The Lion King: A Review
As one of Disney’s most successful films, and film adaptations, ‘The Lion King‘ continues to dominate London’s theatre village. If you’ve ever seen this show, I’m sure you were just as amazed as I was. The level of skill and detail within the musical blew me away. From its beautiful costumes, to the timeless musical score. Every element of this show is incredibly individual.
Despite the 1994 animated film being originally aimed at the younger generations, this stage adaptation can be enjoyed from any age. The many wonders of this show add to it’s world famous reputation. With it’s high flying birds, phenomenal set designs and it’s incredible costumes, the beautiful storyline is only exaggerated. When I was lucky enough to go and watch this show, there were families, couples and elderly all round me, and I didn’t hear a single negative comment from any of them.
Following the life and journey of Simba a young lion cub, we watch as he grows up and faces many challenges. Accompanied by his friends and family, we get to know other characters. These include Simba’s eventual soulmate Nala, his enemy, Scar, and his two comical friends, Timone and Pumba. This show will bring you to tears, either from its incredible emotional performance or its humorous storyline. With all the songs we know and love, such as ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’, and ‘The Circle of Life’. The story flows beautifully, aided by the incredible creative scene changes, it seamlessly continues from scene to scene.
The storyline is a family classic. But what makes this show, are the intricate costumes and movement. The way every character moves and dances is so realistic to that of the real animal. Normally, it can be difficult to watch every character on stage, but somehow, I could see every individual movement made. I must admit, I was sat in awe at the level of skill and passion put into these animals. I was one gazelle leap away from being in tears. It felt like a privilege being able to watch the cast members move down the isles. Had I known I would be watching a life-size elephant and rhino make their way through a theatre I would have been more prepared. I almost leapt out of my seat to go and sit right next to them.
Another element of movement I that I thought was particularly interesting, was the comparison between the good characters and ‘evil’ characters. For example, Scar’s movement was very slow and similar to the predatory nature of real Lions, in contrast, Simba’s movement in general is much more bouncy and playful. This is further highlighting the divide between the hero and villain.
If you’re considering ‘The Lion King‘ as a next potential watch, I highly recommend it. To watch a favorite Disney film come to life on stage is wonderful. The quality and detail invested in this show, creates an absolutely beautiful musical. Whether you’re eight, eighteen or eighty, this show is highly enjoyable and will not disappoint.
