The Lion King

More than 7 million spectators can't be wrong. 

With The Lion King, performed for the first time in October 1999 in the Lyceum Theatre, magic and fantasy came to London. Not just with old songs, a touching story or the moral, but with masks, puppets, lights and African sounds. 

A beautiful theatre, opened in 1834, and a great red curtain with savannah’s motifs help us to the wake up our curiosity. The lights turn off and, in that second, we can live the most powerful moment in the play. The curtain rises and we hear the amazing Rafiki’s voice, performed by Brown Lindiwe Mkhize. There are giraffes, antelopes, zebras, colours and even a big elephant moved by five actors. That is theatre. That is a musical. That is The Circle of Life. 

Sitting inside the theatre, a wonderful play lights invite you to travel around the African savannah. Orange tones show us the passage of time in just a couple of second. 

More than 200 clothes are required to perform this function. But the masks and puppets deserve a special distinction, inspired in the African culture, and some actor’s elasticity. They are capable of camouflage themselves with their own character. Without any doubt, you will amaze to see a Jaguar, a real master piece. 

The 46 actors do a notable work but I like to stress the remarkable Rafiki’s voice, a great interpretation of Scar, thanks to George Asprey, and the Stephen Matthews and Damian Baldet’s ability to move Zazu and Timon. 

With some jokes, at pure English humour style, the musical follows faithfully the Disney’s film. For that reason, it is a spectacle for all the family. Through the play, you will laugh, will cry and will sing. 15 musicals numbers, thanks to Lebo M, Tim Rice and Sir Elton John, will be mixed with the sound and rhythm’s Continent. The Circle of Life, I Just Can’t Wait to Be the King or Hakuna Matata, one of the funniest parts in the function, are not to be missed. And you will have a lump in your throat with He lives in You, a very emotional moment. 

And it’s true that the most intense scene in the film, Mufasa’s death, is not too dramatic in the play but I appreciated that. I didn’t cry so much and I think was an original way to represent a delicate scene. 

I don’t have anything else to say. The Lion King is waiting for you with 2 hours and 45 minutes of fun, fantasy, dance, love and music. Enjoy it!