History Theatre / TwistedTheUntoldStoryOfARoyalVizier

* {{Corpsing}}: Jim Povolo has to fight back laughter when the Princess rejects his high-five. Given that and the suddenness of the moment, Rachael Soglin probably [[ThrowItIn ad-libbed it]].

** A particularly heartbreaking example is the moment where the kingdom's entire 2D department is revealed to have been "sacked" - that is, [[LiteralMetaphor put in a sack and then thrown out a window]]. Ja'far laments the loss of so many creative minds and craftsmen, only to admit that it's his fault, because he "didn't have them producing anything of value". [[TakeThat OUCH.]]

--> '''Achmed''': The kingdom has oppressed us for years! Stripped us off our most basic rights! Our dignity! Our pants!

* AuthorTract: Matt Lang has said in interviews he has been specifically upset at Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' for ''years'' for being a beloved children's movie that, he believes, justifies stealing as a way to make a living. He even gives Ja'far the opportunity to ''lecture a poor orphan boy'' that if everyone used this rationale to ignore other people's property rights, society would crumble.

* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Aladdin]].

** Ja'far is the one running the Kingdom, but the populace hating him and his guards not being very good at their jobs doesn't help. While technically subservient to the Sultan, his every plan to improve the kingdom is thwarted by the ignorant citizens who hate him on principle, the insane sultan and his DecadentCourt, or the Sultan's [[spoiler:(actually Ja'far's)]] irresponsible Bratty Teenage Daughter. He ends up having to try to prevent a war sparked by the Princess' self-centered behavior while accused of being a traitor by the sociopathic thief Aladdin.
** While not exactly a paragon of sanity (he declares war on the Magic Kingdom both to avenge himself of the insult given by the Princess and thinks this will make her love him), Prince Achmed is completely unable make his army understand that he did not have sex with the Princess' tiger, no matter how often he explains it (they're under the impression he's making war on the kingdom solely to elope with the tiger).

* BenevolentGenie: While the Djinn is rather annoying, he's still helpful enough to grant Ja'far's wishes. [[spoiler: Ja'far himself becomes one of these at the end of the play.]]

* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler: Ja'far and Sherrezade in the finale.]]

* BookEnds: Aladdin's story begins and ends with a thief committing murder over a loaf of bread. [[spoiler:At the beginning he's the murderer; at the end he's the murdered.]]

*** Not only that, Ja'far has a point about the extreme nature of the Princess's dreams but the way he goes about it clearly hurts and upsets her, while he doesn't even consider more modified versions of her dreams.

** At the end [[spoiler:the cameraman plays along with the "too close" gag from the film.]]

** The Sultan's apparently random story about how [[spoiler: he inverted his penis]]. Near the end, Ja'far realizes that because of this, [[spoiler:he must be the Princess's real father]].
** Also, when the Princess says she wants to fix the socioeconomic inequality by [[spoiler: making everyone a princess. When she becomes Sultan, she does just that, and it is extremely effective.]]

* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler: After taking the Djinn's place in the magic lamp, Ja'far tells the Princess he must return to the tiger-head cave once he grants her wishes -- not as a direct punishment against him as in the Disney movie, but as part of the preexisting system to keep his power from being misused.]]

-->'''Princess''': Ja'far?\\
'''Achmed''': Ja'far...\\
'''Guard''': Ja'FAR!

** [[spoiler: The other Disney villains including [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ursula]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Scar]], [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]], [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]], and [[WesternAnimation/PeterPan Hook]] show up during the title song to encourage Ja'far. [[WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Cruella de Vil]] shows up too, but isn't nearly as helpful.]]

* CerebusRetcon: "One Jump Ahead" gets this treatment when guard talks about people dying in the chase. Recurs with the guard talks about the traffic jams, property destruction, rioting and trampling deaths caused by the unplanned parade in "Prince Ali".

