[Question] Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show? :(

[greeeneyes17]

I was disappointed the first time I saw the Aladdin stage show in DCA when I heard the "One Jump Ahead" song.
The part where he says
"You're my only friend, Abu!" Was completely cut out and the way they chose to do it sounds really awkward and badly transitioned to those of us who are big fans of the Disney songs and know all the words

From then on, Abu was never mentioned or shown in the show.
They have a Iago puppet dude for Jafar, so why not Abu puppet? How hard would that have been?

I'm a bit confused as to why they completely left him out the entire show, if somebody could shine some light on the reason that would be great.

Show some love for the monkey.

[kayleigh83]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

I loved the show when I saw it for the first time (actually a week ago today!) but I too wondered at the conspicuous absense of Abu! I love him!

[Quarar44]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

I've never seen the show before . Did Abu used to be there but now he's gone?

[Wreckless Abrandon]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

Unfortunately, Abu's never been part of the show. However, I think they wanted to streamline the show as Aladdin has two side kicks in the show already with Genie and Carpet. I'm thinking that adding another character on stage might have disrupted the feel and look of the show. Yes, it's not 100% accurate, but it still works. And this is coming from a huge Aladdin fan.

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

The show has a limited time to tell the story.....he was cut out like rajah because they were just less important then other characters to the story

If you want the movie....well watch the movie

[greeeneyes17]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

The show has a limited time to tell the story.....he was cut out like rajah because they were just less important then other characters to the story

If you want the movie....well watch the movie

well rajah didn't matter as much as Abu.
And I don't "want the movie", I was just wondering why they didn't include the monkey.
Iago certainly does not matter as much. Abu is with him through it all.
Iago just cracks funny jokes and is Jafar's minion

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

Abu doesn't progress the story and since he doesn't talk or...do much, really, so it's harder for him to add anything to the 45-minute show. If he screeched and shook his monkey fist, I'm sure someone would question why he was there to start with. Stage adaptations never take the original material exactly and put it on stage. I thought it was weird that Abu wasn't in it when I first saw the show, but now I'm totally happy with the route the writers/director took.

[ShelbyH]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

Iago is precisely there as the comic relief. The carpet is a funnier and more original character than Abu, who is really just a silent companion. With the carpet costume, the performer has a lot of room for expression in a unique way that audience members likely haven't seen before. There's not much original or unique about a monkey sidekick. As ohmyjustin said, he's not entirely essential to the story and doesn't add anything. I think they chose the carpet over Abu for the unique factor. I wouldn't say that Genie is a companion to Aladdin, I think he's a headline character. But then one companion for Jafar and one for Aladdin. It's only 45 minutes.

[Rex Dopey24]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

the show is still good though. it would be very nice if they added abu that silly monkey genius

[DisneyIPresume]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

One thing I've always felt should have been cut since day one is Jasmine's solo. That song really slows down the pacing of the show, and I find myself being bored with it. And IMHO it's really not that good of a song and easily forgettable. Cut that song and add the monkey and you'll have a great show.

[Wren]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

How would you incorporate Abu? People seem to have issues these days with trained animals in live shows. And I dont think someone dressed up as Abu would have the right impact.

Perhaps a Nemo musical style puppet?

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

One thing I've always felt should have been cut since day one is Jasmine's solo. That song really slows down the pacing of the show, and I find myself being bored with it. And IMHO it's really not that good of a song and easily forgettable. Cut that song and add the monkey and you'll have a great show.

I don't know...I really like the song its short and was suppose to be in the movie (heck you can still hear the music in the movie)

I also think they were doing what they did to the Mermaid and Beauty and the beast musical were they added songs that were cut to make it different from the film...also give Jasmie another song since she only had one in the original movie

[CupcakeTerror]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

As others have said before me, Abu has never been in the stage show. While he's a great little companion in the movie, it's true that incorporating the character into the show would be difficult. The characters there all drive the plot forward and are engaging and funny. Not sure if a silent, albeit cute, monkey would be worth the time/money.

