A question about The Lion King
A question about The Lion King
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#1A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:05pm
What are people's thoughts on The Lion King. Truth be told, I have seen it twice during its lengthy stint on Broadway. Once when it first opened at The New Amsterdam and then once a couple of years ago at The Minskoff. However, all I remember is going to the show and not really much of the show itself only because it has been so long.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#2re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:08pmI saw it on tour in San Francisco eons ago. I was bored after "The Circle of Life." The show is beautiful to look at, but when songs are cut from the film, there's no reason to put it back for the sake of making the stage version longer. That, and I just felt like I wasn't watching a musical as much as I was watching actors on stage who were cogs in Julie Taymor's Tony-winning wheel.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#2re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:24pm
Yes it drags on alot, but it's still one of my favs. And unlike most people on here, I actually like the new songs, particularly the ones that are sung in other languages. I dis however prefer the show when it was at the New Amsterdam, going there felt like more of an occasion in such a grand theatre. It just "feels" way too commercial in the minskoff, like youre at one of the theme park's big bland theatres.
Yes too it is almost all about Julie Taymor's vision, but that makes it a great night out just to sit back and enjoy what is up on stage (even though it will get boreing and feel at times that they are stretching it out to fill time. Personally I dont care for the add in bit about Timon and the waterfall, I know what they are going for but i don't think it is nessessary. The other boreing bit i dont really like is in the first act when the geraffe comes back on, yes it is just to buy time to set up for the stampeede, but last time i checked, I dont remember seeing chettas attaching geraffes in the wild.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#3re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:45pmI still haven't gotten around to seeing this. Has anyone seen it lately? Is the performance at least adequate? I love Circle of Life but I find Taymor's stagings a little repetitive - as in her Met Opera Magic Flute.
#4re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 2:55pmI saw the first act 10 years ago. Evidently I have a lot less patience than Lizzie.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#5re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 3:05pm
My reason for asking is because my birthday is saturday and I wanted to see two shows that day. Preferably ones that I would not normally be able to see on my own due to budget etc. I was thinking of The Lion King as one of the two shows (already picked out the first one) because it is one that I can't really see by my own means due to the fact that it can be hard to get a ticket to it and it is a little out of my price range.
I did see pictures of the inside of The Minskoff now that it was re done for The Lion King and I can agree with Justin that it does look more like a theme park theatre the way that it is set up rather then a beautiful Broadway theatre. I guess, I just wanted opinions because while I did see the show twice, I have no recollection of it. Now, that is not because it was bad or anything like that. It is because it has just been so long since I last saw it that I don't remember liking or hating it.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#6re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:19pmI saw the tour in Sacramento a while ago... I was so bored that I don't even remember when it was. I normally remember the dates when I see live theatre. I mean...I just wasn't impressed. It seemed mediocre. It felt like a high school production. I know he's a child, but our young Simba sucked, the costumes were ehh, I felt like they were trying too hard to impress me. The best song was "He Lives In You" and the most impressive parts were the transission scenes but with the pacing of the show they don't let you applaud. That was the most irritating thing for me, not being able to applaud and let them know that I thought that was fricken amazing. Other than that, I guess...It was something to do on a Thursday afternoon. I went with my school so afterwards, everyone was like, "OMG SO AMAZING IT WAS SO GREAT!" but I was like, "Uh, yeah...not really." They were getting mad because I thought it was just okay but it really is JUST okay. It's not amazing.
Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, RENT, Mamma Mia!, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, Evita (with Julia Murney), Hairspray (with Paul Vogt), Peter and the Starcatchers (with Christian Borle), Lion King, Altar Boyz, Legally Blonde (with Lauren Zackrin).
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#7re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:24pm
I only saw it once on Broadway and enjoyed my time. The creative direction, especially the costumes, was pretty impressive.
"Circle of Life" was an amazing number.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#8re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:38pm
I found it pretentious and overrated.
EDIT: And I'm still not over the sting of it losing Best Musical to Ragtime.
Updated On: 10/19/09 at 05:38 PM
bway1261
Stand-by Joined: 10/6/09
#9re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:43pmI saw it last May on Broadway and I thought that the cast was good. There were many beautiful aspects of the show. Overall, I enjoyed myself.
threetwoone
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/09
#10re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:44pmI found it to be a poorly executed and awkward mixture of a children's show and a deeply cultural, African experience. The machine/clockwork designs of animals were visually appealing, but I found it clashed with costumes such as Timone and Pumbaa's and the entire "Just Can't Wait to be Kink" song. ]I didn't hate it, but I do agree it lags. My favourite numbers were Circle of Life, and He Lives in You, with He Lives in You being the superior of the two, imo.
fgreene1938
Leading Actor Joined: 10/25/06
#11re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:48pmI thought LION KING was boring and pedestrian. Aside from the opening number (Circle of Life), I found the songs flat in composition and clumsy in staging. I just couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. And let's face it, the story is a completely predictable, cornball children's tale. It's like a theme park ride, which is why tourists flock to it I guess.
#12re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 8:37pm
"EDIT: And I'm still not over the sting of it losing Best Musical to Ragtime."
You mean WINNING Best Musical OVER Ragtime. Ragtime lost to TLK.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#13re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 8:40pmIf you saw it twice and can't remember pretty much anything, it can't be a good sign.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#14re: A question about The Lion King
Posted: 10/19/09 at 8:48pmApparently it's time for me to whip out unpopular opinion time: I adore "The Lion King" and I'm not a big fan of Disney on Broadway in general. I've seen it three times on tour, and I have enjoyed each time. While the first Act has a really sloppy book, I think the second Act is incredible. Some of the "new" songs like "He Lives In You (Reprise)" and "Endless Night" are phenomenal. Finally, I think "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" is actually a more beautiful scene visually than "The Circle of Life."
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