By Daniel Haynes

FOR every child born in the 90s and early 2000s, Walt Disney movies and shows were the highlight of our lives. From the heartfelt tale of The Lion King to the timeless classic of Cinderella, there is hardly a Disney production that is not enjoyed by its young viewers.

The story of Aladdin is no different, and the students of the Georgetown International Academy (GIA) brought one of Walt Disney’s animated classics to the Cultural Centre stage on Saturday, March 12.

THE STORY OF ALADDIN
Everyone knows the story of Aladdin, whether they are young or old. It is the story of a street urchin who finds a magic lamp and is granted three wishes by the genie who lives inside it. Set in the fictional Arabian city if Agrabah, it is also a story of love, as the young hero, Aladdin, falls for the Sultan’s daughter, Princess Jasmine.
However, their love is not without its challenges, since the evil Jafar and his pet parrot, Iago, scheme to take control of the Sultan’s throne by marrying the Princess. And since the law of the land holds that a Princess must only marry a Prince, Aladdin’s chances become dire.
GIA’S PERFORMANCE
It’s against this backdrop that the GIA brings the classic to life. From the first scene, the audience members knew they were in for a treat.
Aladdin is played by the talented Daniel Razick, whose charisma and uncanny professionalism gives life to the famous character. Audience members are first introduced to Daniel’s Aladdin when he interacts with Princess Jasmine, played by Bibi Mohamed.
In an instant, the chemistry between the two gives substance to the relationship that is acted out before our eyes.

As the play moves on, audience members are then introduced to Jafar, played by Isaiah Tijero, who puts on a chilling performance as the villain in all his evil glory. The next major character of the play was Genie. Genie is perhaps the most iconic character from the Aladdin series, and was voiced by the late Robin Williams in the original movies and spin-off shows.
The pressure on anyone tasked with this role would be nerve-racking. But Ninth Gradeer, Rachel Mekdeci took on the role with great skill, bringing with her performance the same wit and comedy fans associate Genie with.

The Play also incorporated all the musical performances of the original movie, and the GIA’s renditions of every song were spot on. Numbers like “Prince Ali” and “A Whole New World” took audience members back to the moments when they first heard these favourites.
The entire performance was full of class, and the play included memorable performances with Kayla Beharry’s Iago and Samara Bacchus’ Magic Carpet. In a role as Jafar’s evil minion, Kayla provided the same wit and comic relief of the original Iago, which contrasted Jafar’s cold, calculated persona.

As the show reached its end, the audience was left with an appreciation for the efforts of these students, who, while not professional, gave it their all. They entertained the audience, held our attention, and left us waiting to see their next performance.
The Georgetown International Academy is surely on the ball with providing a well rounded curriculum by giving students access to the theatre arts.