"They Live in You! They Live in ME!" - Disney's The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre, London 18.10.13

 In September I was given the invitation to go to the theatre, by my old job and take a good friend to the West end for the first time! After much thought, and a good way to introduce her to London Theatre, we chose to take her to Disney's The Lion King, and the Lyceum Theatre on the 18th October for the evening performance.

The Lyceum Theatre from the very beginning is a stuning theatre, with the beautiful tall pillars and the many signs of Mufasa's face, and inside is just as beautiful.

This was my third time seeing this show, the first was during the time I lived in America, and saw it on Broadway, however I have seen the show here before at the Lyceum, which was a couple of years before this showing, I was seated up in the upper circle quite centre, and the view up there was great to see everything yet sometimes it was quite limited, and the common £1 binoculars were bought to see some of the performers. Tonight's showing however I was based in the stalls Row R seat 13, which was located to the right of the stage in the Aisle with another aisle in front. Our view of the stage was great and the bonus of being in the aisle made the experience so enjoyable! I was so lucky to have paid only £32.50 for my seat, bust usually this seat would cost in the £60, its a top selling show and not often on offer except the ones that you would purchase if you were paying for a meal and top price tickets, and normally £32.50 tickets are those up in the Upper Circle which are perfectly fine.


As I said being in the Aisle is a great spot especially in the stalls, as from the beginning of the Lion King you are a brought into the African plains during the "Circle of Life" as the song is sung, the animals parade down the aisle, we were placed in the aisle of the Rhinosauraus, (in the other was the Elephant) and the birds, and had the Springbok, walk in front of us. You couldn't help but smile, and be amazed at how the animal puppetry just brought them to life, and sometimes couldn't tell the difference! The aisle was also used many times to 'Break' the fourth wall, during the song "Be Prepared" I completely forgot it was used until the Hyena's came snapping at us, and we also had young Simba run past, after escaping the stampede.

So if you want the full effect I recommend going to see the show in the Stalls, to see the Animals, or the first rows of the Circle I have heard are also a great view.

The Lion King, is one of Disney's top grossing films, which was loved by many and still to this day my favourite Disney Film.  It was one of the first animated films to get an Oscar! The story is the tale of a New born king to be, Son of Mufasa and Sarabi, the King and Queen of the Pridelands, Simba. However the jealousy of the Kings Brother Scar, turns to revenge and murder, as he murders his brother and blames Simba, who runs away from the Pridelands. Scar believing that his hyena sidekicks, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, killed Simba, places himself as King of the Pridelands, however Simba escapes and takes himself to jungle where he meets the two comic characters of Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat, and a warthog, who had turned there back on the World, and live there life the 'Hakunna Matata" way "it means No worries." While Simba carries on the Hakunna Matata way back in the Pridelands all is not well with the Hyenas eating everything and driving the animals out, the Lions are left to starve and it is Nala, a childhood friend of Simba to go and find help. She finds Simba who helps him see that he is the Future king, with a little help from Rafiki (the amazing baboon) and the spirit of this father Mufasa, he returns and takes what is his from his Lying Uncle, and becomes the true King of Priderock!
Now does this story kind of, sort of sound familiar? Well after a big debate with my old English teacher, but it has been proven and is true that The Lion King is based on Shakespeare's play Hamlet, you know brother of king, murders him to get the thrown, and then the son is to go and get revenge on his uncle to get the thrown back...minus obviously Scar marrying Sarabi, and everyone dying at the end, yes it is pretty much the Story!

Now the story may have been influenced by a famous play, but having studied this production for my university dissertation 2 years ago, I was aware from the very beginning that Julie Taymor, the Director, and creator of all the puppets, and visuals wanted the Lion King to present not the story itself but HOW the story was told, and if I do say so myself she truly pulled it off. Having loved the animated film, while watching this production, you don't just wow at the story, as I myself no off by heart the script! (my sister and I used to recite it at the back of the car on many family outings) but I was blown away by the sets, and the puppets, and how the were shown, you truly cannot take your eyes off the stage, and because of that the experience of this show is amazing! The great thing about it, is it is the costumes that create the scenes, with the simplistic staging behind of maybe the sun rising, or a small change in the lighting, drawing yourselves into the many animals, and foliage that the actors portray, it truly is beautiful, and so thought out.

Now onto the Actors, I myself was not aware of anyone who was performing in this production, the cast was as follows.

 

Rafiki - Nteliseng Nikela

Mufasa-Shaun Escoffery

Sarabi - Gemma Knight Jones

Zazu - Mark McGee (2nd understudy)

Scar - Andy Mace (Understudy)

Shenzi - Sarah Amankwah

Banzai - Taofique Folarin

Ed - Hugo Barista (Understudy)

Timon - Jaime Golding (Understudy)

Pumba - Keith Brookman

Simba - Jonathan Andrew Hume

Nala - Melina M'Poy

 

We did have many understudies this night, but it didn't matter, because as long as they created the character is was a success. Ntelising was brilliant as the amazing comic Rafiki, making the audience laugh, even though at some points they were not aware of what she was saying. Shaun's Mufasa was strong and powerful, and suited his role well! with the deep voice that only Mufasa can have! Zazu was portrayed by the second understudy who usually portrays the comic character of Ed, but tonight Mark was on top form as Zazu, as although Rowan Atkinson is the voice in the animated film, its great to see different portrayals of this character, and I love how they break Character at the end of "I just can't wait to be King" where he asks "Where is my bird?" Andy Mace played the role of Scar, and I'm sorry I really didn't enjoy him as the villain, I don't think he put his all in, and with the amazing lines that scar produces in the show and found him quite stiff in parts that he could really have stolen the show with, he didn't do Scar Justice, I preferred the lead actor of the role George Asprey when I first saw the show in London.

The trio of Hyena's were good, and I am always surprised that they cut down a lot of there roles, having shortened "Chow Down!" and the "Madness of Scar" songs in the London production I feel that the Hyena's don't get the great comic moments that they did on the one on Broadway, and sadly they are the two favourite songs. Timon played by Jaime Golding was brilliant! He took Timon in his stride and had get comic timings with the help of Sidekick Keith with Pumba, especially loved the change of rather than Hawaiian dancers at the end, with the introduction to the Irish dancing, complete with Timon in a Irish dress! Genius.

Simba and Nala played by Jonathon, and Melina were a great couple, though I felt that sometimes during the songs they weren't as strong as though I have seen in the past, for Simba "Endless Night" and "He Lives in You (reprise)" those songs are just beautiful, and although his voice was great, I still feel that it could have been stronger, and at the end of "He Lives in You" The finally is where Simba steals the song, but again I didn't feel the same this time.

All in all, Lion King is a performance that I will never get old of, because its just so visually spectacular that it just makes you want to see it more and more, its a childhood memory, and love. It is defiantly one to take your family to, or just go and see to smile, and get lost.  I will be going to see this show again someday, there is no doubt about that!