** The Princess goes from a naive SpoiledBrat who falls for Aladdin's lies to a [[spoiler: idealistic-but-not-stupid ruler who manages to be a good leader, and tells Aladdin to piss off after she becomes ruler of the Magic Kingdom.]] It first happens when Ja'far warns her that all men want to get into her pants, and they lead into it by singing; and "Prince Aladdin" starts singing to the Princess alerts her to his true intentions. She only agrees to marry him because she thinks she loves him.

* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: Deconstructed and Discussed. The overlying belief of the Magic Kingdom's citizens is that if you wish upon a star and ''want'' something enough, reality will eventually conform to fit this model. This is portrayed as naive, toxic and shallow, everyone sitting idly-by as socio-economic inequality persists and treating Ja'far (the only man in power trying to improve things) as the source of it all because he isn't conventionally attractive. [[spoiler:Though the play ends with the Princess's first decree -- that everyone is a princess -- improved the Magic Kingdom's standard of living, implying that even when born of naive ideals, hope should endure.]]

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: The Djinn is a deliberately over the top example. He only speaks in hackneyed movie references. Also, the Sultan who addresses his court by first [[spoiler: telling them all how he gave himself an inverted penis, apropos of nothing.]]

** The people hope that dreaming and [[BeautyEqualsGoodness and being pretty]] will fix the kingdom's problems, while such passive ideas are just letting things get worse.

* DemotedToExtra: To some extent, the Sultan, the Genie/Djinn and Abu/The Monkey. However, the most striking would be Iago/Bird, whom Ja'far dismisses during the very first scene after it insults him, and who's never seen again in the entire musical.
** Interestingly, we are given an actual explanation for the Magic Carpet ("a carpet bound to the soul of a lecherous thief") implying some AdaptationalVillainy for it -- but when the carpet appears it's only used as a vehicle and its sentience never comes up.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Aladdin threatens the baker with death if he puts anymore raisins in his bread.

* DumbassHasAPoint: Ja'far spends most of the story complaining about the unrealistic expectations and [[WideEyedIdealist oblivious idealism]] of people like the Princess. In the end, he decides that young people have to believe they can make the world perfect or else they'll never even try, and that by the overly optimistic attempts of idealistic young people like he used to be, [[EarnYourHappyEnding the world is made a tiny bit better for each generation that goes by]]. [[spoiler: As it turns out, the Princess' plan to solve social inequality by making everyone a Princess ''worked.'']]

* EqualOpportunityEvil: Surprisingly for an elitist of the Aladdin time period, the previous Royal Vizor allowed women to join his cabinet and the Royal Guard.
* EveryoneHasStandards: The D'jinn says that he cannot grant Aladdin's wish to remove the Princess's consent to "fuck" her, in addition to the "no falling in love" rule, and it's implied he is disgusted by Aladdin suggesting it.

* EmbarrassingNickname: "TIGER FUCKER! TIGER FUCKER! TIGER FUCKER!" Note that Achmed is the only person to be embarrassed by it, his soldiers actually think he's awesome for having been sodomized by a tiger.

* EvenEvilHasStandards

** Even the murderous and sex-obsessed Aladdin is skeeved out by the idea of Ja'far being in love with the Princess, noting that he's old enough to be her father--disregarding that he ''himself'' is over 33 years old and in love with said teenage princess.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Princess, the Sultan, the Djinn, and [[spoiler: some Disney villains.]]

** The song "I Steal Everything" is this to "One Jump Ahead", and "Take Off Your Clothes" is one to "A Whole New World". The opening song is an expy of (and features a cameo from) "Belle" from ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''. "Everything and More" is a parody of Franchise/DisneyPrincess [[IWantSong I Want Songs]], especially "Part of Your World". "The Golden Rule" sounds a bit like "The Bare Necessities" from ''The Jungle Book'' and "You've Got A Friend In Me" from ''Toy Story''. "Twisted" features musical cues from each of the participant's movies.

* FauxAffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Aladdin]].

