THE LION KING roars into Fox again
– By Cate Marquis –
The Broadway musical version of Disney’s THE LION KING returned to the Fox theater greeted by an enthusiastic crowd with many delighted children. The musical is set for a run April 19-May 7.
On Thursday, April 20, the theater seemed filled to capacity with so many children in the audience that there seemed to a constant murmur of little voices before the curtain went up. By hushed awe quickly set in as actors in elaborate animal costumes marched up the aisles and filled the stage, while the baboon Rafiki, played that evening by Mukelisiwe Goba, and the cast sang “Nants’ Ingonyama” and “Circle of Life.” giraffes, antelopes, and finally elephants walked up the aisles and onto the quickly crowded stage.
All the delights of this durable family favorite are still here – the tuneful score, remarkable staging, the dramatic story, the appealing lead characters, comic sidekicks and wonderful villains. The musical’s original director and founding creative force, Julie Taymor, was the first woman to win a Tony for directing a musical. Taymor’s innovative puppet-hybrid costume designs still impress, even though many other Broadway shows, such as WAR HORSE, have long since borrowed the idea. The enduring appeal of Disney’s animated film still charms little ones and the creativity of Broadway version entices parents to bring them to the theater for an evening both young and grown-up can enjoy. The dancers performing in these puppet-like costume creations never fail to impress with their skill and grace.
Gerald Ramsey plays lion king Mufasa, with all the regal style needed, with Sophia Stephens equally noble as his queen Sarabi. Mark Campbell does a fine villainous and sarcastic Scar, the envious evil younger brother of the Lion King. Mufasa’s young son and heir Simba is played by Devin Graves and Jordan Williams on alternating nights, with his playmate, young lioness Nala played by Grier Burke and Meilani Cisneros. The two kids are very lively and cute in their scenes together. Devin Graves brings spunk and a good voice to his featured song “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” in the first act particularly.
Several characters provide the comic relief, including the magical Rafiki, who was played by Buyi Zama on other nights. Drew Hirshfeld plays Zazu, Mufasa’s majordomo bird, and Simba’s sometime babysitter, and interjects a little extra flourishes into the character. Scar’s hyena sycophants Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, are played by Tiffany Denise Hobbs, Keith Bennett, and Robbie Swift, respectively, with all the broad humor necessary. Kid favorites, meerkat Timon and warthog Pumbaa, are played by Nick Cordileone and Ben Lipitz. They do a fine job but keep close to the movie versions, so as to please young fans’ expectations.
Dashaun Young and Nia Holloway play the grown Simba and Nala in the second act. They make an attractive couple and both handle the dramatics well but their voices are not as strong as some other cast members.
Goba as Rafiki and Ramsey as Mufasa clearly had the best voices in the cast, closely followed by Campbell as Scar. The Samoan-born Ramsey’s “They Live In You,” sung to young Simba under a starry sky, is a real show-stopper. Campbell shone in Scar’s “Be Prepared,” and of course, Goba’s opening “Nants’ Ingonyama /Circle of Life” number electrified the audience.
All in all, it was a triumphant, crowd-pleasing return for THE LION KING to the Fox theater.
© Cate Marquis
