Lion King: The Musical
Lion King: The Musical is a stunning production, leaving the audience mesmerised by the colourful puppetry, artistic choreography, and beautiful singing over the African savanna.
In lieu of a big party, we took Lady Yeya to see the Lion King: The Musical to celebrate her 5th birthday. Nearly 30 years on, Lady Yeya loves the movie as much as I did as a child. The classic story draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Hamlet who takes revenge against his Uncle Claudius for murdering his father in order to ascend to the throne. The Lion King follows the story of Simba, the heir of Pride Land. But his despicable Uncle Scar kills his own brother Mufasa and blames young Simba for the death of his father. On Uncle Scar’s advice, Simba flees into exile and grows up in the company of two outcasts, Timon and Pumbaa. Later with encouragement from his childhood friend Nala and shaman Rafiki, Simba returns to take his place as the rightful heir to Pride Land.
Ambassador Lounge at Lyceum Theatre
As a special treat, we also booked the VIP package to the Ambassador Lounge for pre-theatre champagne drinks. Of course, Lady Yeya doesn’t drink champagne so I happily enjoyed her glass of Veuve Clicquot. The Ambassador Lounge is a cosy, yet elegant lounge area with small tables nestled around the room. We did a ‘photo call’ in front of the Lion King backdrop before the hostess escorted us to our seats in the central Stalls. At intermission, we made a beeline to the Ambassador Lounge where ice cream was waiting for us. It was an A-list treatment and a relaxing way to enjoy the whole theatre experience.
A Mesmerising Stage Production
Like the movie, the musical starts with the “Circle of Life” with Simba’s presentation at Pride Rock. With African drums, the procession goes through the Stalls where the animals make their way up to the stage, manned by the Ensemble with colourful puppetry and animatronics. Apparently, there are no less than 230 puppets to bring the story to life with 25 different African species from dragonflies to birds, gazettes, giraffes, and elephants. It is worth every penny for Stall seats as later, young Simba flees into exile, running down the central stalls. It was truly an immersive experience where you can see the intricate details of the costumes and puppetry.
Majestic scenes of the mighty Serengeti Plain were beautifully re-imagined using artistic stage props or safari-coloured costumes. The Ensemble donned wide-brimmed straw dresses and grassy head pieces depicting the vast savanna as they gently sway in unison. The wildebeest stampede scene was highly creative, using different perspectives and shadows to recreate that dramatic scene in the gorge. This was all amplified by the suspenseful music played by the amazing orchestra. Every little detail and movement was meticulously thought through. Even the humour from the loveable Zasu was on point where he even made fun of Frozen.
Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
The entire cast, from the main characters to the Ensemble, were amazing. Huge credit goes to young Simba and Nala who were simply impressive singing “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.” In the Elephant Graveyard, Uncle Scar sings his “Be Prepared” as he schemes to lure naive Simba into the gorge. The dynamic duo, Timon and Pumbaa, not only added comic relief, but also belted out the most enjoyable song of all “Hakuna Matata.”
The theme song in the 1998 sequel “He Lives in You” was also included in the musical, reminding us of the legacy of our ancestors. New songs were written specifically for the theatrical production including “The Madness of King Scar,” Nala’s “Shadowland” when she decides to leave Pride Land, and Simba’s “Endless Night” when he was longing for his father’s guidance. Nala and Simba later reunites, and together sing the original Elton John’s “Can you Feel the Love Tonight.” Simba returns to Pride Land, fights Uncle Scar, and takes his place in the “Circle of Life.“
Lion King: The Musical is a truly spectacular production for the entire family. For us, it was an unforgettable afternoon full of love, laughter, and celebration with my own ‘circle of life.’
