Age Lift: It's unclear how old Ash is, but it's implied he's at least slightly older than ten.
Coming of Age Story: It's even more explicit than in the anime. A major part of Ash's arc is the fact that he's growing up and wants to be treated like a man.
Disappeared Dad: It's more obvious in the musical due to Delia's love life being discussed. Delia left Giovanni for Ash's father, but Ash's dad isn't in their life for some never-discussed reason.
Forgotten Birthday: Ash forgot Misty's birthday, which was three weeks ago.
Friend to All Living Things: Ash is a friend to all Pokemon, which is lampshaded by Misty in "I've Got A Secret". His memories and pure heart even wreck Giovanni's plan by giving MechaMew2 knowledge of love and right and wrong.
Good Morning, Crono: The story starts with Ash sleeping in at home and Pikachu shocking him awake.
Nonchalant Dodge: During "You Just Can't Win," Giovanni tries to punch Ash, who dodges and taunts him about it.
Cannot Spit It Out: Misty can't confess her feelings to Ash, partially because she feels he's completely focused on Pokemon and ignoring her. She still hasn't told him even at the end of the play.
Ambiguous Gender: Surprisingly averted. Pikachu is repeatedly called "he" instead of "it" (probably because the song "Pikachu (I Choose You)" has Ash refer to it as being like his "brother"). Pikachu wouldn't be confirmed as male for several more years.
Demoted to Extra: Due to the limits of the medium, Pikachu is demoted from his status as a core character. He just pops up once in a while to make noises and prove he hasn't been Adapted Out.
James stands up to, and insults, Jessie more than in canon.
Jessie is a bit more upbeat and campy than in the anime.
Ambiguously Gay: Surprising for a show that shipped Ash/Misty and Giovanni/Delia, it doesn't reference James/Jessie. Instead we get James being as camp as ever and joking about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
Adaptation Dye-Job: He wears his black suits from the game, not his orange suit from the anime.
Ascended Extra: In the Kanto episodes he was so secluded in mystery that his face wasn't even revealed until several appearances in. Here, he's a major player in the plot.
Badass Arm-Fold: Giovanni does this in "You Just Can't Win" after grabbing Ash by the chin/neck and shoving him away.
Bring Him to Me: Giovanni instructs Team Rocket to bring him Pikachu alive and unharmed so it can fight MechaMew2 Pikachu refuses to obey them, so Giovanni orders that Ash be captured as well.
The Chessmaster: Giovanni orchestrates the entire plot and manipulates just about everyone.
Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Giovanni explicitly hates just about everyone, with Delia being his exception.
Evil Former Friend: Delia used to date Giovanni. He still has feelings for her, but she's moved on.
Evil Gloating: "It Will All Be Mine" is basically evil gloating in the form of a song.
Godhood Seeker: During "It Will All Be Mine," Giovanni says he'll have divine power and make the sun shine on only him.
Luke, I Am Your Father: Subverted. It's implied he's Ash's dad, but this is never noted explicitly and it's unknown if Giovanni even knows he has a child (judging from his lack of reaction to Ash and his attempt at killing him, he doesn't).
Malicious Misnaming: At one point, Giovanni refers to Professor Oak as "Professor Acorn."
Near-Villain Victory: Giovanni's plan works completely, and he tries to kill Ash and Pikachu with Hyper Beam after they served their purpose in his plan. If not for Mewtwo's intervention, he would have won.
Visionary Villain: Giovanni claims his plan will change the world forever, and his villain songs describe ruling the planet and controlling each day to the point that he'll make the sun shine on him alone.
Would Hurt a Child: Giovanni is perfectly willing to kill Ash with MechaMew2's Hyper Beam, and he engages him in a fistfight shortly before that.
You're Insane!!: Delia calls him "mad" when he explains his world domination plans to her.
MechaMew2
Composite Character: MechaMew2 is primarily based on Mewtwo, but also has Mew's unique feature of being able to learn every Pokemon move.
Humanity Is Infectious: Thanks to Ash's memories, MechaMew2 gains sentience and the ability to talk.
Invincible Villain: MechaMew2 wins every battle it participates in until the very end, meaning it defeated at least 250 trainers offscreen. It's only defeated by Mewtwo giving in sentience that results in it blowing up to stop Giovanni.
Nigh-Invulnerable: MechaMew2 is seemingly unaffected by any opponent's attack, no matter how strong.
Voice of the Legion: MechaMew2 speaks with heavy reverb and a male/female voice similar to the Mewtwo/Nurse Joy example from the anime's first movie.
Delia Ketchum
Portrayed by: Dee Roscoli
Adaptational Backstory Change: The play predates the third movie and thus presents a contradictory backstory for Delia. Here, she was a part of Team Rocket as a teen. In the anime, it's shown she was a student of Professor Oak's as a teen.
Ascended Extra: She's a reoccuring character in the anime but is a major part of the plot in Live.
The Atoner: Delia feels guilty for associating herself with Giovanni as a young woman and wishes to keep Ash from learning the truth about her past.
Dark and Troubled Past: Delia used to be a part of Team Rocket, but she regrets those days and tries her best to keep Ash from learning about her past.
Dark Secret: Delia keeps her past relationship with Giovanni secret because she's terrified of how Ash will take the news.
Former Teen Rebel: When Delia was a teen, she hanged around with a bad crowd, dated Giovanni, and was in the gang that would soon become Team Rocket.
Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: It's implied that Giovanni is Ash's biological father, not Delia's husband.
Teen Pregnancy: This is alluded to. Delia was a Rocket member as a teen. It's never mentioned when she had Ash, but there are some implications she had him young (especially if he is Giovanni's son). This is canon to Pocket Monsters: The Animation, where Delia had Ash at 19.
Ascended Extra: He has more screentime than in the anime.
What the Fu Are You Doing?: Professor Oak tries to escape from a cage via martial arts training. It doesn't go well. He never actually finished his martial arts lessons.
