SEE ot SKIP: Aladdin

In this arts column, rather than provide a lengthy critique, we hit the bullet points and share our thoughts on whether a show is worth seeing or skipping. Of course, your own reasons for picking or ignoring a show might be based on price, time, discounts, availability, subject interest, word of mouth and personal taste. Feel free to add our voice to the chorus.

SHOW: Aladdin
VENUE: New Amsterdam Theater
VENUE TYPE: Broadway

SEE because:

This show has the earmarks of Disney live entertainment: colorful, bright, fast-moving and fun.

Lead Adam Jacobs has a killer smile and youthful sex appeal, while Courtney Reed (Jasmine) isn’t exactly hard on the eyes, either, especially in those tapered and revealing Arabian outfits.

As the Genie, James Monroe Iglehart has an outsized personality that would fill Madison Square Garden, let alone the New Amsterdam Theater.

If you like puns…. Even bad ones, or especially bad ones.

The flying carpet sequence is undeniably magical.

A cleverly staged chase sequence in the first act is more than matched by an undeniably magical flying-carpet sequence in the second.

SKIP because:

The microphones and orchestrations are so LOUD, not only can it be hard to understand what people are saying and singing, but the musical comes at us with bludgeoning, theme-park force rather than letting us lean in to it and enjoy its charms. The barrage of sound truly ruins the evening – and it would be so easy to fix!

Just because puns are bad doesn’t mean they’re so bad, they’re good. Aladdin’s three sidekicks aren’t that funny, sorry.

Don Darryl, as Iago, screams every line like Gilbert Gottfried in the movie. But Don Darryl is not Gilbert Gottfried. Let the man give a performance instead of a one-note shoutfest.

The protestors have a point: this is a big musical about Arabia – and the producers didn’t cast one Arab actor.

FINAL CALL: SKIP because

What could have been zany fun is too often heavy on sound and light on wit. It’s overbearing instead of transporting.