The Lion King

Reviewed by Paula Citron

The Lion King
Disney/Mirvish
Music and lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice, Lebo M and Hans Zimmer
Directed by Julie Taymor
Starring, Dionne Randolph, Tony Freeman, J. Anthony Crane, Nick Cord Leone, Ben Lititz, Adam Jacobs, Syndee Winters, Jerome Stephens, Jr., and Monique Lee
Princess of Wales Theatre
Apr. 19 to Jun. 12, 2011
Disney/Mirvish – The Lion King

There’s a show biz adage that you’re only as good as your last show, so pity Julie Taymor.

The director/designer will be forever associated with the catastrophic Spiderman, but there was a time when she was considered a wunderkind for her brilliant work on the Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King.

And in truth, the show is one of the most spectacular in Broadway musical history. Taymor and co-designer Michael Curry’s animal creatures are absolutely stunning.

Everything about the show is a visual feast of imagination. Taymor’s costume designs are filled with the rich colours of Africa, echoed in the evocative earth to sky scenic design of Richard Hudson.

In the bad old days of road shows, the cast used to be lesser vessels, but this current touring version is a class act.

Clearly, The Lion King will always find a welcome.

The Lion King continues at the Princess of Wales Theatre until Jun. 12.