BWW Reviews: Latest Tour is LION KING Light

Disney's The Lion King

Music & Lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice; Additional Music & Lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancini, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Hans Zimmer; Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi, Adapted from the screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton; Directed by Julie Taymor; Choreography by Garth Fagan; Music Director, Rick Snyder; Scenic Design, Richard Hudson; Costume Design, Julie Taymor; Lighting Design, Donald Holder; Mask & Puppet Design, Julie Taymor & Michael Curry; Sound Design, Steve Canyon Kennedy; Hair & Makeup Design, Michael Ward; Production Stage Manager, Kenneth J. Davis; Fight Director, Rick Sordelet

CAST (in order of appearance): Tshidi Manye, Rafiki; L. Steven Taylor, Mufasa; Tryphena Wade, Sarabi; Drew Hirshfield, Zazu; Patrick R. Brown, Scar; Jordan A. Hall, Tre' Jones, Young Simba; Nya Cymone Carter, Tyrah Skye Odoms, Young Nala; Jacquelyn Renae Hodges, Shenzi; Keith Bennett, Banzai; Robbie Swift, Ed; Nick Cordileone, Timon; Ben Lipitz, Pumbaa; Jelani Remy, Simba; Nia Holloway, Nala;

Ensemble Singers: Taprena Michelle Augustine, Kyle R. Banks, Russell Joel Brown, Thembelihle Cele, Blaine Alden Krauss, Tonoccus McClain, Matthew S. Morgan, Maia A. Moss-Fife, Sihle Ngema, Phindile Nyandeni, Maurica Roland, Mpume Sikakane, John Sloan III, Vusi Sondiyazi, Tryphena Wade, Kyle Wrentz; Ensemble Dancers: Raymond Baynard, Amyia Burrell, Michelle Aguilar Camaya, Leroy Church, Gabriel Croom, Erynn Marie Dickerson, J.E. Johnson, Amber Mayberry, Aisha Mitchell, Selena Moshell, Kevin Petite, Derrick Spear

Performances through October 12 as part of the Lexus Broadway In Boston series at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA; Tickets at the Boston Opera House Box Office, Ticketmaster 866-870-2717, or www.LionKing.com.

The masks, the puppetry, the music, and the pageantry are the magical components which, combined, have made Disney's The Lion King the highest-grossing Broadway show in history and a global success story, having been seen by more than 70 million people around the world since its 1997 premiere in New York City. The national tour returns to kick off the 10th Broadway In Boston season at the Boston Opera House, most fittingly as the musical reopened the venue following its historic renovation in 2004.

Award-winning Director Julie Taymor and Choreographer Garth Fagan have crafted a visual spectacle, sent soaring on the music and lyrics of Elton John and Tim Rice. While many of the current cast members may have been school children when The Lion King came roaring out of the jungle, the ensemble embraces their roles, skillfully bringing the animals to life. Standouts among the featured actors include Patrick R. Brown as the evil Scar, brother of the King, and Drew Hirshfield who manipulates the puppet of Zazu, the feisty bird who serves as majordomo to the royal family. Although his time onstage is cut short, L. Steven Taylor gives dignity and regal bearing to King Mufasa, and you can count on big doses of comic relief from the duo of Nick Cordileone (Timon) and Ben Lipitz (Pumbaa).

Rafiki is a colorful character who serves as the narrator, and Tshidi Manye belts out her songs and captures her comic side. Nia Holloway (Nala) conveys the strength and bravery of the young woman who goes in search of the runaway heir to the throne. She and Jelani Remy (Simba) have wonderful chemistry when the pair reunites and fights to take back control of the Pride Lands from Scar. The roles of Young Simba (Jordan A. Hall, Tre' Jones) and Young Nala (Nya Cymone Carter, Tyrah Skye Odoms) alternate, but are energetically portrayed. Only Disney would imbue hyenas with so much personality, and the trio of Jacquelyn Renae Hodges, Keith Bennett, and Robbie Swift absolutely drips with greed and malevolence.

Arguably the most recognized song in the score is "Hakuna Matata" which means "no worries," and there are none with Music Director/Conductor Rick Snyder leading the orchestra consisting of eleven touring musicians and half a dozen local players. Steve Canyon Kennedy's design amplifies the sound throughout the hall. Scenic design by Richard Hudson, lighting design by Donald Holder, and Julie Taymor's colorful costumes provide a feast for the eyes. Taymor and Michael Curry are responsible for the outstanding mask and puppet designs.

The Lion King began as a 1994 animated film from the Walt Disney Company with a screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The book of the musical is credited to Mecchi and Roger Allers, one of the directors of the film. The coming of age story is set in Africa and tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who is destined to be the King of the jungle. Scar has other ideas and stages a coup, (SPOILER ALERT) killing Mufasa and convincing Young Simba that he is at fault. As a result, the cub runs away and Scar becomes ruler, although problems ensue (cue hyenas). Simba grows up and learns life lessons, eventually accepting his legacy when Nala comes to find him.

The slight story was never the attraction of The Lion King for me, but I was won over by the spectacle when I saw the show on Broadway many years ago. The entrance parade of all of the animals, endlessly marching down the aisles of the Orchestra section and mounting the stage, was breathtaking in the original production, but has been severely truncated in this iteration. Likewise, the electrifying wildebeest stampede, cleverly engineered for the stage, seems to have much lower wattage and inherent danger. Instead, I looked for and found beauty in the use of silhouettes, a multitude of stars in the night sky, and the proud posture of the royal family. And, for what it's worth, the opening night audience roared its approval.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus (Jelani Remy and Ensemble)

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