Welcome to the Billion Dollar musical club! In fact the $7 BILLION club!
Disney’s The Lion King is still a sell-out hit wowing crowds around the world in 2016.
I’ve made no secret of my love for The Lion King. It is beautiful, moving, compelling and spectacular entering its 17th year in London.
It literally has everything you want for the perfect night out! With music by Elton John and some of the worlds most inventive, surprising, impressive and beautiful staging, costumes, lighting, choreography, script & puppetry – it has it all.
This isn’t just 5* – it’s in a league of it’s own!
This is truly a guaranteed hit and repays your ticket fee and the £70M investment tenfold in my opinion. Without question this is still the greatest family musical in theatrical history.
Enjoy our Exclusive 2016 Audio / Video Review HERE:
It’s a dull Sunday afternoon in London and the Lyceum is packed with 2100 punters. From the opening second, they’re captivated from 5 to 95 years old!
Truly, if I had the choice a seeing one last final show – it would be this! I cannot think of one bad thing to say about it.
The use of lighting, staging and silhouette so powerful, meaningful and moving – this story resonates with so many peoples lives…..on so many levels.
For the kids it’s captivating and spectacular. For the adults it touches a nerve with love, loss, family and survival as the backbone if its story.
The majesty, precision, crafted script and performance of TLK is literally mind blowing.
In recent weeks I’ve left most shows at the interval, or before in some cases – The Lion King continues to evolve and seemingly has more purpose the older it, and we get.
Nods should go, as always, to the effortless Shaun Escoffery who is so masterful, brilliant and commanding as Mufasa. It’s a shame he only gets one song to shine but he nails it!
Shaun is the epitome of a leading man which fully explains why he’s been doing it for so long. I think I first interviewed him over 10 years ago in this role!
His tone is insanely beautiful and his delivery of this character is second to none.
George Asprey also proves his genius hitting the perfect balance with Scar’s creepy, dark and unpleasant side matched with equal measure of the sarcastic, troubled and needy.
His pathos is brilliant. Despite being despicable, you can’t help feeling a tad sorry for him. Amazing job!
Brown Lindiwe Mkhize steals the show as Rafiki – the voice of an angel with an enormous personality and charisma that makes that huge Lyceum feel like a tiny showroom. I love her!
I loved that after 15 years the producers are still adding new lines and tweaking the show. There’s a dig at Frozen, blatant pop at Let It Go, reference to DIY SOS and a Riverdance parody which all received massive applause. Clever.
There’s not a word wasted during this 2.5 hour spectacle. It’s a master-class in all killer no filler which so many others should learn from.
The entire ensemble should be applauded for a faultless, seamless, effortless performance.
The band were terrific and the Live percussion (in the auditorium) was as magical, evocative and moving as ever.
Enjoy an Exclusive interview with the current West End Mufasa, Shaun Escoffery:
So, you might have noticed I like The Lion King.
After 16 years this is still a 5* masterpiece of musical amazement and moving sentiment that leaves you feeling empowered, enlightened and exhilarated.
The perfect night in the West End on a joyous rollercoaster with huge African heart.
Don’t miss The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s West End. TICKETS HERE!
Review uploaded by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio 21st March 2016.
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