-->'''Woman''': I need six eggs!\\
'''Ja'far''': [[OnlySaneMan Why not buy some?]]\\
'''Man''': I want to fly!\\
'''Ja'far''': That's unrealistic.\\
'''Bookseller''': [[WesternAnimation/TheAristocats I want to be a cat!]]\\
'''Ja'far''': [[FlatWhat ...What?]]\\
'''Bookseller''': [[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you.]]

** [[spoiler:When Ja'far heals Sherrezade's ear, she asks him coyly if he is a sorcerer. This accusation will be a lot more serious next time he hears it.]]

* FourthDateMarriage: It's a Disney parody, so this is a given. Ja'far and Sherrezade meet, fall in love, and get engaged over the course of the same conversation. It actually ''works'', though it is lampshaded. ("Took you long enough!") [[spoiler:Averted, however, by Jasmine and Aladdin they don't get together, period.]]
* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: When the Princess tries to defend Aladdin from having to face trial because he had unfortunate circumstances, the Captain of the Guard points out Aladdin killed someone, whose GoodParents dearly miss him.

* TheGoldenRule: Ja'far's philosophy in life. He tries imparting it to the original vizier, who's version of the Golden Rule is... [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney different]]...

* HardWorkHardlyWorks: Ja'far is the only one in the palace actually trying to improve the lot of the Magic Kingdom, but all his efforts come to nothing, even when he gets hold of the magic lamp. In the end, he decides that [[spoiler:hard work isn't enough; to really change the world, you have to be optimistic (or even naive) enough to believe that you can actually do it, just like the Princess.]]

* HeroWithBadPublicity: The musical recasts Ja'far as this. Everyone in the magic kingdom thinks he's the EvilChancellor, but he's actually the only one trying to make things better.

* HonoraryPrincess: The Princess's solution to the socioeconomic inequality? Why, make everyone in the kingdom a princess. [[spoiler: After the Sultan kicked the bucket, she made that decree. It works surprisingly well.]]

-->'''Ja'far''': You have no idea how much that girl means to me! I love her!
-->'''Aladdin''': Oh... You love her? Dude, she's like half your age, you're a total pedo.

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: Ja'far's defining trait. No matter how much the world fights him, all he wants to do is make others' lives better, making "The Golden Rule" of treating ''all'' others the way he wants to be treated the central tenet of his life. [[spoiler:Eventually, circumstances force him to make exceptions for the greater good, but the fact that, even after the Sultan took his pregnant wife into his harem, tried to arrest and kill him, and placed all the citizens of his kingdom in danger through his incompetence, he's still doesn't wish to betray him, is proof enough that he's really, ''really'' squeaky clean.]]
* InformedFlaw: The citizens talk a lot about how ugly Ja'far is, but even in the costume, Dylan Saunders doesn't look half bad. Possibly a reference to how attractive his [[Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical Dumbledore]] was said to be. Or maybe beauty is just in the eye of the beholder, the citizens all hate Ja'far and his wife calls him "as wise as he is handsome, as handsome as he's kind."

** Ja'far invokes this when [[spoiler:Aladdin takes the Princess hostage and demands the lamp. After Ja'far pretends to agree, he wishes to take the genie's place so that even if Aladdin has the lamp, he'll have to deal with Ja'far for his last wish. Aladdin sensibly tails it out of there, while Ja'far selflessly grants the Princess's wishes to the best of his ability]].

** Subverted. Aladdin acknowledges he can't magically make the Princess love him but does try to magically make her have sex with him and is quite put out when he's denied.
** Played straight in that Ja'far technically defies one of the other rules of being a genie ([[spoiler:not killing someone]]) because the participant didn't actually wish for it. Specifically the Princess wished for [[spoiler:the Magic Kingdom to have a Sultan that would make it the happiest place on earth]], something that could never happen as long as [[spoiler: [[{{Jerkass}} the current Sultan]]]] was alive. Lo and behold, he is mysteriously found dead moments later.
* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler:Sherrezade]]
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Ja'far to the Princess]].

