Review – The Lion King
The 2013 Sydney production of Disney’s The Lion King, led by director Julie Taymor, is no less than a total triumph. From start to finish, you will be enthralled by the colourful, beautiful and heart-wrenchingly emotional journey.
This show is an example of all elements of a production team coming together to create something near-perfect. The wonderful live orchestra bring life to the familiar songs, originally penned by Tim Rice and Elton John, while the incredible set design and lighting will just make you wonder how they possibly managed to build and operate something so complicated. The costume design is magnificent, incorporating human and animal elements to each character. The unique masks worn by the main characters are intricate and unique, and perfectly reflect the nature of the each characters.
In all elements of the production, notes of traditional African culture are incorporated. While this is most notable in the costuming, it is also present in the choreography, set and lighting, and the score. For the most part, this is highly successful, making the show all the more engaging, and bringing a darker tone to it. However, this darker tone is the reason that some of the more cartoonish elements from the film don’t quite work in the show. Comic-relief characters such as Timon and Pumbaa feel one-dimensional and simply a bit too silly, while one of the catchiest songs of the score, “I Just Can’t Wait to be King”, feels simply out of place.
These few flaws make the show no less spectacular. As should be the case with a musical, the songs are by far the best part of the production, for it is in these songs that all the genius elements of the production are able to come together best. The opening number, “The Circle of Life”, is just heart-stopping, while “He Lives in You”, a song not featured in the original film, will move you to tears.
The Lion King is more than worth-seeing – it should be mandatory. It is heartfelt and carries a sense of soul that can’t be put into words.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgZtzDj_7o#t=12&w=400]
