The Lion King is going down under again. Following the huge success of the last tour, the splendid cast are back again to wow you. With music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, join in with the cast as they perform unmistakable hits like “I Just Can´t Wait to Be King”, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and of course “Hakuna Matata”. Make sure you buy your The Lion King Melbourne tickets before they sell out!
Featuring music from the great Elton John, The original Lion King Disney movie has been an integral part of many of our collective childhoods! Released in nineteen ninety-four, The Lion King stands as the thirty-second animated feature of the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and was influenced by both the biblical tales of Joseph and Moses, alongside Shakespeare’s Hamlet! Suffice to say this modern tale of responsibility, revenge and adulthood told in the eyes of our young Simba is a tale which has struck a chord with an entire generation! With the film now enjoying its twenty year anniversary, here are a couple of facts about the film you may not have known:
- Despite the film proving to be both seamless and well put together, the production for the film actually took place all over the world, with the different animators and voice actors working from home or in different studios.
- The voice actors for who played Simba’s parents (James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair) were actually previously paired together as mother and father in the Eddie Murphy film Coming to America!
- The wildebeest running sequence actually took three years to complete, due to its sheer magnitude in animation.
- Finally in bringing things back to the musical, Elton John’s and Tim Rice’s song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” actually went through a number of revisions after Disney execs were almost convinced it should have been a joke song between Timon and Pumbaa. Fortunately the original lyrics and music were eventually chosen.
Suffice to say the film became a much loved classic for children and grown-ups alike, and the stage production stands as a true homage to the sheer wonder that the original movie instilled! So if you like immaculate choreography, beautiful set pieces and a score that has stood the test of time, buy your Lion King tickets for Melbourne now, here at StubHub!
The Lion King is one of the most successful musicals of time. It won Best Musical at the prestigious Tony awards and is the highest grossing musical of all time having generated an incredible $1 billion. Since its inception in 1997 it has been seen by over 70 million people all over the world in cities like Tokyo, Paris and Johannesburg. It is the fourth longest running musical ever on Broadway and also has permanent homes in London and Madrid. Its success is no coincidence either, it is feverishly good fun for all the family. So whether you are young or old buy your The Lion King Melbourne tickets now and relive all the Disney magic!
It’s a pretty fair assessment to say that if you don’t know the story to the Lion King, than you’ve missed out a very big part of childhood. However, in order to inform and entertain we, at StubHub, will explain the Lion King storyline contrasting it with the great Shakespeare’s work known as Hamlet! With Hamlet standing as the Prince of Denmark, our little protagonist Simba is also a prince in many ways, with his father Mufasa standing as the leader of lion pride. With the murder of both their fathers during their childhood, both Simba and Hamlet delay their revenge, disappearing from the responsibility for a many number of years. While Simba runs away to the jungle, blaming his own actions for Mufasa’s death, Hamlet tries to validate his own suspicions of his father’s death, and both characters need an outside influence to get $them back on track.
Protagonists aside, another comparison can be drawn between Mufasa and Hamlet’s father. With both characters ruling their kingdom with the ideals of peace and prosperity, their deaths not only become a point of sorrow for our protagonists, but both kings approach their sons as apparitions, giving direct monologues about the importance of responsibility! The final point lies with the fact that neither father explicitly tells their son to avenge their deaths, simply leaving their words to the interpretation of their sons.
And now the villains, both Scar and Claudius are the brothers of their respective kings, and their murders occur to usurp the throne, and take their brother’s wife as their queen. Their actual rule continues to be similar, with both kings revelling and abusing their new found power. So without much further to say, it’s a fair assumption to compare these great pieces!
Considering the sheer brilliance of the story, it’s also no wonder that the show itself, has already garnered numerous praise from an impressive number of local critics! Take for example Broadway World’s review, who posits The Lion King as “a generational show that will span decades”, adding that “the supremely talented cast of singers and dancers are upholding their end of the bargain”! Hosted at the Regent Theatre, it’s not only the cast which has earned praise, but also the props and scenery! With each puppet and mask handmade, a lot of love has gone into each and every detail. In an interview with The Weekly Review, masks and puppets supervisor, Sophie Jones, said of the work “Every little element is so much work, and it’s all customised” not surprising, when you consider that each mask is tailored to fit each individuals head! Citing an actor’s hair as an example, Jones said “once we’ve made the headcasts, that’s how the actors have to keep their hair for the entirety of the show. They can’t shave it off or grow it long because the mask simply won’t fit.”
Needless to say, all of that work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with reviews from critics brimming with praise! As the Sydney Morning Herald writes “The stage show is a triumph by any measure. It utterly transforms Disney’s beloved animated feature in sumptuous live spectacle, thanks largely to the ingenious use of puppetry (redolent of south-east Asian pageantry and shadow puppets and elaborate African masks”. With the show opting to expose the human form within the puppetry, invites the audience to use their imagination, only adding to the enchantment that this show produces! So don’t miss out and buy your Lion King tickets for Melbourne now!
You are sure to be blown away by all the sights and sounds of The Lion King from the amazing costume design to the acrobatic dancers to the immensely talented actors. It truly is the “King of Musicals”. Be one of the lucky ones to have experienced the live show. Get your The Lion King Melbourne tickets now, at StubHub!
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