* MarryForLove: Parodied when Aladdin backs out having to marry a girl he knocked up by saying he wants this. Surprisingly, the girl is actually touched by this and he would've gotten away clean if he didn't forget her name.

* MythologyGag: When the Sea-Witch is telling her story, it's heavily implied that King Triton is her brother, an element that Disney didn't make explicit in the film version of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}}'' but was used more in the Broadway adaptation.

* NoSongForTheWicked: Averted. Aladdin and Achmed both get songs, and then double-subverted by every song Ja'far [[spoiler: and the other villains]] get to sing.

* OverprotectiveDad: Ja'far tries to warn the Princess of listening to boys and their songs ("A song is often a prelude to a ''dick''") since the Sultan is too far gone to do so. [[spoiler:And then it turns out Ja'far ''is'' the Princess' father.]]

* ParentalSubstitute: Despite the Princess hating him, she treats Ja'far more like her father figure than she treats her actual father, the Sultan. He's the only one willing to give her advice when she needs it and talks to her like a person, rather than ignoring or trying to bone her. [[spoiler:Then the "substitute" part goes out the window when he realizes he's her actual father]].
* PepTalkSong: "Twisted" goes from a BSODSong to this when [[spoiler:the Disney villains appear and tell Ja'far they were actually beings with good intentions. Ja'far gains a HeroicSecondWind to use the lamp's wishes to protect the magic Kingdom]].

* RelatedInTheAdaptation: Here, it is revealed that [[spoiler:Ja'far is the Princess's actual father.]]

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Ja'far ultimately decides to make this decision when he steals the lamp. Rather than turn himself into the Sultan whom he has just betrayed, to die or be tortured, he decides to use the D'jinn to save the Kingdom from Prince Achmed and Aladdin. If this means others will see him as the villain? So be it.

* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Aladdin]].

* SkewedPriorities: The Princess yells at Aladdin for wanting to have sex while Achmed is attacking the Kingdom. She gets fed up with him and tells him off for being exactly what Ja'far said he was. [[spoiler:He responds by taking her hostage and using her as a bargaining chip to get the lamp]].

** "Take Off Your Clothes" describes the leaves on the ground spellings something explicit... "SFX?" This is a reference to a controversy about the sky in ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'' containing the word "sex", although the animators claimed it was an homage to the SFX (special effects) department.

*** Others include "that priest has a boner" or a phallic-looking tower (both from WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989)
** The title song contains cameos from [[spoiler:[[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ursula,]] [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Scar,]] [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston,]] [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent,]] [[WesternAnimation/PeterPan Captain Hook]] and [[WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Cruella de Vil]].]]

** There are several shout outs to ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'', down to Ja'far reading Wicked in the opening scene:
*** Likewise, Ja'far's relationship with the Princess is similar to Elphaba's relationship with Glinda, with the added twist of [[spoiler: him being her father, a shout out to the Wizard being revealed to be Elphaba's father.]]
*** The Princess's whole arc is also very similar to arc Glinda goes through in Wicked.
*** The ending is nearly identical to the ending of ''Wicked'', with [[spoiler: Ja'far/Elphaba being remembered as a villain while Aladdin/the Wizard is remembered as a hero. Ja'far/Elphaba can never see the Princess/Glinda again, but the Princess/Glinda is now in charge of the land and becomes a great ruler while Ja'far/Elphaba lives out their days with their true love (Sherrezade/Fiyero)]].
** Prince Achmed notes that some of the magic kingdom's greatest exports over the last ten years produced by [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pik-zahr]] include [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory toys]], [[WesternAnimation/FindingNemo exotic fish]], [[WesternAnimation/WallE trash-compacting robots]], and "other such [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles incredibles]]."
** [[spoiler: Ali Baba's lost treasure, which the Princess uses to buy Prince Achmed's kingdom, comes to 7.4 billion drachma. This is a direct reference to the $7.4 billion for which Disney acquired Pixar in 2006.]]

