Review: THE LION KING NATIONAL TOUR at PPAC

An informal survey of the folks seated around me at last night's performance of The Lion King, which is playing at the Providence Performing Arts Center through February 20, 2011, confirmed something I had suspected. Most of us were seeing the show for the second, third or fourth time. Loyalty that strong is earned and Disney's The Lion King earns it in spades.

Directed by Julie Taymor, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, The Lion King is based on the animated Disney feature of the same name and 5 of the original songs moved to the stage production. The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997, won a pride of awards, and has been playing multiple permanent and touring productions nightly, ever since.

As the show opens, all of the animals in Pride Rock are gathering for the presentation of Simba, the newborn lion prince, by his father Mufasa (Derrick Davis) and mother Sarabi (Tryphena Wade). The most amazing Bunraku puppets represent a Noah's Ark of animals that make their way on stage, many through the aisles of the theater. 'Circle of Life' is perhaps, one of the most awe-inspiring, emotional, opening numbers that I have seen, and multiple viewings do not significantly decrease my awe.

The only one who refuses to attend the ceremony is Mufasa's evil brother Scar (Tony Freeman), who sees his nephew's birth as yet another obstacle to his own ascension to the throne.

Scar, along with his cadre of lethargic hyena henchmen (Monica L. Patton, Omari Tau and Ben Roseberry), plot the death of Mufasa, and Simba by causing a wildebeest stampede. Mufasa manages to get Simba to safety, but is pushed to his death by Scar. In the chaotic aftermath, Scar convinces Simba that the cub himself is solely responsible for his father's death. Scar encourages Simba to leave Pride Rock and orders the hyenas to kill him. They are too lazy to give chase, but are smart enough to lie to Scar and tell him that they have killed, and ate, little Simba.

As Simba travels deep into the jungle and meets his new pals Timon (Nick Cordileone) and Pumbaa (Ben Lipitz), Scar has announced his pact with to rule the pride lands with the hyenas. As lush and carefree as the jungle is for Simba; Pride Rock shrivels and is dying under Scar's leadership.

As Simba becomes an adult he returns to Pride Rock, challenges and defeats Scar, marries his childhood friend Nala (Syndee Winters), and has his own lion prince, completing the circle of life.

Beside the opening number, There are many other moments in the Lion King that give me goose bumps. As the narrative wraps and the wise baboon Rafiki (Brenda Mhlongo) explains to Simba (Adam Jacobs) that his father and all of the lion kings of the past are part of him, there is a stunning moment as the face of Mufasa, 20 times larger than life appears, seemingly out of the vapor of the night sky. The emotion and the beauty combine to create real theater magic. It is, without doubt, one of my top-ten favorite musical theater moments.

Interestingly, Ms. Taymor has created a piece of art that perhaps discourages performers from bringing their own personalities to the characters they play. These characters, with their masks, puppetry, make up and costumes are all so defined, so intense, that nothing more is needed. The performers in this production are, uniformly, brilliant; just as they have been in every other production of the show I have seen. Syndee Winters as Nala, has a gorgeous voice that makes her stand out from previous performers I have seen in that role.
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The Lion King plays at Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) through February 20, 2011. Ticket prices begin at $28 and can be purchased at the Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset St., by phone at (401) 421-ARTS or online at www.ppacri.org.

Photo: Adam Jacobs as "Simba" and the ensemble in "He Lives in You" from The Lion King National Tour.

Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Disney.

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