When one goes to see Lion King, they have very high expectations because everyone always comments on how amazing the show is. When I saw it (my first time having seen it on stage) I was not disappointed: the songs were amazing, the sets were unique, the choreography was eye-catching, and the actors were spot on.
Despite the excellent performance, there were a few things that could have been worked on. There were a few changes from the original story, some which worked and others that didn’t really. For example, many songs were added to the performance, many of them new. One song that was used throughout the performance was actually a song from another Disney film; however, it was used in context so that it flowed in with the performance. Other songs were written specifically for the onstage version of Lion King. Most of these songs seemed out of place although the content of the song fit with what was going on, the tone of the music did not fit with what had been going on onstage. I do give them credit for trying to be even more attractive to the younger audiences, however, the original film was made for children and so the added songs were not at all necessary.
Another aspect of the performance I noticed could have been worked on a bit was the representation of different characters. They kept the New York accent for the character Timon, but the accent was off so that it made the character, and thus, the people of New York, seem like jerks. The character of “Ed” also seems to be misrepresented; He is supposed to be mentally disabled, and this quality was exaggerated to the extreme, seeming to be making fun of those with mental handicaps (although I know that was not the intention).
Despite these small changes that could be made, the show in its entirety was wonderful. Within moments of the curtain lifting the entire audience was applauding and by the end we were standing to show our appreciation of the show. It is a show that I feel anyone could go and see anywhere in the world and be able to relate to.
Sandra Kneer
Sandra Kneer
Instead of a straightforward description of the show, you make a really interesting and concise analysis of the performance. This is exactly what I wanted. It is fascinating to read of the changes and how these affect the quality of the show, especially its relevance to children and to minorities. Well done. Dr Q
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