It's been a while since I've done these things, but given the visual scope of the production, I don't think any kind of proper format could do it justice.
Like the song says, "There is far too much to take in." Quite literally, there was "more to see than can ever be seen."
You've heard the stories from those that have seen it. You may have even seen the photos or the production videos promoting it on the DVD. But nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to what you see on stage. Even for a tour company, the production is just outstanding.
Visually, the puppets, be them small or large, are just awesome. That's about as simply put as I can get. They are simple in design and mechanics, but at the same time just a joy to look at when they move. I found myself trying to look back and forth between the actual performers and their costumes. While this was a visual battle that I knew was a testament to what is suppose to be bad design, it works surprisingly well.
The performers themselves were great! Several times during the production, they made it very clear that that these were puppets, often having comedic moments between themselves and their puppeteer. This was more commonly done with Zazu, but Timon and Pumbaa were also guilty of this comedic break of the suspension of disbelief.
Unlike probably most of the families that were attending this evening (all of which were well behaved), I was familiar with the music from the stage production. But as beautiful as the music was to listen to, you truly get only half of the experience. Even some of the songs that everyone knows from the film such are accented in a way that truly evokes the emotion that the film lost somewhere in post-production.
This can be really appreciated in Can You Feel The Love Tonight? Visually, the entire stage is filled with costumes of the jungle flora rich in light pastel colors that are easy on the eyes and flow from one performer to the next. Then, they introduce not one, not two, but three pairs of ballet dancers. Two of which are in the air over the stage! While I went into the scene knowing full well what was going to happen (they do a slim-down version of the same aerial ballet in Disney's Animal Kingdom's attraction Festival of the Lion King), I found myself welling up with tears at the majesty that was presented on such a small stage. As cheesy as this will sound, I really did feel the love tonight.
There were no real technical glitches other than Adult Simba's microphone dying half way through He Lives In You. In fact, the only real problem were volume levels, as the performers had to fight with the three sets of drums that were being used. Other than that, everything went off without a problem.
What I will take away from this experience the most is this: the art. Whether it is the costume designs of the lionesses, the overall design of Pride Rock, or something as small as the birds kites on the poles, every prop was in itself a work of art. Very rarely do I see this in any kind of production that I've been fortunate enough to watch. But even the face painting on the performer who does Zazu was just simply stunning in its simplicity.
The bottom line is that if you get a chance to see this show on stage, GO! Don't delay, whatever you do. You'll be denying yourself, what I believe, is where art and entertainment meet.
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