by Mark G. Auerbach
Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki” in THE LION KING North American Tour. ©Disney. Photo by Matthew Murphy
Disney’s Broadway blockbuster, The Lion King, is back at The Bushnell in Hartford for an extended run through August 19. Still a sell-out on Broadway 21 years after opening, and having played in over 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, the musical based on the Disney movie, is one of the finest musical productions ever to take the stage. The Lion King has received more awards around the globe than any other musical in recent years, and they all seem well-deserved, judging from the quality of this tour.
An enthusiastic audience, many of them young people with their parents, cheered as the musical’s eye-catching opening number “Circle of Life” set the pace for the extraordinary feast for the eyes and the ears, which make The Lion King so special. We were surrounded by elementary school age kids on either side, and they paid rapt attention to every moment of the musical, which may have been their first experience with live theatre..
“Lionesses Dance” in THE LION KING North American Tour. ©Disney. Photo Credit: Deen van Meer.
I first saw The Lion King some twenty years ago, and the show’s richness of assets–stunning sets, imaginative costumes, dazzling lighting, and awesome puppets and masks, continue to shine. Julie Taymor’s direction and Garth Fagan’s choreography are both exquisite. I personally felt that The Lion King was a matter of style over substance, and although it’s faithful to its film origins, neither the book nor the score ever match the brilliance of the production.
One of the revelations of The Lion King is the richness of its contributions by Julie Taymor, the Newton, MA native who won Tony Awards for her direction and her costumes for The Lion King. Taymor was the first woman to pick up a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Some of her costumes for The Lion King are in the collections of the Smithsonian, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Without her contributions and Disney’s commitment to excellence in family fare, The Lion King just wouldn’t be as big as it is.
Gerald Caesar as “Simba” in THE LION KING North American Tour. ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.
The performances are all polished, and the ensemble performs Garth Fagan’s pulsating dances with style. My one quibble was the sound design, which seemed to muffle dialogue and lyrics, but after a couple of performances at The Bushnell, these should iron themselves out.
Great well-produced family fare like The Lion King doesn’t come around often enough. This musical is a superb introduction to live theatre for young people.
The Lion King, along with the upcoming Hamilton, are expected to be hot tickets at The Bushnell. Please buy your tickets for these shows only through The Bushnell, and not other ticket venues.
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Disney presents The Lion King. Music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. Scenic design by Richard Hudson. Costume design by Julie Taymor. Lighting design by Donald Holder. Mask and puppet design by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. Sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy. Music direction by James Dodgson. Choreography by Garth Fagan. Directed by Julie Taymor. Through August 19 at The Bushnell, Hartford, CT. 860-987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB Radio.
