The Lion King

Fox Theatre

Its many failings aside, the Disney organization does, now and then, show good judgment. Having gone to the time, effort and expense to recruit Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor to turn the popular 1995 film The Lion King into a Broadway musical, they had the good sense to realize that the best way to maximize their return on that investment was to get out of her way and let her re-imagine the show from the ground up.

The result was a runaway hit that garnered rave reviews, took a half-dozen Tony awards and is in its sixth sold-our year on Broadway. Now local audiences have a chance to find out what all the tumult and shouting is about as The Lion King finally comes to the fabulous Fox. And it’s – well – fabulous.

The spectacular opening number sets the tone for the entire evening. As a giant red-orange sun rises over the African plain, the first sounds you hear are not those of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Anglo-American pop, which makes up the majority of the score, but rather the distinctly African melodies of Lebo M. Led by Futhi Mhlongo as the Shaman Rafiki and answered by actors high in the side balconies, the call and response changes into “The Circle of Life” as the animals gather at Pride Rock, which slowly rises from the center of the stage. Tall, elegant giraffes, a lumbering elephant, leaping gazelles, a graceful cheetah, colorful birds; they stream in from every aisle and across the stage, surrounding the audience in light, sound and color.

The animals, of course, are ingenious puppets created by Taymor and collaborator Michael Curry. In the tradition of Japanese Bunraku puppet theatre, no attempt is made to conceal the puppeteers, who are also the singers and dancers. And yet the integration of actor and puppet is often so complete that I found myself utterly drawn into, for example, the illusion that Timon and Pumbaa were singing and dancing instead of the very talented John Plumpis and Ben Lipitz, respectively.

There is, in fact, talent to burn in this cast. Alton Fitzgerald White is impressive as the titular Lion King Mufasa and Dan Donohue the epitome of charismatic evil as his scheming brother, Scar. The night I saw the show, Rydell Rollins was a ball of energy as the young Simba (he alternates in the role with Tariq Zaire Ramsey) and Alan Mingo, Jr. completely convincing as the grown-up lion prince. Jeffrey Binder brings the fussy Zazu to brilliant comic life and University City’s own Lisa Nicole Wilkerson is a sympathetic Nala, the young lioness who is Simba’s childhood friend and, eventually, his mate. Rounding out the principal players, South African actress Futhi Mhlongo simply bubbles over with the joy of life as Rifiki and Aryn Mikala Spry was delightful as the young Nala (she alternates with Vachelle Gil).

They’re supported by a strong ensemble of singers and dancers that also must double as puppeteers. It’s an impressive group, overall.

Donald Holder’s lights, Richard Hudson’s scenery, Garth Fagan’s multi-cultural choreography and Taymor’s costumes and puppets bring the African setting to vivid life. The score sounds remarkably seamless, considering that it contains music and lyrics not only by Elton John and Tim Rice but also by Lebo M., Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, film composer Hans Zimmer and even Julie Taymor. The substantial battery of African percussion instruments on each side of the stage adds a visceral kick to the music and the amplified sound is, happily, clean and undistorted. The show is, in short, as flawless technically as it is artistically.

The bottom line is that The Lion King is a family show is the very best sense of the term. There’s something in it for both youngsters and adults and it’s the sort of thing the whole family will enjoy. Be aware, however, that at just under three hours with intermission it’s a fairly long show, so make sure the kids you bring are old enough to sit through it. Make sure also that they’re mature enough to understand the basic theatre etiquette of staying put and keeping quiet. The adults seated behind you will appreciate it.

The Lion King is theatrical magic at its best, and it continues through October 12th [2003] at the Fox in Grand Center. Call 314-534-1111 for tickets.

Back to the index