A question about The Lion King

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.

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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.

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I saw the first act 10 years ago. Evidently I have a lot less patience than Lizzie.

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I 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.

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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

I 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.

"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.

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Apparently 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."