I first saw The Lion King in the West End when it opened in 1999 and was very dubious about how well it would transfer from the screen to the stage. However, as soon as the curtain went up, all of my expectations were blown away. The Lion King is the perfect family show and it's easy to see why it still plays to sell out audiences now and why it was both mine and my sister's top choice to see on our recent trip to New York, despite having seen it only a few months before in the West End.
The Lion King plays in New York at the Minkskoff Theatre just off of Times Square. Sadly, due to its wide appeal and popularity, tickets aren't cheap and are not easy to get hold of - we paid about $100 each for our seats in the orchestra
stalls and definitely book well in advance (don't wait until you arrive in New York!) as shows tend to sell out months in advance.
The plot will no doubt be familiar to anyone who's seen the Disney film - Simba, a young and rebellious lion, is set to inherit his father's kingdom, much to his Uncle Scar's resentment. When Scar plans a coup, Simba flees the kingdom, striking up a friendship with a meerkat and a warthog, as his kingdom falls into difficulty.
Despite being based on the original Disney film, the production is not "Disney-fied", which had been my cynical worry before seeing it. The actors are not dressed in the suits that you'd see them in at Disneyland - instead their costumes use different forms of puppetry, allowing the actors to act with their faces, while at the same time embodying the animal they are playing, without being restricted by their costume, whether they are playing a lion, cheetah, gazelle, or even elephant. The costumes are undoubtedly one of the stars of the show (and won a Laurence Olivier award), giving a real African feel - I won't say much more than if you can afford it, I would thoroughly recommend sitting downstairs in the stalls as it's a very special experience!
The set design is equally clever - fairly minimalistic but very functional, with the chorus often forming part of the scenery.
All of the actors gave wonderful performances, including the two child actors playing Young Simba and Young Nala, but the show as a whole is such an ensemble performance it would be unfair to single out one person.
All of the familiar favourite Elton John and Tim Rice songs from the film are included in the stage show, as well as the inspired addition of two beautiful Hans Zimmer tunes (one of which was included in the original film, but not as a song) which are turned into two of the show's standout songs - Shadowlands and Endless Night. Shadowlands is one of my favourite songs ever - many's the time I've had it on repeat singing along at the top of my voice!
The Minkskoff Theatre itself is great - London theatres tend to be so old and small that I always seem to get sat behind either an incredibly tall person or someone who insists on leaning forward, blocking the view for everyone behind them. The Minkskoff is a modern theatre with only two levels, but far more seating on both and with a slant down towards the stage, meaning that everyone should be able to see. They also provided booster seats for children.
Being Disney though, there was no escaping all of the merchandise being thrust under your nose - not just the usual souvenir brochures and soundtrack recordings, but cuddly toys, t-shirts, hats, Lion King drink holders... you name it, if they can slap a Lion King logo on it, it's there!
But as soon as I heard that first African tribal call that opens the show and the curtain went up, all my cynicism about Disney disappeared - it's not a show that relies on its stars to sell tickets, or on cheap gimmicks, it's quite simply one of the most magical theatrical spectacles I've seen on stage - take your children, take your family, take your friends, but just go!
Minskoff Theatre 200 W. 45th St. New York, NY 10036
Show times:
Saturday: 2.00pm and 8.00pm Sunday: 1.00pm and 6.30pm Monday: no show Tuesday: 7.00pm Wednesday: 2.00pm and 8.00pm Thursday: 8.00pm Friday: 8.00pm
Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes
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