’s lively performance of Iago, the vizier’s squawking parrot sidekick. With every cock of her head, Longnecker’s bird-like mannerisms brought the beloved cartoon character to life.

Speaking of beloved cartoon characters--did someone call for a genie? Ariel Friendly’s unique portrayal of the iconic character was bursting with bravado and wit. She commanded the audience from the first cock of her eyebrow, and belted out “Friend Like Me/Un Amigo Fiel” to uproarious applause.

The Musical Theater Training Ensemble, which consisted of children and teens (including Michael Greco, who was a pleasant surprise to see after having reviewed his performance in “Twelfth Night” back in March!), provided an expressive backdrop to every scene. Whether they strolled the marketplace as citizens of Agrabah, filled the treasure trove as gauntlets and jewels, or paraded with the lavish Principe Alí as elephants and birds, the ensemble was immersed in every moment of the story.

Final Thoughts

This touching production of “Aladdin: Dual Language Edition” guided the audience on an incredible journey through Agrabah. At a short 1 hour and 30 minutes, it was a succinct yet comprehensive retelling of the story that celebrated both languages.

Trust me, I’ve still got the catchy lyrics of “Un Mundo Ideal” stuck in my head.

“Aladdin: Dual Language Edition” was one of many Dual Language productions that Creative Cauldron put on this season, and I’m loving the trend. It certainly won’t be their last, so be sure to check their website for future shows like this one!

Creative Cauldron offers numerous educational programs for kids and teens throughout the year, which includes their Musical Theatre Training Ensemble: a group of young actors who participate in masterclasses, and eventually get to star in one of the company’s professional productions.

Visit www.creativecauldron.org for more information.