The Lion King

The Lion King is back – better than ever. If you loved the show 10 years or so ago, then you are bound to want to take your children and/or grandchildren all over again. It isn’t a great musical, but it IS a great piece of theatre, a spectacle that has never been bettered. Director Julie Taymor touched the child in us then and, even though we are older and wiser, we can’t help but embrace that inner child once more.

New costumes and direction, some terrific reworking of the staging, elimination of some of the “front cloth” shtick and some fabulous casting, all help to make the show tighter and even more breathtaking than before, even though Zazu’s song has fallen victim to the cutting. Elton John and Tim Rice give us a handful of generic pop songs which would have little impact without the African chants behind them….but the best music comes from others sources, mainly Lebo M and Hans Zimmer. They are the perfect partner to Taymor’s exquisite animal puppets. Elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyenas – the realisation of these animals with puppetry in which the puppeteers are clearly visible make us suspend all disbelief. They really do transport to the timeless land that is Africa.

Casting is even stronger this time round. Nick Afoa is a perfect find as the young adult Simba. Not only is he an extraordinary specimen of athletic manhood, but he possesses all the charm and playfulness that needs to be embodied as the young Simba moves to manhood. His singing is excellent and distinctive and he is totally credible in his acting – add this to his extraordinary movement and he is the full package.

Buyi Zama returns as Rafiki, a role she has made her own around the world. She is quite magical, especially with the inclusion of the Khoisan “click” language (does anyone else remember Miriam Makeeba). She has already grabbed us by the heartstrings before the show has even properly started, and she never lets go.

Rob Collins (Musafa) and Josh Quong Tart (Scar) are perfect enemies and add strength and gravitas to the story with excellent performances which avoid any temptations to go over the top. Cameron Goodall is marvellous as Zazu, and Jamie McGregor – recreating his role as Timon, the wiseguy Meerkat – with Russell Dykstra as Pumba, the smelly Warthog, are hilarious and endearing throughout. Josslyn Hlenti gives us a very physical Nala. She uses the stage to perfection and really delivers vocally. The three Hyenas (Ruvarashe Ngwenya, Terry Yeboah and André Jewson) are a huge leap forwards in costume, puppetry and performance, making each one an identifiable character.

The young Simba and Nala were played on opening night by Adam de Leon and Annette Tran. Both were delightful and clearly enunciated their lines and vocals to win the hearts of the entire audience. Kudos must go the great orchestra and the percussionists in the boxes for all the atmosphere they added.

It says something when an ENTIRE audience….not just the stalls full of ‘celebrities’…rises to its feet in a standing ovation, and the very last row of the circle was cheering just as loudly as those in the front row of the orchestra stalls.

Coral Drouyn

Images: Nick Afoa as Simba – ‘He Lives in You’; Buyi Zama as Rafiki – ‘Circle of Life’, & Josh Rob Collins and Quong Tart as Mufasa and Scar.Photography by Deen van Meer. © Disney.

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