Lion King: Dump The Actors!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/1/06 at 11:51pm

Saw 'Lion King' tonite, the first time since seeing the original cast. The staging has not changed with the move, the only thing scaled down is the Mufasa mask in Act 2. The original hangs over the escalator, across from the "take your picture with Rafiki" booth.

That being said, the staging is flawless. It is remarkable how fresh it seems after 9 years. I recognized many spots where Bob Crowley got ideas for Tarzan and Aida.

It is the cast that is the problem. Some can't sing, others can't act. They're also struggling to do imitations of the movie voices. Patrick Page is doing an uncanny Jeremy Irons as Scar. Tom Alan Robbins as Pumbaa sounds exactly like Ernie Sabella. Danny Rutigliano as Timon struggles to sound like Nathan Lane, but he sure is trying. Has Disney instructed them not to bring an original take to the role?

Anyhoo, the staging is in great shape. I wish the original cast was still there. They made it.
Updated On: 7/1/06 at 11:51 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 12:13am

Wasn't Tom Alan Robbins in the original cast?

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 12:41am

yes he was.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 12:42am

Whats the "take your picture with Rafiki" booth?

[TLKfan]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 1:14am

Are you saying that they should sound like the original cast or movie? Those cast members you've mentioned are really good from the times I've seen them.

Also, I second chinkie's question about the booth...what?!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 2:08am

Is the Scar mask different?



The Timone on the current Lion King tour came and talked at our school. He's actually a trained Shakespearean actor and doesn't even do musical theater, but he got cast in the Lion King. Anyways, he said he worked with Julie T. and he said that she wasn't too concerned about "finding charcter." He said she gave a lot of line readings and told them to imitate what they had already known from seeing the film. People are going to see Timone and Pumba - they want to hear those voices, esp. the Pumba voice. It sucks, but that's what people expect. That's why I would hate to ever be cast in this show. Esp, as Ed. I wouldn't not want to do years of training just to say some random laughs and giggles and never actually talk or sing or anything.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:55am

TLKfan - They were the best in the show. I just wish they were using their real voices and not imitating the movie.

chinkie azn jai - It's a lifesize Rafiki statue that you can take your picture with. They have people hocking it all over the theater from when you enter.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:58am

I have a very hard time imagining that Julie Taymor of all people, would insist on imitating the movie characters.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 12:37pm

I have to disagree with you. I saw this cast twice and found that they did a great job re - inventing the story and the characters. Glad to know that the show hasn't changed much since the move. Thanks for posting.

Yea, I too can't see Julie doing / thinking / saying that.

Updated On: 7/2/06 at 12:37 PM

[TLKfan]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 2:46pm

Yankeefan- I remember the first few times I saw the show and they didn't sound like the characters from the movie. I thought it was kind of strange. Now I don't care because they are creating their own characters and I like it. If they were asked to sound like the movie characters, they are most likely doing that for the kids.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 3:04pm

The character of ED vocalizes with the music.

And he also does a lot more physical comedy than you are giving him credit for, RentBoy.

Sometimes being on stage isn't about how many lines you have, but what you do with your body.
Updated On: 7/2/06 at 03:04 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 3:16pm

No I understand that, but I still think it's a throw-away part. Not to discredit anyone that's played him, I'm just saying, it's not the most compelling part to play on Broadway.


adamgreer, and that was straight out of his mouth. He said that she gave him multiple line readings and told him where to put the inflection and if tried to change it, she'd tell him to do it the other way.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 6:48pm

I have only seen the show once during its first national tour here in Denver. I was a bit out to lunch on the show. When it got to the songs we know, I just thought it lacked something. But when they sang the music written for the stage show, it soared. It has been a while but I am seeing it again this October in Denver as I have organized a group of 65 people to go see it. So I am interested in seeing what I think about it the second time around. Visually, the show is quite stunning though.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 6:54pm

Who are you to judge what's compelling? An actor goes to the theatre every night and allows people to laugh, relax and enjoy themselves. When the actor takes a bow he sees over 1000 people standing for the performance he just took part in.I find this very rewarding and compelling.

Updated On: 7/2/06 at 06:54 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 7:48pm

RentBoy86- that "throw away part" has done well for its originator, kevin cahoon

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:43pm

Jeez, ya'll are so defensive. Well congrats to him, I'm just saying I'd never want to do it. Didn't say anything about the people playing it. If you would want to do the part - more power to you. I'd just rather play a part that had more "something." I didn't think the show was that great. I only saw the tour, but visually it was really great, but the songs/acting weren't so great. But I agree with the poster who said the songs written for the stage show were much better. I really hated the whole "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" scene.

WickedGeek28 - I don't really get what you're trying to say to me. "When the actor takes a boy he sees over 1000 people standing for the performance he just took part in" - I don't know what that means. It's just my opinion. You don't have to agree with it. It's not that big of a deal. I'm sure there are plenty of roles you wouldn't want to play.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:47pm

I'd just rather play a part that had more "something."

For my first role on Broadway...I'd sure as hell take it.

Beggars can't be choosers.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:51pm

I'm not a beggar yet. But I'd never get cast as it anyways.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:52pm

Typo. Re-read please.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:59pm

I'm not trying to start a fight here, but I'm just answering your comment/question. I think the majority of the people are standing for the show and the visuals. Granted they are applauding the actors, but I don't think many people could tell you about the actors in the show. I can only name one of the current cast memebers in the show on Broadway. It seems like one of those shows were the casts don't mean much. For instance, Wicked, Hairspray, RENT, people can tell you mulitiple cast memebers in those shows.

[misto625]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:26pm

Yeah, it's true that Lion King does seem one of those shows where the cast doesn't matter because people are going to see the show and not them, and won't remeber their names, but as someone who has seen the show three times, their names do stick with me, as do the humanity of the performances, something hard to do when overpowered by surrounding visuals. Patrick Page makes a great Scar, I forget if he sounded like Jeremy Irons.

P.S. I would play Ed, mainly for the chance to understudy Timon and Zazu

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:45pm

Well, I did see the tour. I would love to see the show on Broadway.