Long Live The King - Disney's the Lion King by Axel Duke

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 Axel Duke

The Lion King


Long Live The King

The Lion King is one of, if not the most, pivotal musical of our time, and with its monumental production value, family-friendly mass appeal, and continuously spectacular performances, it's no wonder it would go on to redefine musical theatre forever. The 2022 North American Touring production of The Lion King or as it has been nicknamed the “Rafiki Tour '' is the third touring iteration of the pivotal 1997 musical, and after 27 years and thousands of shows, it roars just as loud, but to a familiar tune. 

The Lion King is the story of Simba, a lion cub born heir to the animal kingdom of Pride Rock, and his journey to maturity through his conflicts and connections spanning all parts of the circle of life. And with that simple synopsis, any prospective theatre-goer can understand exactly what the show entails—and with the Disney logo front and center, there comes the guarantee of quality. And that quality cannot go understated.

With the budget supplied to a Disney production, The Lion King’s “Rafiki Tour” is dripping with personality in every puppet, costume, and set piece even with the downsizing that comes with a touring production. Even if Pride Rock doesn't rise out of the stage, or if the rising sun’s fabric is smaller, it still shines just as bright. The “Rafiki Tour” is by necessity smaller and less elaborate than the Broadway run, however, the elaborate showing of the original is in many ways eclipsed by the intricate workings of the touring production. Instead of rising from the floor, The “Rafiki Tour”’s Pride Rock snakes its way onto the stage on what appears to be a hidden motorized track: similar tracks bring in the gigantic skeletons of the elephant graveyard and the grasses of the savannah. Although both a rising pedestal and motorized track are both incredibly impressive ways to move set pieces, the track carries with it the connotation of a much more deft craftsperson than that of a pedestal. Due to their originally compact and or collapsible designs, The Lion King’s Puppets have escaped the downsizing completely unscathed, and appear in all their unaltered spectacle. 

The Lion King is beautiful, however after 27 years, our standards of a beautiful show have progressed: Informed in no small part by The Lion King, many other mega-musicals such as Wicked, Hamilton, Frozen, and so many others have expanded on intricate and innovative sets, and shows like King Kong and Life of Pi have taken the art of puppetry to heights unfathomable in 1997. Although The Lion King is undeniably the catalyst for so many innovations in modern theatre, by virtue of its foundational status, this show is built off its groundwork and stands taller technically than they ever could. Fortunately, contrary to popular belief, The Lion King’s heart rests firmly in the hands of the performers, not in its production value. 

The technical spectacle is impressive, however the performances are spectacular. Mukelisiwe Goba’s thundering vocals as Rafiki in “Circle of Life,” “Nao Tse Tsa,” and the reprise of “He Lives In You” shook my seat and my soul. Likewise, Gerald Ramsey’s Mufassa was one of, if not the most, resonant and tenable fathers I have ever had the felicity to see on stage. The “Rafiki Tour” isn’t just a rehashing of the same old story, it’s a refining of it, a polishing of this utter gem of a show. Long live the king. 

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