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Critical View students write reviews as part as a larger curriculum including comparative literature, critical thinking and creative response. In addition to seeing and reviewing shows, the students participate in pre-show lectures by local theatre critics, playwrights and actors and other activities including post-show question and answer sessions.
The following reviews result from the performance of Disney’s The Lion King that the Critical View participants attended on Oct. 30, 2007.
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The Lion King started as a movie in the early Nineties and was transformed into a musical by the late Nineties, and they never missed a beat. Starting on October 25, 2007 The Lion King will be back in Minnesota for a month coming back for its 10 year anniversary and it is a much talked about show.
It isn’t opening night, but the entrance is flowing with people. Everyone is trying to find their seats that they paid a lot of money for and expectations are high. Some people are in great moods, and others are annoyed with the fact that they can’t find their seats, and when they do, there are already people in them.
The lights dim down and the music starts, and whatever mood people were in before the play and your mood completely changes and your spirit is lifted. The music sounds beautiful and it is almost unreal how amazing the actors and actresses look in the costumes.
I have been to plenty of musicals and most of the time the music overpowers the voice or vice versa, and with this musical, it was completely level and it all fit together perfectly. The voices were all in tune, and they were in tune with each other and it worked out so well for the acoustics at the theatre also.
The colors for the costumes and the backgrounds also worked and blended very well. The costumes were also very complex but they were also so very simple and that made the musical work. The sets also were amazing, and the setting and the technology combined also worked well with my picture of what I expected from this musical.
The choreography of this musical was by far the best I have seen in any musicals and dances that I have seen. I am a huge fan of ballet and when I saw that they had added that in, I was just amazed and fell in love with it. The dancing was put together so very well, and not only were everyone’s voices in tune, but there bodies were also in tune with one another, and you need those two combinations to make a great musical. It can be an exceptional musical but if it isn’t on point, then you can tell and that takes away from the magic of the musical.
I truly have nothing bad to say about this show, because it was juts that amazing. It gave me a lightened feeling in my soul, and when you get that kind of feeling from a show, you know it was amazing. I will remember this, and I’m so glad I got to see it.
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| As far as I am concerned this play was the best musical I have ever seen and Disney has done a good job with the costumes, actors, makeup and the stage and the Lion King is worth while to see once or twice every year. |
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October 30th, 2007 I saw the best play ever! The Lion King which originally started in Minnesota was just amazing. At first I couldn’t imagine how it would look especially after a classmate told me it was puppetry. I just thought it would look tacky. The show represented over 25 kinds of animals, birds, fish and insects. There are more than 200 puppets in the show including rod puppets, shadow puppets, and full-sized puppets.
The tallest animal they had was the 18ft giraffe. It looked like a real giraffe, I couldn’t figure out how it was moving. But after looking hard enough I could see that it was a man on stilts.
There was also a really lively looking Cheetah. The cheetah moved by a woman who was standing up and there were wire-like strings connecting the woman’s head to the puppets head, so every time the woman moved her head the cheetah moved his. It was just so life like. The show was full of colors and the sets were created beautifully and full of music. |
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Roar your way into the Orpheum theatre because the Lions are in town and they are on the prowl! The colors and the magic is intoxicating, the story a classic Disney, and the PUPPETS will blow you away. Once again, the Lions are leaving their mark with an amazing theatrical musical performance at the Orpheum theatre, now playing until Nov.25th.
A never-to-miss-show, “The Lion King” returns to Minneapolis, where not ten years ago the show was premiered with an unsurprising level of success. From the heart of Minneapolis where “Lion King” the theatrical musical was created, we are once again graced with the opportunity to watch this beautiful story and take our place in ‘the circle of life’.
One of the many great things that make Lion King stand out is the amazing use of puppetry. From Japanese Bunraku puppetry - which was shown with the use of Zazu’s character - to the well known, shadow puppets, the actors were able to create the sense of having live animals at the show without chancing to have someone’s head get bitten off by a real lion. What truly made the puppets work however was the connection that the actors had with each of their puppets; not only was there an accentuation done on the puppet to give it life, but the separation of the puppet to the actor was interchangeable.
The one thing that has always drawn kids to the Disney films is the many catchy songs that encourage the kids to bounce along. Although the performance included well loved songs like “Hakuna Matata”, and “the Circle of Life” from the 1994 film, new additions were made with an included ensemble that spiced up with music, sending tingling sensations down one’s spine. The new addition of music not only stayed true to the spirit of the “Lion King”, but actually enhanced the show, deepening the connection of the story to its African origins through the use of traditional African dialects.
The costumes and the settings are amazing and beyond the imagination of what anyone could possible think of. Disney definitely went all out – and then some – to create the beautiful sets and costumes that depicted the story. This is one thing that you will have to see for yourself.
Of course, like every theatrical performance it’s all about the dramatic lighting to give emphasis on the scene and Lion King does that to a perfect T! The ins and outs are always on cue, creating the ominous setting that certain scenes demand. Amazing, Amazing, AMAZING lighting!
