Disclaimer: we obtained evaluation tickets for The Lion King at Wales Millennium Centre
It’s been seen by greater than 110 million individuals, in additional than 100 cities in 20 nations, in 9 totally different languages. It’s the West Finish’s best-selling stage present and the sixth longest working West Finish present of all time, filling theatres in London since 1999. It’s been on Broadway since 1997, the place it’s the third longest working present, grossing greater than $1 billion, making it the very best grossing Broadway manufacturing of all time.
And now, it’s in Cardiff for a seven-week summer time run as a part of a UK tour, delayed by two years as a result of pandemic.
It’s, after all, Disney’s The Lion King Musical, which opened at Wales Millennium Centre on the finish of final week. We had been thrilled to be finally night time’s press night time, the place native reviewers and some Welsh celebs had been among the many viewers.
Learn on for our full evaluation.
Disney’s The Lion King musical at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – evaluation
Even earlier than we took to our seats at Wales Millennium Centre final night time, we knew that The Lion King was going to be one thing very particular certainly. However nothing can fairly put together you for the magical expertise of watching a stay Disney stage manufacturing. You may assume you understand what to anticipate from The Lion King musical in the event you’ve watched the 1994 animated movie of The Lion King and the 2019 stay motion remake, and whereas there’s loads of the acquainted that followers will love, the entire expertise is simply so magical and all-encompassing you may’t assist however be amazed.
The opening – because the animals of the jungle come to greet the new-born lion cub Simba to the sounds of one of many musical’s most well-known songs, The Circle of Life – blew me away. It’s visually beautiful, so artistic, so surprising, it left the viewers gasping out loud. Undoubtedly top-of-the-line openings to a musical I’ve ever seen and surprisingly emotional too.
From there it simply stored on delivering with unbelievable performances, imaginative costumes, beautiful surroundings, and much-loved songs combining with new music and some additions to the plot to show the hour and a half animation on which the stage present is predicated into two hours and forty minutes of pure theatrical magic.
The manufacturing entails greater than 50 performers and most of my favorite moments concerned the large ensemble numbers which fill the stage and on a number of events the entire auditorium too. There’s such grace and sweetness within the choreography, because the performers embody the animals they’re portraying.
Stand out performances come from Thandazile Soni as Rafiki who instructions the auditorium along with her vocals, stage presence and costume; Jean-Luc Guizonne as Mufasa, Richard Hurst as Scar, Stephenson Ardern-Sodje because the grown up Simba, and naturally the 2 younger performers taking part in Younger Simba and Younger Nala. We noticed Joshua Khanyisa Smith and Riley-Ann Nicholls Murphy however there are a number of different youngsters taking part in every of the roles all through the run. Simba particularly is an enormous half to play with a powerful vocal quantity within the form of I Simply Can’t Wait To Be King and Joshua carried out with a confidence that belies his years.
Alan McHale and Carl Sanderson present loads of comedy as Timon and Pumbaa, the duo who Simba befriends when he leaves the dominion; whereas Matthew Forbes has some nice one liners as hornbill Zazu, the royal advisor. Nokwanda Khuzwayo as grown up Nala additionally deserves a point out; it’s nice to see her character given extra prominence than within the movie as a result of let’s face it, it’s a really male-dominated story (and on that word it’s nice that Rafiki, male within the movie, is feminine within the musical.).
The entire present is breathtakingly stunning to observe and the artistic groups have completely excelled themselves in bringing the Disney magic to life. Among the performers are dressed as animals, with intricate mechanisms serving to their limbs and masks transfer, whereas others are puppeteers powering their characters. After which there are the bigger creatures transferring so realistically across the stage, you may’t assist however marvel how these had been dropped at life.
The units are lots easier than different Disney musicals I’ve seen, however they’re so efficient, working carefully with the lighting group to create beautiful backdrops. Placing silhouettes are set in opposition to the orange-red glow of the African plains, whereas the clear starry night time skies are so evocative. Particular results are used sparingly however powerfully so after they do – Mufasa showing within the stars, characters falling – they supply actual wow moments.
Apart from essentially the most acquainted songs (Circle of Life, I Simply Can’t Wait To Be King, Hakuna Matata, Can You Really feel The Love Tonight?) there’s a lot new music too. They Reside In You (and its reprise He Lives In You) is a good addition to the stage musical, during which Mufasa teaches Simba in regards to the nice kings of the previous, whereas there’s an enormous emphasis on African rhythms and melodies, with Lebo M’s preparations creating such environment.
The official age steering is six+ with no admittance to underneath threes. I’ve had just a few individuals ask on Instagram whether or not it’s appropriate for youngsters aged 4 or 5 and I feel this may depend upon the person youngster and requires parental discretion. It’s lengthy at nearly two hours and 40 minutes together with a 15 minute interval, and there are just a few scary moments, such because the hyenas and the elephant graveyard, and unhappy scenes similar to Mufasa’s dying. Though these can be acquainted to youngsters who’ve watched the movies, extra delicate children might discover it just a little overwhelming. That mentioned, it’s such a vibrant and visible present that these moments are short-lived with a lot to seize the eye. My youngsters are 12, 10 and eight so excellent ages for such a manufacturing, though I undoubtedly would have taken them in the event that they had been 4 or 5 because it’s not typically such an unbelievable present lands in your house metropolis (in actual fact, the final time was in 2014 after I missed out on seeing it as my youngest was just a little child).
There are nonetheless a restricted variety of tickets accessible though the present may be very near promoting out so if you need to see it however haven’t already purchased tickets then don’t cling about.
Disney’s The Lion King is at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff till 27 August. Tickets are priced from £22.50. See the Wales Millennium Centre web site for extra particulars together with reserving.
