Jonathan Freeman first voiced the Disney villain Jafar in the animated “Aladdin” movie back in 1992, continued to sneer in the subsequent films and then went on to originate the role in the Broadway production, which opened in 2014.
Jafar is a fictional character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film Aladdin (1992). He is voiced by Jonathan Freeman, who also portrayed the character in the Broadway musical adaptation.
Jafar is the main antagonist of Disney's 1992 animated feature film Aladdin, as well as its 1994 direct-to-video sequel The Return of Jafar. As the Royal Vizier of Agrabah, he was presented as the Sultan's most trusted and loyal advisor. In truth, the imperious Jafar held passionate disdain for the Sultan.
Although Jafar sings at the end of the show, the song can be easily spoken in rhythm, so cast the role based on your student's ability to take command of the stage. The Sultan is the aloof Toy Vendor who transforms into the doddering ruler of Agrabah.
Babkak, Omar, and Kassim are Aladdin's three loyal and playful pals. Babkak is the Agrabahn foodie who loves to snack, kindhearted Omar has a sensitive soul, and stubborn Kassim yearns to be a leader.
Go Backstage and See Jonathan Freeman Become ALADDIN Villain Jafar, His Evil Alter Ego for 28 Years
How did Jafar get Iago?
According to a piece of conversation in The Return of Jafar, Jafar had picked up Iago in Agrabah's bazaar and reared him as his accomplice-in-crime. He also mentions in the animated series of having a criminal twin brother named Othello, reference to his name's supposed origins.
Jafar is an old, Arabic man who seems to appear crippled from the scarceness of his body weight and poor conditioned teeth, he wears a long white beard, dark skin, a big nose, and tired eyes. In the movie he is made out to be an evil character due to his appearance and Arabic dialect.
Jafar is the main antagonist of Aladdin, the titular main antagonist of Aladdin: The Return Of Jafar and the overreaching posthumous antagonist in Aladdin Animated Series. He is Aladdin's arch-nemesis, the Royal Grand Vizier of Agrabah, Iago's former owner, and Abis Mal's former master.
Despite the setting of the film being in an Arabic mythical desert kingdom, Jafar, the villain, has a British accent. There is no reason for any character in the film to speak with a British accent, and thus one must assume it is done for an intended effect, similar to the choice of a British accent for Scar.
The villain's plan eventually evolves to him staging a forced marriage with the princess, but a clear infatuation with Jasmine is built up throughout the movi. And, by the end of Aladdin, it is responsible for the grossest moment in any Disney film because of it.
He also was depicted as laughing excessively and in a deranged manner shortly after banishing Aladdin to the North Pole, suggesting that Jafar was also insane and suffered from hysteria. Jafar displays narcissistic tendencies, his most obvious ones being his obsessive desire for power and sense of entitlement.
Jasmine then uses her body and sexuality, even though she doesn't want to – to seduce Jafar and distract him from capturing Aladdin. This too is a dangerous message to send to young girls because it tells them that they can use their bodies to get what they want.
The Sultan wants to marry off Jasmine to appease the law (which he later points out is actually dictated by him) and Jafar wants to marry Jasmine for the status it would give him. Aladdin is quite happy to weigh in on this by masquerading as a prince in order to win her hand.
Jafar reads aloud from the ancient scroll he so cleverly doctored, and proclaims that now he must become Jasmine's husband, and – most importantly – the next sultan! Jasmine and the Sultan try to stop Jafar, but to no avail, for Jafar now holds the power of the lamp.
In Disney's Aladdin, Jafar's final wish was to be the most powerful genie. How was it possible for Genie to grant this wish of creating a more powerful being than himself? Jafar just wished to become an all powerful Genie.
Jafar is the main antagonist of Disney's Aladdin franchise. He is a power-hungry Royal Vizier of Agrabah who was presented as the Sultan's most trusted and loyal advisor, and serves as the archenemy of the titular character, Iago's former boss and owner, and former partner of Gazeem and Abis Mal.
He also made him human; his snappy impatience at the Sultan's dithering, his hatred of Aladdin because he caught the eye of Jasmine, and his sheer stupidity when he failed to realize that becoming a Genie would also entail living in a lamp. Jafar has no morals at all. He's willing, even eager, to kill Aladdin.
Universally accepted, the character's status as Disney's first Arabic princess "won over hearts" upon the film's 1992 release, according to Andre Tartar of Vulture.com.
Theater is brilliant very welcoming....the concessions however are way way way overpriced and selection is poor. However, the show itself Aladdin was brilliant the costumes, big numbers, performer's all deliver. This is such an AMAZING Broadway show! It's a classic Disney story that both adults and children will love.
Babkak, Omar, and Kassim are Aladdin's three loyal and playful pals. Babkak is the Agrabahn foodie who loves to snack, kindhearted Omar has a sensitive soul, and stubborn Kassim yearns to be a leader.
Aladdin is suitable for audiences of all ages and is recommended for ages 6 and over. This show is full of fun characters, magical moments, and plenty of laughs for the whole family.
