The Lion King
Produced by Disney Theatrical Australia

Cast: Jay Laga'aia, Tony Harvey, Buyisile Zama, Terry Bader, Tim Richards, Jamie McGregor, Vince Harder, Jennlee Shallow, Chereine Peck, Kenneth Moraleda, Ed Wightman.

Music & Lyrics: Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Hans Zimmer
Book: Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi
Director: Julie Taymor

Publicist: Peter Bridges

Australian Premiere: Capitol Theatre, Sydney. October 16, 2003.


The Lowdown:
The Lion King was the most eagerly anticipated opening night for some years in Sydney, and it lived up to all expectations. The show ran for some time in Sydney and also enjoyed a successful Melbourne season, closing in June 2006.


Sydney Morning Herald Review:
The Lion King never stops moving. The constant flow of body language is a more powerful communicator than the script and, quite often, the music.

The choreographic input of Garth Fagan is as effective as the show's director, Julie Taymor, who was once a dancer herself. While he doesn't offer anything innovative or even inventive, he does cleverly negotiate the demands of the elaborate costumes and matches the eclectic score with a range of dance styles.

The costumes for the animals are wonderfully imaginative, full of character and action. But they do curtail the performers' movement, especially when the dancers' bodies represent the forelegs and chest of a zebra or the hind legs of a hyena.

So when a dance sequence is needed from the hyenas, for instance, Fagan selects five dancers who perform in modified costumes that give them room to move in a whirling display of jumping and kicking.

On the other hand, the loping stride and sinuous action of the leopard, with its performer as the hindquarters, is one of the dance delights of the night. This is subtle movement: no need for a costume change.

Fagan has drawn on African dance, Asian martial arts, ballet and modern dance in the kind of permutations now standard in contemporary dance and in musical theatre. Polished, energetic performances by principals and the ensemble give it all it's got.

Scenic design by Richard Hudson leaves plenty of space for action-packed sequences and lighting designer Donald Holder does Fagan a favour in the repeat steps by putting the dancers in silhouette, giving their moves a fresh look. In this show, teamwork is everything.


Production Shots:
None Available


Further Information:
Visit the Lion King website at www.thelionking.com.au.