** The refrains of "The Golden Rule" and its DarkReprise spoof that of "[[Franchise/ToyStory You've Got a Friend in Me]]"

** There's several lines taken straight from Disney of course.

* SpeaksInShoutOuts: Everything the Djinn says is a reference, usually to a movie. It's revealed that inside the lamp he is outside of time, so he can watch all the movies which haven't been made yet. The references he makes bewilder [[OnlySaneMan Ja'far]], but all the other characters find him to be [[RunningGag very funny]].

** As observed, Jafar's name is officially spelled "Ja'far" in this story, which not only [[WritingAroundTrademarks avoids trademarks]] but is also a more historically-accurate spelling of the name.

* SubliminalSeduction: Aladdin attempts an incredibly unsubtle one on the Princess. She's JUST smart enough to see through it. The song also references several real accusations that have been lobbed at Disney movies, and even gives the real explanations to the ones that have them: the priest in ''The Little Mermaid'' has knobby knees, and the dust cloud in ''The Lion King'' spells "SFX."

** The Genie's bragging about Prince Ali's military prowess in "Prince Ali" wasn't just selling his manly qualities as a husband, it would've been a serious political consideration for forging an alliance between the two countries at the time. In this musical the fact that all of this was a lie and those armies don't exist becomes a serious issue.

-->'''Aladdin''': Why would I pretend to be a prince? Just to get laid? That's not me.
* SustainedMisunderstanding: Achmed shows his rear to his soldiers to show he's been attacked by a tiger. They all interpret it as his having had ''sex'' with the tiger, and cannot be convinced otherwise.

* TokenEvilTeammate: Turns out [[spoiler: the Disney villains]] were actually good guys with bad reputations, except [[spoiler:Cruella De Vil]], who's quite evil but seems quite surprised to hear it.

* UglyHeroGoodLookingVillain: Ja'far is [[InformedFlaw said to be ugly by the other characters]], whereas Aladdin is handsome, charismatic and a total sociopath.

* UngratefulBastard: Most of the citizens Ja'far is trying to help, but special mention the man in the opening song who demands to know why there isn't enough to eat. Even after Ja'far gives him the bread from his hands, he still sings about how evil and hideous he is.

* VillainLoveSong: "No One Remembers Achmed" has a part where Achmed says he will try to win the Princess's heart by [[spoiler: killing all citizens of the magic kingdom.]] "Take Off Your Clothes" may also count, even though [[spoiler: Aladdin's just trying to get into her pants.]]

* VillainousLament: Subverted by "Twisted", [[spoiler: where all the characters lament having been cast as villains.]] [[spoiler:Except Cruella, who still ''is'' a villain.]]

* WhamShot: Realizing that if he tries to abide by the law that innocents will die, including the Princess, Ja'far [[spoiler:rubs the lamp at the end of "Twisted," deciding that no one will see him as a hero but he's satisfied knowing they will be safe]].

* WhatYouAreInTheDark: After he makes off with the lamp, [[spoiler:Ja'far ponders that he just committed treason against his sultan and committed theft for the first time. He wonders if he should turn himself in, hide, or use the lamp's power to save the Kingdom and appear truly evil to the people he's trying to protect. After the other classic Disney villains give him a PepTalkSong, he commits to using the d'jinn's magic to save the kingdom and the Princess]].

** The Cave of Wonders is called "The Tiger-Head Cave."

** In the past, Ja'far met Scheherezade while treating her after a courtier cut off her ear. She told him a story about her scarab necklace; he said he doesn't believe in the magical cave she mentions because he trusts only things he can see and touch, like items on maps. Scheherezade points out that magic "touches the soul", the way stories do, and "there's no greater feeling than that". Ja'far is easily convinced, because it's Scheherezade.

