I bet that headline is an original one.
If it wasn’t for DART’s brilliant timing of construction in the Fair Park area right before the State Fair commences next week, I might have been able to catch the opening of The Lion King. Incidentally, traffic was a bitch and upon picking up our tickets, we had to wait ten minutes before the ushers could let us in. After the show, a friend of mine who was already in told me, “You missed a beautiful opening.” And he’s straight which means it must have been.
If you don’t live under a rock, you probably know the story of young Simba, a lion cub who’s father, Mufasa is the King of the Jungle. A series of tragic events leads Simba to exile as his evil uncle Scar takes over ruling a land once aplenty now barren under his reign.
The show is everything everyone hears about. Fantastic sets, amazing puppetry, innovative costumes all create this colorful vista of Africa and the eyes are pulled in every direction trying to take it all in. With Disney at the helm, high expectations are reasonable to have but the visual landscape can only be seen to be believed. What someone has heard about or been told to them about the Lion King will never match actually witnessing literal magic onstage.
It is quite a three-dimensional production. An actor entering and exiting from upstage is no rarity but the audience is almost dared to believe it’s in the story along with the cast. An army of jackyls enter from the audience in huge gritty grey costumes and bark at audience members while running to the stage during “Be Prepared.” After intermission, actors in colorful robes and headgear wave long flexible rods in circular motion with large birds kites flying amid the audience in both the balcony and orchestra. The most effective 3D effect though was during “I Can’t Wait to be King” where oversized colorful animals are fantasized by young Simba. 18’ high conic giraffes in a rainbow spectrum bow to the upcoming king of Africa with the bodies reaching past the stage into the audience. It is a breathtaking fun moment. If one were to use the cliché – visually stunning – at any time, it would be for The Lion King.
Having said that, the show is not without flaws. The actor playing Young Simba may not have the experience and voice to belt out songs. He had a good voice but his words couldn’t get past the accompanying music. Otherwise, he was dead on as an earnest cub who idolized his father played with superb regal flair by Dionne Randolph. Scar, played by Timothy Carter, suffered the same vocal fate. His songs contain much exposition and insight to his character but all were lost because the music completely overpowered his singing but it’s hard to tell if this was a sound issue or an actor issue because most if not all other singing parts were audible.
The older Nala and Simba, actors Christine Horn and Dashaun Young respectively, were capable in their roles but lacked a certain animal instinct. During dialogue, both simply stood and delivered lines. By doing this they lose any idea that they are supposed to be lions and remind the audience that they are human. A major flaw since we are brought into this wild world with no apparent human presence. The story unfolds at a good pace however and the eyes will move on to the next visual feast.
The stampede scene which is pivotal to Simba’s exile is downright astonishing with screens, puppets and actors all as wildebeests and Simba and Mufasa in the middle of the chaos. The audience begins seeing the stampede in the distance. Puppets appear as they get closer and the actors in masks and costumes complete the full effect. Quite possibly one of the most epic five minutes onstage ever.
The Lion King delivers and it’s expected to.. Disney doesn’t take for granted the intelligence of the audience, especially the younger ones growing up in a world of CGI special effects. Thus they pull no punches with tremendous display aided by something akin to magic.
