Sunderland Empire – until 6 May 2023
5*****
We really did feel the love tonight, as The Lion King majestically made its way to Sunderland on its UK tour.
Confession time – I’ve never seen The Lion King, neither the films or the show! But I had my friend with me who loves The Lion King and had watched it repeatedly over the weekend in preparation for our trip.
Based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Lion King tells the tale of Simba, the son of King Mufasa (Jean-Luc Guizonne) and his lioness mate Sarabi (Tanisha-Mae Brown). After Mufasa is killed, young Simba feels he is to blame and runs away. He is found by Timon (Alan McHale) and Pumba (Carl Sanderson) who take care of him whilst he grows into an adult. Simba’s evil uncle Scar (Richard Hurst), mistakenly thinking Simba is dead, assumes the throne. But whilst Musafa was worshipped and adored by the animals of the land, Scar is hated. Returning to Pride Rock as an adult, Simba (Kyle Richardson), helped by Timon and Pumba, his mother and childhood friend Nala (Nokwanda Khuzwayo), fight the Hyenas (Candida Mosoma, Jorell Coiffic-Kamall and Alex Bloomer) who protect Scar. Simba defeats Scar when he admits he killed Mufasa. Simba then becomes King and the Circle of Life shows us Simba showing off his new cub at Pride Rock.
The start of The Lion King is iconic, sitting in the stalls and watching the animals walk through the stalls by us. Giraffes, birds, zebras and even an elephant triumphantly parading to Pride rock to see Rafiki (Thandazile Soni) triumphantly display baby Simba to the world.
The staging of the show is outstanding. Julie Taymor’s direction, costume design, mask and puppet design; Elton John and Tim Rice’s music and lyrics; book by Irene Mecchi and Roger Allers; Gareth Fagan’s choreography; Richard Hudson’s scenic design; Donald Holder’s lighting design; Michael Ward’s hair and make-up and Steve Canyon Kennedy’s sound design all come together to make this yet another Disney spectacular. I particularly liked the movement of the actors as they prowled rather than walked and the way the actors spoke to the faces on the masks and not the actors actual face
Whilst its difficult not to name check all the performers, for me I thought the young Simba (Ro’jae Simpson on press night with Daniel Adesina, Miles Jabbie, Remirez Mais Jayden Salami and Jay’don Eastman sharing the role) and young Nala (Gabrielle McDonald on press night with Lacey Lansiquot, Nokutenda Mushuku, Harmoney Raine Riley, Lauren Simpe-Asante and Adreanna Steventon-Todd all sharing the role) were very talented and self-assured, definitely stars of the future. And a special mention to Matthew Forbes who shone as Zazu – I loved his sarcastic rendition of Let It Go.
Disney theatricals have triumphed yet again. It is a long show at two and half hours; so if you are taking your children, maybe consider a matinee performance – there are three in Sunderland: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. This is a magnificent spectacle of a show and whilst I might not have seen it before, I definitely plan to see it again. Disney at its best – Hakuna Matata