The Lion King – Review of 2024 Production at Princess of Wales Theatre

Is there an insatiable appetite for The Lion King? It’s a musical that has been seen by more than 110 million people according to Mirvish’s program for the current production at the Princess of Wales Theatre. But clearly there are people in Toronto who have not seen it or want to see it again.
The question parents need to answer: have you taken your nine-year old (give or take a few years) to see The Lion King? This is not an idle question.
You may think it is a show about the struggle for power, usurpation, displacement of a legitimate ruler by an evil sibling, attempted assassination, despoilation of a community and, eventually, restoration of peace and legitimacy. These are the Trumpian lies that you can tell your children if you want to scare them from wanting to see The Lion King. Make sure you use the suggested big words to help you get away with it. But remember that someone will eventually punish you. But who?
If you want to evade retribution, you may choose veracity over mendacity or, more plainly, tell the kids the truth.
Tell them that they will walk into a theatre where there is palpable excitement in the air before the show begins. Youngsters and adults alike will react with noises. screams and laughter, yes, excitement throughout the performance. In other words, they will experience the communal joy and magic of live theatre.
They will see a large cast of characters, make that jungle animals, come running down the aisles from the back of the theatre onto the stage. Yikes. They are unexpected, startling and spectacular. The stage will be filled with animals from lions to a giraffe, to zebras and hyenas.
There is a plot, of course. Mufasa (David D’Laney Wilson) is the wise, benevolent lion king who has a nasty, ambitious and creepy brother, Scar (Salvatore Antonio). He wants to dethrone him. Mufasa has a faithful companion and advisor in Zazu (Will Jeffs), a red-billed hornbill and a young son, Simba, (a lively Ira Nabong) who is prone to misbehaving. Mufasa wants to teach him to be a future wise ruler. But Mufasa dies in a freak “accident” and Scar takes over with the help of the creepy, cackling hyenas starring Shenzi (Jewelle Blackman), Banzai (Joema Frith) and Ed (Simon Gallant).
Young Simba is thrown out of the kingdom and goes through some adventures, some great laughs and the spectacle on stage continues. There are lessons to be absorbed by the young about growing up, learning and accepting responsibility, but don’t tell them that. That’s the boring and subliminal part of the plot.
The wise baboon Rafiki (a ball of fire and energy called Zama Magudulela) opens the show with “The Circle of Life” with the ensemble on Pride Rock, the symbolic throne of Mufasa and then the adult Simba (Erick D. Patrick). The spectacle ends triumphantly on Pride Rock with a reprise of “The Circle of Life” in a rousing and satisfying rendition by the ensemble that was kept busy throughout the performance.
Timon (Brian Sills) the meerkat and Pumbaa (Trevor Patt) the warthog are a hilarious and loveable duo who sing the unforgettable and best known song of the musical “Hakuna Matata” but there is a myriad of marvelous songs for individual characters, but they are almost always accompanied by the ensemble.
The important part is the sheer spectacle that generates the excitement in the audience. The animal kingdom is brought on stage in brilliant, imaginative, entertaining, colorful ways. There are quiet moments, of course, for people to catch their breath and parts played for comedy but the spectacle, the music and singing are not far off to keep the frantic and wonderful pace. The production uses the entire theatre when possible. Watching the amazing costumes that the actors wear and the way they manipulate the animals is alone a marvel.
There is a small army of behind-the-scenes people to bring the show to life but I will mention only director Julie Taymor who has almost countless pieces to handle to bring the whole show together. Elton John and Tim Rice are credited with the music and lyrics but there are five more people who provide “additional music and lyrics” including the director, Julie Taymor. The Disney organization sure knows how to put a show together.
Oh, yes. Who might punish you if you do not take your youngster to The Lion King? The Furies will appear to you at night and torture your conscience for the offence of omission. You will have to find a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and beg for absolution!
The Lion King, music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M. Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer, book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi opened on November 10, 2024, and continues at the Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. West, Toronto, Ontario. www.mirvish.com

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