As a side note about Jasmine's song, I certainly hope it doesn't get cut! It's the only solo song the character has and does a wonderful job in telling the story of Jasime's loneliness. Love it. <3

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

One thing I've always felt should have been cut since day one is Jasmine's solo. That song really slows down the pacing of the show, and I find myself being bored with it. And IMHO it's really not that good of a song and easily forgettable. Cut that song and add the monkey and you'll have a great show.

The song is gorgeous, but I will agree that it really messes up the pacing of the show. The rest of it is so action-packed and just wants to keep moving forward. That being said, I really hope they keep the song there. It opens up her character, which is really important considering she's portrayed as a lead.

[The Disney Ninja]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

I was disappointed the first time I saw the Aladdin stage show in DCA when I heard the "One Jump Ahead" song.
The part where he says
"You're my only friend, Abu!" Was completely cut out and the way they chose to do it sounds really awkward and badly transitioned to those of us who are big fans of the Disney songs and know all the words

The line is still in the song, but they changed it to "I can use a friend, or two."

[film975]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

I don't know...I really like the song its short and was suppose to be in the movie (heck you can still hear the music in the movie)

I also think they were doing what they did to the Mermaid and Beauty and the beast musical were they added songs that were cut to make it different from the film...also give Jasmie another song since she only had one in the original movie

Jasmine's solo entitled "To Be Free" wasn't written for the movie nor was it intended to be in it. Alan Menken wrote it specifically for the Musical.

[greeeneyes17]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

One thing I've always felt should have been cut since day one is Jasmine's solo. That song really slows down the pacing of the show, and I find myself being bored with it. And IMHO it's really not that good of a song and easily forgettable. Cut that song and add the monkey and you'll have a great show.

I completely agree and I have always hates that song. I feel it slows down the whole show and it's not something memorable from the movie (which is what I'm all about).

I'm all for artistic stuff like having the carpet be an interpretive dancer, though that was really cool. But I'm just not diggin Jasmine's solo..

Furthermore, I feel like I could sing better than some of the Jasmine's I have seen, they're usually nothing to write home about. They were off-key and over-belting for the most part.

On the other hand, the Aladdin's I've seen sounded great.

---------- Post added 08-03-2012 at 06:00 PM ----------

The line is still in the song, but they changed it to "I can use a friend, or two."

I did hear them use that line the first time I went, but the times after that it's an awkward silence with no words at all

Anybody experience that?.

[MarkTwain]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

I think it was as simple as he would have been hard to stage, and he was unnecessary to the story. A man dressed as a giant monkey would have been laughable, live animals bring in unbelievable legal complexities, and a shadowy man with an Iago-style puppet (which only works because of how sparingly Jafar appears) would have been really distracting. Transferring any one medium to another involves a certain amount of adaption and change, and the inability to bring little cartoony monkeys to stage is just one of the limitations of live theater.

[nonob88]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

Jasmine's solo entitled "To Be Free" wasn't written for the movie nor was it intended to be in it. Alan Menken wrote it specifically for the Musical.

Actually Jerrod is right -- f you look at the original film soundtrack there is a song called "To Be Free". It's an instrumental that appears at certain moments in the movie, and they added lyrics to the song for the DCA show. Add me to the list of those who love the song!

This is what you'll hear in the movie:

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Why no Abu in Aladdin stage show?

Actually Jerrod is right -- f you look at the original film soundtrack there is a song called "To Be Free". It's an instrumental that appears at certain moments in the movie, and they added lyrics to the song for the DCA show. Add me to the list of those who love the song!

I think film975 was talking about the song in its current state. The song, music and lyrics, wasn't a piece that was written to be put in the movie and got cut. As it is now, it was written for the show. But you're right in saying the music already existed--it was just used for something else in the movie.