The Lion King

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – The Lion King

Playwright/s/Composer/s – Music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice with Lebo M. Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Hans Zimmer. Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi. Adapted from the screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Joathan Roberts & Linda Woolverton.

Production Company/Theatre space – (professional) Disney Theatrical Group, Broadway Across Canada, The John Gore Organization, Jubilee Auditorium.

Length – 2 Acts (2 hours, 35 minutes, one intermission.)

Genre– Musical Fantasy Drama

Premise – When a young lion cub is misled into thinking he murdered his father, he escapes the consequences by meeting a warthog, meerkat & mandrill, and learns lessons that help him to go back to usurp his devious uncle’s hold of his jungle kingdom.

Why this play? Why now? – Disney is a sure-fire brand name to bring in the crowds and The Lion King is a beloved story children’s story that also captures the imagination of adults.

Curiosities – I wondered, as I often do, why parental figures don’t teach children about what is acceptable behaviour in a public theatre. And while the actor playing Scar did lovely work, I wondered if anyone else was missing this role as played by Patrick R. Brown.

Notable Moment – The first seven minutes is a parade of animals, astonishing in scale and theatrical grandeur, underscored by stirring music, and powerful vocals.

Notable writing – With a tenuous connection to Hamlet, this stage adaptation almost completely replicates the beloved children’s movie. Augmented by vocal arrangements, a little improv, and the star power of John and Rice the combined eight writers undoubtedly have pride in their global success.

Notable performances – This production showcases physical mastery in dance and fight choreo. The talented ensemble of nearly 40 actors, singers, and dancers is more than we normally see – credit to The Mouse. Standouts include powerhouse singer Mukelisiwe Goba playing Rafiki, Peter Hargrave in the delicious villain role as Scar, and comedy duo Timon and Pumba played by Robert Creighton and Danny Grumich.

Notable design/Production – Scenic Designer Richard Hudson’s set becomes animated by the extraordinary lighting design of Donald Holder. The mask and puppet designs by director Julie Taymor and Michael Curry steal the show and set the benchmark for all other theatrical animal stories.

Notable direction – Julie Taymor as director is credited under music & lyrics, puppetry, and mask which is atypical.  I’m confident her scope and vision were fully realized on a piece of this scale and complexity.

One reason to see this show – A victorious spectacle of all that theatre is capable of with access to world class talent and money. Worth the ticket price.