* DelayedNarratorIntroduction: Scheherezade gives the opening monologue, appropriately enough given her name, and is not revealed as an actual character in the musical until partway through Act I. She then dies, and the explanation for her PosthumousNarration is not given until the very end of the story.

** [[spoiler:When Ja'far heals Scheherezade's ear, she asks him coyly if he is a sorcerer. This accusation will be a lot more serious next time he hears it.]]

* FourthDateMarriage: It's a Disney parody, so this is a given. Ja'far and Scheherezade meet, fall in love, and get engaged over the course of the same conversation. It actually ''works'', though it is lampshaded. ("Took you long enough!") [[spoiler:Averted, however, by Jasmine and Aladdin they don't get together, period.]]

* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler:Scheherezade]]

* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Scheherezade doesn't honestly seem that bothered by losing her ear.

** A CerebusCallback and a bit of FridgeHorror: The instant Scheherezade becomes a mother, she also dies.

* OpeningMonologue: The play begins with Scheherezade playing narrator and setting the scene.

*** The ending is nearly identical to the ending of ''Wicked'', with [[spoiler: Ja'far/Elphaba being remembered as a villain while Aladdin/the Wizard is remembered as a hero. Ja'far/Elphaba can never see the Princess/Glinda again, but the Princess/Glinda is now in charge of the land and becomes a great ruler while Ja'far/Elphaba lives out their days with their true love (Scheherezade/Fiyero)]].

** The Genie is only called "The Djinn."
** Abu and Iago are called "Monkey" and "Bird" respectively.
** The Cave of Wonders is only called "The Tiger-Head Cave."

** While not exactly a paragon of sanity (he declares war on the Magic Kingdom both to avenge himself of the insult given by the Princess and thinks this will make her love him), prince Achmed is completely unable make his army understand that he did not have sex with the Princess' tiger, no matter how often he explains it (they're under the impression he's making war on the kingdom solely to elope with the tiger).

* BenevolentGenie: The Djinn is too annoying to be really helpful, [[spoiler: but Ja'far becomes one of these at the end of the play.]]

* CoversAlwaysLie: The official poster makes it look like Jafar is under the insidious influence of Iago. The poster is merely a shout-out to that of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'', and Bird is no more than a dumb animal.

** Ja'far is the one running the Kingdom, but the populace hating him and his guards not being very good at their jobs doesn't help. While technically subservient to the Sultan, his every plan to improve the kingdom is thwarted by the ignorant citizens who hate him on principle, the insane sultan and his Deadly Decadent Court, or the Sultan's [[spoiler:(actually Ja'far's)]] irresponsible Bratty Teenage Daughter. He ends up having to try to prevent a war sparked by the Princess' self-centered behavior while accused of being a traitor by the sociopathic thief Aladdin.

-->'''Aladdin''': Why would I pretend to be a prince? Just to get laid? That's not me.\\

* ThouShaltNotKill: Ja'far will not kill anyone, not even [[spoiler:enemy soldiers threatening his people. It's why his second wish isn't enough to save the civilians]].

** There are several shout outs to ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'', down to Ja'far reading Wicked in the opening scene.
** Likewise, Ja'far's relationship with the Princess is similar to Elphaba's relationship with Glinda, with the added twist of [[spoiler: him being her father, a shout out to the Wizard being revealed to be Elphaba's father.]]
** The Princess's whole arc is also very similar to arc Glinda goes through in Wicked.
** The ending is nearly identical to the ending of ''Wicked'', with [[spoiler: Ja'far/Elphaba being remembered as a villain while Aladdin/the Wizard is remembered as a hero. Ja'far/Elphaba can never see the Princess/Glinda again, but the Princess/Glinda is now in charge of the land and becomes a great ruler while Ja'far/Elphaba lives out their days with their true love (Scheherezade/Fiyero)]].