Here in Downtown Minneapolis, the production has been running since October 25th and will go till Nov 25th – a whole MONTH! The amazing aspect of this however is that nearly every show is sold out. There is limited seating and it is definitely rare for someone to purchase a pair of tickets. Ranging from $26 dollars $81 dollars each, this show is definitely well worth the price. Just be sure that you aren’t caught by the seating holds because this is one show you don’t want to miss! |
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The costumes, the set design, and the vocal performances/music department are all the things that make a play successful. Now pertaining to Theater, success is having a full house on opening night and from then on. Success is the feeling of freedom you get on stage and the sense of pride you get when you know that you are apart of a huge play. Whatever success is that’s what I can say The Lion King is.
The costumes were absolutely amazing; from the animals to the chorus the costumes were a hit. You got a real sense of being in Africa. In the beginning, the whole cast portrayed the wild. There were elephants, giraffes, antelope, falcons, and of course the lions (just to name a few) and all of them were portrayed in a very creative manor.
The lions and lionesses were portrayed beautifully. They had masks on top of the actors head (so that their faces were seen); they were not in the usual furry lion outfit. They were creative and original. The chorus was predominately female so the costumes fit that precisely. There were some gentlemen in the mix and their costumes were fitted appropriately. The costumes were spectacular. 2 thumbs up for me!!!!!
The set design was very creative as well. For example as soon as the curtain opened the sun rose up from the horizon. How they did that was they had wires pulling it up from the floor as the “sun was rising”. I truly loved that. I also loved that the chorus was apart of the set design. Like when Simba ran away and went to the jungle. They had the chorus be the grass and the trees and other things that reminded me of nature. So not only did they have props, they had people as the props. Also I loved Pride Rock as it spun onto stage. It did not come out of the ground as it did in the previous visits to the Orpheum Theater, but I thought that it spinning onto the stage was just as creative. For the set design I give this 4 thumbs up (If you include my big toes).
Now, the most important part of the play; the vocal performance. The vocal performances were absolutely astounding. I was most pleased with Rafiki. Most of the time she was singing in African but she made me feel like I could understand ever word that she was saying. I loved Rafiki. Other characters I loved were Young Simba and Young Nalah, and Scar. I loved all of these performances. I am amazed that the quality of each one of their voices especially Young Nala, and Young Simba. Excellent Job! You captured my attention.
I was utterly amazed at the quality and the accuracy of the play that I grew up on. It made me cry at parts, it definitely made me laugh and it made me mad (in the heat of the moment). All the emotions were prevalent. I enjoyed sitting in this 3 hour play. Congratulations Lion King, you rein supreme. |
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The Lion King was the musical that I’ve ever been to, I enjoyed it very much. Everything about it was great. I was amazed by how well it was transferred from the big screen to the stage. The whole musical was quite intriguing it kept my attention the whole time which is very hard to do.
I loved all of the characters they made it feel real. They made me feel like I was really in Africa on the “pride-lands.” My favorite character was Zazu. Zazu was so into it. He made it so real. He played his character with all his energy. I also enjoyed Rafiki a great deal, her singing was magnificent. I appreciated the grown up Simba and Scar. I love the adult Nala, and how well she played the part.
I believe that they did they the play justice, it was a great musical. They did the scenes well. They added music that was wonderful and extended scenes so well. I loved the new music. I love how they did the old songs. The way they perform the songs were quite amazing, and helped me pay attention. The lines were great; the dancing was very well put together. The people who put together the dances are commended, it kept me watching and wondering …. HOW?
The lighting was excellent, not to dark not to light. The mechanical characters were CRAZY!! They were so cool and kept me watching and again wondering HOW???
I loved all of the characters they made me feel at home. I loved all of the sets. I loved all of the lighting and the songs, and the dances. There was nothing about the whole musical that left me unsatisfied. I would definitely pay the money to see it again. It was the best musical that I’ve ever been to. It kept me up and watching. I loved the musical. |
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In this paper I am going to be talking about the play The Lion King. Before I saw the play I was thinking to my self how can this be put on to stage? It is impossible to do. But they shocked me! When I saw it, I thought that the play was very great. I think they made the play look just like the movie as in the music, dancing and singing. Also the actors were saying the words just like the movie. I think they had to really practice to remember every thing and make their voices come out to sound like the real characters in the movie.
Also the lighting was done well. I loved the background scenery when they tried to make the background look like night time with stars in the sky, the people with grass on there heads and the opening scene when the sun came out the floor. My favorite character was the bird Zazu I loved the way he made his voice just like the bird in the movie, and then every time he would face the crowd he would move his face to the crowd. I thought that the Lion King was really cool.
