The Lion King goes beyond just another musical adaptation of a movie and transcends into a spectacular piece of theater all on its own.
Based on the 1994 Disney classic of the same name, The Lion King manages to remain loyal to the original film while providing a one-of-a-kind experience only found on stage. From the very first note of the opening song, “Circle of Life,” the audience becomes a part of the Pride Lands as performers chant from the balconies and the entire theater teems with animals brought to life through incredible costumes and puppetry, which are just as expressive as their animated counterparts. This synergy is brought to every major number in the show, to the point where it achieves the impossible, capturing the vibrancy of the animated film in a live setting.
Certain scenes are enriched by the addition of new songs. Most notably, “He Lives in You” has been added, which some dedicated Disney fans might recognize from the animated film’s 1998 direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride. But the addition of new songs do not rob the show of Hans Zimmer’s incredible background score, which is almost as iconic as the songs themselves.
Certain jokes and references have been updated for modern audiences, with one notable reference to one of Disney’s more recent works. In addition, some characters are fleshed out and given more stage time.
But what truly makes this touring cast unique are the individual performances.
While every performance is exceptional, the show was stolen by three stand-out cast members Peter Hargrave’s Scar is both intimidating and authoritative. With his menacing vocals, it’s hard to believe that he’s the weaker of the two brothers. Mukelisiwe Goba as Rafiki provides the most erratic and humorous performance of the whole cast. Notable too is Nick lIamedica’s wise-cracking as Zazu.
It is very rare for an adaptation to be on par with the source material, especially from screen-to-stage. However, The Lion King offers an experience that could never be found on Disney+. And while it’s no secret that the original film is arguably one of the best animated movies ever made, the stage production manages to be miraculously better.
The Lion King runs through June 9 at the Durham Performing Arts Center. For more information visit https://www.dpacnc.com/events/detail/lion-king-2024.