* SpeaksInShoutOuts: Everything the Djinn says is a reference, usually to a movie. It's revealed that inside the lamp he is outside of time, so he can watch all the movies which haven't been made yet. The references he makes bewilder all the characters.
** Well, mostly just [[OnlySaneMan Ja'far]]. Everyone else finds him to be [[RunningGag very funny]].

* BadassMustache: Appears to be the [[PlanetOfHats hat]] for everyone in Achmed's kingdom.

-->'''Woman''': I need six eggs!
-->'''Ja'far''': [[VoiceOfReason Why not buy some?]]
-->'''Man''': I want to fly!
-->'''Ja'far''': That's unrealistic.
-->'''Bookseller''': [[WesternAnimation/TheAristocats I want to be a cat!]]
-->'''Ja'far''': [[FlatWhat ...What?]]
-->'''Bookseller''': [[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you.]]

** A princess setting a tiger on a visiting prince is regarded as an act of war. Achmed even lampshades the absurdity of such an act carrying no political consequences.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Ja'far's lover, Scherzerade, was a real woman, best known for [[Literature/ArabianNights epic-length bedtime stories]] and being mailed to the Sultan wrapped up in a carpet.

* AnachronismStew: In the ancient Middle East, the exports of the magic kingdom include "trash-compacting robots", Prince Achmed has a toy Woody doll, and the Djinn quotes movies from thousands of years in the future.
** Naturally, all of these are played for laughs.

* TheGenieKnowsJackNicholson: The Djinn [[SpeaksInShoutOuts speaks entirely in movie quotes]], which [[InformedAttribute makes him really funny]]. "Here's Johnny!"

* RaceLift: The show features a nearly all-white cast. This being Team [=Starkid=], it gets an early LampshadeHanging as one more thing to blame Ja'far for.
** [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], the line "Why is everyone in the kingdom white?" is sung by Creator/LaurenLopez, who is half Latina.

* TheGenieKnowsJackNicholson: "Here's Johnny!"
* TheGoldenRule: Ja'far's philosophy in life. He tries imparting it to the original vizier, who's version of the Golden Rule is... [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney different]]...

** VillainousLament: Subverted by "Twisted", [[spoiler: where all the characters lament having been cast as villains.]] [[spoiler:Except Cruella, who still ''is'' a villain.]]
** VillainLoveSong: "No One Remembers Achmed" has a part where Achmed says he will try to win the Princess's heart by [[spoiler: killing all citizens of the magic kingdom.]] "Take Off Your Clothes" may also count, even though [[spoiler: Aladdin's just trying to get into her pants.]]

** The Sultan's apparently random story about how [[spoiler: he inverted his penis]]. Near the end, Ja'far realizes that because of this, [[spoiler: he must be the Princess's real father.]]

* CreatorThumbprint: One thing fans of this musical appreciate is that the lyricist, Kaley McMahon, is a firm believer in the maxim that musical theatre should if at all possible only use perfect rhymes and not slant rhymes -- there's only ''one'' slant rhyme in the whole show, and that's "philosophy" with "reciprocity" in "The Golden Rule", a direct reference to [[WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967 "The Bear Necessities"]]. Notable because slant rhymes are pretty darn common in other Starkid lyrics, and Creator/DarrenCriss has been quite open about his willingness to use slant rhymes in his own work -- understandably so given how the original Theatre/AVeryPotterMusical songs were often composed in a matter of hours.

** Played straight in that Ja'far technically defies one of the other rules of being a genie (spoiler:not killing someone]]) because the participant didn't actually wish for it. Specifically the Princess wished for [[spoiler:the Magic Kingdom to have a Sultan that would make it the happiest place on earth]], something that could never happen as long as [[spoiler: [[{{Jerkass}} the current Sultan]]]] was alive. Lo and behold, he is mysteriously found dead moments later.

* LoopholeAbuse: Subverted. Aladdin acknowledges he can't magically make the Princess love him but does try to magically make her have sex with him and is quite put out when he's denied.