Still the mane event (Lion King)

Member Name:

Product:	Lion King
Date:	19/02/02 (277 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simply stunning, The sounds of Africa, The gorgeous theatre

Disadvantages: "Behind You" style scenes, Too good- too soon!

I have just turned 32 years of age. Now instead of going out getting drunk and then facing the mirror the next day thinking that I had aged 10 years overnight- I decided to book well ahead to see The Lion King on stage. I wanted to be child for the day! Teaching doesn';t give you much chance to dumb down and I really wanted to watch something that would make fell in the words of Atomic Kitten- "Whole Again!" I had heard so much about this Disney musical that I felt that I HAD to go. Was the stage set as good as I had heard? Were the puppets stunning? Had the score improved since the film came out? And did the musical live up to all the hype - from London buses to the billboards all over the capital...

Well, right from the beginning of your entrance into the Lyceum Theatre - you know that you are in for a treat. Unlike most West End theatres- the Lyceum looks the part. No rickety seats or coke stained carpets in here. This beautifully restored theatre leaves you buzzing as you walk up the stairs feeling every inch a star. As you glide up the stairs - excited about the mane event- what do you see? Um....merchandise- that's what! And loads of it! Being Disney- they have saturated the theatre with it. I left with just a programme- but if you're taking the kids it may be wise to put a blind fold on them and say "Suprise" as you cojole them through a side entrance as this stuff ain't cheap!

As you take your seat- you realise the scale of this epic show is huge. Up in the royal boxes are musicians. Down in the Orchestra Stalls are musicians. This brings a whole new meaning to the word surround sound! It also makes you realise that far from being a glossy show with no interaction from the audience- this is going to involve you on many levels. So as the excitement mounts and the lights go out- I will try to prepare you for the awe inspiring spectacle that is.. The Lion King.

The rattling of sweet wrappers is de
afening! I am sat in the matinee- my own fault then! All around me kids are playing with mini Pumba and Timons! I am sat like a child myself waiting for the show to begin. The lights have gone down- the curtain is about to open so why won't people stop talking? The opening scene stops people from eating roofing insulation loudly and everyone in the theatre stops in their tracks. I look like Laura Dern or Sam Neil from Jurassic Park when they first clap their eyes on the dinosaurs! The sights that I can see are simply stunning and unlike anything I have seen before. The Circle Of Life opener is heard all around. Entering the stage from the stalls are the most amazing sights I have ever seen on a West End stage. Elephants, giraffes, Cheetahs, Lions, Deer, Birds- all walk onto the stage. Even more amazing is the fact that these have been created by Julie Taymor with such care and attention that even though you can see the actors faces (to show you how human the animals are) you will believe that you are watching the wildlife. The stage is filled with such stunning imagery that it is really difficult to know where to look next. I had tears running down my cheeks and felt a right saddo. But truly your breath is taken away and you are left open mouthed as you watch in awe;gobsmacked.

From here on the pace gathers. The story of The Lion King remains in tact. Lion cub- Simba longs to be able to roar like his dad-Musafa. He adores his father but his 'no fear' approach to life worries Musafa and with good reason. With Uncle Scar up to no good and the hyenenas watching his every turn- heartache looms during the first act. The music of Africa is mixed with the classic songs from the film. This is where The Lion King excels. Far from overdosing on Tim Rice and Elton John- the score has updates at every turn. Each old song is reinvented and the new songs provide a real sense of a foreign beautiful clime. Think of Ladysmith Mambosa playing as water runs down
a the side of a mountain and lions roar in the background and this will go some way to explaining the unique sound of the fantastic score.

Each character is meticulously drawn in the guise of a puppet or human mask. It sould so easily have gone badly through laziness. "I know let's just put men and women in costumes- it's The Lion King- people will watch it anyway" could have easily been the best approach. After all the hype could have got people into the theatre alone. With a brand image like Disneys who needs quality? But instead a whole new world has been created on stage. The plot at times does veer into a pantomime and I have to say that the acting sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. But because the canvas is so rich and beautiful and the music is so stirring I am willing not to overly nit pick this musical to pieces. The only real fault for me was the fact that the first act was so stunning, so immediately beguiling and hard to resist that the second act failed to deliver as the original "My god- look at that" feeling was beyond a novelty. But again, how many plays or musicals can make you cry because of the sheer spectacle within the first five minutes?

The performances vocally are spot on. The script does not really allow the actors to act as they would in another musical as the target audience are not about to nominate them for Oliver awards- but even so they all work well with their limited material. The visuals as I have said are amazing. It is worth buying the £5 programme so that you can relive the set as it is worth showing a friend as you stammer over how wonderful it was! There is also a bok available about the making of the musical available on the merchandise stand but it's the price of a mortgage downpayment so I would stick to the programme!

The puppetry is amazing. The work that must have gone behind the scenes to get this show on stage must have been unbelievable. Each animal has
clearly been studied. Every small detail has been noted. Even butterlfies and birds- fly over your heads as they would in real life rather than someone waving a stick - in a very workmanlike fashion. Money obviously talks here but you feel for once that you truly are getting value for money. You can see where all the money as gone. The ticket price is justified as your eyes are given something that leaves them blinking with disbelief!

The Lion King is a once in a lifetime show. Yes, the story could be posted on the back of a cornflakes packet and some of the humour is aimed more at the litt luns than you but if you can swallow the pantomime style narrative and the fact that the first half is the most stunning piece of work you will ever see on stage and that the second half leaves you feeling a bit disappointed then you are in for a real treat. I have seen so many plays but not since Miss Saigon has a musical grabbed me right from the start and forced me to surrender to the spectacle above all else. I went to the matinee but as I left the theatre I was surprised how light it was. Inside the theatre you forget what time it is. You are immersed into the the Circle Of Life which reawakens your senses and leaves you gasping for more. If you want a treat which offers you a once in a lifetime experience - grab the kids- start saving and GO!

If you want more info on the show- read on. Otherwise thanks alot for reading....

MORE INFO
_________

Tickets are available from:

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Prices range from £25- £37 (there are high booking fees unless you go to the theatre in person). The prices are going up- soon £40 will be the max you will pay.

SOUNDTRACK- the Broadway soundtrack is available at a great price of £9.99 from www.hmv.co.uk

TICKET AVAILABILITY- Book well in advance to secure a good seat. The show runs- Tue- Sun. There are matinees on Sat and Sun. Best ticket availability is on
Tues and Wed evenings.

ENJOY!

Summary: