What I saw
Jan. 3rd, 2006 01:14 pmI’ve had two reviews to write, and they have not been written yes. So, it's taken me long enough, but here goes.
Just before Thanksgiving I saw The Lion King on its national tour.
OMG
Honestly, as far as plot/songs/characters etc. are concerned it’s truly nothing special. It’s just the Disney movie. Which has its charm, especially if you’re a kid, but is nothing earth-shattering. The stage version naturally has some additional songs, but they’re actually pretty forgettable.
What isn’t forgettable is the visuals involved. I swear to god I would MARRY Julie Taymor. As we all know, some shows have special effects to forward the plot, in other shows, the plot exists simply as a display vehicle for the special effects. This is true in movies AND theatre. The Lion King is DEFINITELY the latter, but it’s one of the few times I knew that but truly did not care.
It begins with an open, empty, dark stage. A circular sun made out of strips of scrim tied together like a blind rising slowly rises strip by strip as it reflects gorgeous gold and orange lights in a magnificent African sunset while someone sings “The Circle of Life”. An 12 foot tall giraffe puppet done in the style of African tribal masks strolls across the stage and is silhouetted in front of the sun. Dancers strapped with puppets and masks to make them look like various African animals dance and stroll across the stage in a gorgeous stylized Savannah. And I have tears running down my face just because it’s so beautiful.
Honestly, as a theatre major it’s just amazing to me to see how they did all those effects. It’s a spectacle and truly beautiful. I’m still not sure it’s strong enough to carry itself without the wonder and spectacle of the masks and animals and puppetry, but it’s DEFINITELY worth seeing simply all the effects they get in the show.
I never thought I’d say this, but go for the effects.
The night before X-Mas eve I got to go see the Nutcracker. I watch a televised version of it almost every year, but I haven’t actually seen a live ballet performance of it since I was 12 or 14 ish. It was such a treat. It was the royal Alberta Ballet and was a world-class professional dance troupe, so it was first rate.
The choreography ranged from the precious, to the whimsical, to the erotic. The dancers were graceful and powerful and beautiful, and the sets and costumes were sublime. I’d never realized how much I missed going to the ballet. I love it passionately.
But probably the most magical part of the evening was waiting in line for the ladies’ room and hearing a tiny little girl say to her mother “Ballet people can do wonderful tricks!”
Yes, they can. :- )
Just before Thanksgiving I saw The Lion King on its national tour.
OMG
Honestly, as far as plot/songs/characters etc. are concerned it’s truly nothing special. It’s just the Disney movie. Which has its charm, especially if you’re a kid, but is nothing earth-shattering. The stage version naturally has some additional songs, but they’re actually pretty forgettable.
What isn’t forgettable is the visuals involved. I swear to god I would MARRY Julie Taymor. As we all know, some shows have special effects to forward the plot, in other shows, the plot exists simply as a display vehicle for the special effects. This is true in movies AND theatre. The Lion King is DEFINITELY the latter, but it’s one of the few times I knew that but truly did not care.
It begins with an open, empty, dark stage. A circular sun made out of strips of scrim tied together like a blind rising slowly rises strip by strip as it reflects gorgeous gold and orange lights in a magnificent African sunset while someone sings “The Circle of Life”. An 12 foot tall giraffe puppet done in the style of African tribal masks strolls across the stage and is silhouetted in front of the sun. Dancers strapped with puppets and masks to make them look like various African animals dance and stroll across the stage in a gorgeous stylized Savannah. And I have tears running down my face just because it’s so beautiful.
Honestly, as a theatre major it’s just amazing to me to see how they did all those effects. It’s a spectacle and truly beautiful. I’m still not sure it’s strong enough to carry itself without the wonder and spectacle of the masks and animals and puppetry, but it’s DEFINITELY worth seeing simply all the effects they get in the show.
I never thought I’d say this, but go for the effects.
The night before X-Mas eve I got to go see the Nutcracker. I watch a televised version of it almost every year, but I haven’t actually seen a live ballet performance of it since I was 12 or 14 ish. It was such a treat. It was the royal Alberta Ballet and was a world-class professional dance troupe, so it was first rate.
The choreography ranged from the precious, to the whimsical, to the erotic. The dancers were graceful and powerful and beautiful, and the sets and costumes were sublime. I’d never realized how much I missed going to the ballet. I love it passionately.
But probably the most magical part of the evening was waiting in line for the ladies’ room and hearing a tiny little girl say to her mother “Ballet people can do wonderful tricks!”
Yes, they can. :- )