Now, I am going to take about the behind the scenes with the costumes, masks, and puppets. The Lion King is really like magic when it works on stage. The humans control the puppets and wear the animal masks are fully seen. The Disney animated characters are so expressive; their animals are human because they talk and say thing like humans. I think is really amazing for the actors who're playing in human form and then make it look real. |
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Ten years after the Lion King premiered for its first time, it has returned to Minnesota at the Orpheum Theater. And it has not lost any of the effect that it has always had, and most likely always will have, on people. This is the rare type of show that is suitable from all ages, no matter how old, or young, you are, you can still enjoy it, and it will capture your imagination and take you to another world.
Perhaps one of the most memorable scenes is the opening act, when all the animals come down the aisle. You can hear an audible gasp among the audience at the magnificent sight of all these elaborate costume, particularly the elephant.
One of the reasons why the Lion King is such a success, a decade after the musical was created, is because of the imaginative costumes by Julie Taymor, the humorous puppets by Taymor and co-designer Michael Curry, as well as the brilliant musical score by Eton John and Tim Rice. And more importantly than all of the fancy props, costumes, and magnificent music, I think that this story, based off of Hamlet, is so popular is because it teaches a powerful lesson that I think everyone at some time in their life has gone through.
This story is set in the animal kingdom, but yet it still manages to tell a human-like tale, one that can easily be compared to realistic life events.
The story is about Simba, who is a young king who constantly gets himself into trouble. Thanks to his plotting Uncle Scar, he gets himself into a situation where his father was lured into a trap, and then was murdered by Scar. But Scar, wanting to be king, convinced Simba that it was actually his fault, so Simba ran away. Years later, he returns and takes the kingdom back.
The Lion King is based on the Disney movie of the same name, and has won a total of six Tony Awards.
But no matter how great the production is, there are always technical problems. But these sound and microphone issues were minimal and they carried on as if nothing had happened.
Overall, when you leave the theater you can be guaranteed to have a smile on your face, because it truly was an enjoyable performance, the singing was great, the dancing was great, the effects were great, and the acting was great. What more could you ask for? |
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The Lion King was, over all, a very excellent play. From the cast to the singing of the play ever thing was great; but what most caught my eye were the very crafty costumes. I think that the animals in the play where very creative. If you look at the movie Lion King then look at the play you will see it’s a lot different but at the same time has the same meaning.
The Lion King is a great play for all ages. The movie does not have as many songs as the play, there was even different song in the play but they were all excellent songs. It looked like the cast was feeling what they were singing. If you see the play you might even feel their voice inside of you. The Lion King is such an exceptional movie and play, what kind of kid or parent doesn’t love it? |
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The Lion King plays at the Orpheum Theater for one month starting on October 25 to November 25. It is said that this is the best show on the road and sells 5 million tickets every year. Now that it came to Minneapolis the show sells out every performance and it is usually hard to buy tickets. The Critical View class went to see the show on the 30 of October and it was packed full of people.
When the lights finally dimmed down and the first scene started, which was the gathering of the animals, it was amazing. The animals came from every side. The two animals that I thought were the best was the elephant and the cheetah. Then, as the show went on I began to enjoy every character. The lions and the hyenas were well played. When I first saw Timon and Pumbaa I fell in love with them right away. They were funny and the actors should be proud. The actor that Timon was played by was in green which kept caching my attention whenever he came on.
When the first act was over and the lights came on I couldn’t believe what I saw. When I went out to stretch my legs it was packed with people who enjoyed the show. Then after a 20 minute break we went back in and the second act began. The second act was better then the first. The dances and singing were great.
The costumes were one of the best parts of the play. The colors were well presented by each character and the backgrounds always matched what was going on. The only thing that I thought was bad in the show was the swords that the lions used to fight. But beside that everything else was good. So if you are thinking about of going to the show don’t think twice and buy the tickets because if you do there won’t be any. Don’t look at the price of the tickets because that doesn’t matter how much you spend to see the one of a kind play. When you do go to the show I’m sure you will enjoy the show like. |
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The Lion King was a good play. I liked it more then I thought I was going to mostly because I do not like musicals. But this one did not really come off as a musical because the movie was a musical and I grew up with that movie.
The play did not change too much from the movie which was a good thing because I hate when the musical play is changed drastically from the movie. The costumes were amazing and very unique. The two lion masks that came down when they bent down, made you think that they were actually animals and after a while you started looking at the costumes and masks instead of the actors. Timon was one of the only actors that you notice for most of the time because he was not really part of his costume.
It looked liked he was a separate actor just making the costume move. After the play we asked him what he was suppose to be and he said that he was a blade of grass and him in his natural habitat. The bird was another costume that the actor was not apart of the costume because the bird was only on his hands but it worked well because again you started to watch the bird and not the actor who was playing the bird.
There was nothing in this play that was overlooked. Every little detail was taken in to consideration. Every costume was perfect. One of the best things in the play in my opinion was that the voices sounded the same in the play as they did in the movie. I was not expecting the voices to sound even close to what they did in the movie. From watching the movie a couple days before seeing the play they voices sounded almost identical from the play to the movie.
This musical play was the best that I have ever seen and I would definitely see this play again. I would see this play above all other with no question about it. It is one of the best plays that have ever been made. |
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