IT'S the King of the Theatre.
Utter perfection from start to finish, Disney's epic show The Lion King is back on stage in Southampton.
A veteran viewer of this phenomenal production in a number of cities around the world, I will never tire of it.
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Nothing quite prepares you for The Lion King's opening sequence, even when you've seen it before. In what I believe to be the greatest moment in theatre, a full Noah's Ark of creatures is introduced to the spellbound audience. With the powerful sounds of Circle of Life reverberating around the auditorium, a whole host of animal creations, most impressively a full-size elephant and its adorable calf, march on.
Birds soar overhead and the animalistic choreography is so spot on that at times you forget you are actually watching humans.
From that incredible beginning, we learn the heart-warming tale of lion cub Simba and his sometimes bumpy journey to take his rightful place as King of the Pridelands.
There is not a single weak link in a very strong cast, but I particularly enjoyed the comedic touch of royal advisor dodo Zazu (Matthew Forbes), whose range of jokes included everything from Portsmouth and Shirley market to Frozen and pantomime villain Scar (the menacing Richard Hurst).
The score, which sits Elton John and Tim Rice's catchy pop anthems from the film alongside Lebo M's drum-fuelled African-inspired additions, is a delight.
The theatrical techniques used here are an absolute wonder. The level of detail in the costumes, masks, and puppetry is staggering. There is simply nothing like this production.
From Hakuna Matata to I Just Can't Wait to be King, The Lion King boasts a real carnival spirit and last night's sell-out audience didn't hesitate to jump to their feet for a well-deserved standing ovation at the curtain call.
In all the years since the show made its 1997 Broadway debut, not one ounce of the magic has faded. It's an outstanding experience, which has to be seen to be believed.
- The Lion King runs until Saturday October 15. Limited tickets remain for most performances. Visit mayflower.org.uk or call 023 8071 1811 to book.
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