A Roar Of Praise For The Lion King

An exuberant, confident and magnificent Lion King strode into the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, this week with a stentorian roar.

Behind came a tumultuous entourage of elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes and cheetahs emerging from the stalls in a parade and blaze of colour, clamorous sound and technological wizdarary that would put Harry Potter to shame.

The weather may have been cooling down outside but the inspirational set, music and performers warmed the cockles of the heart of the mixed aged audience if the oohs and ahhs were anything to go by.

South African born Thandazile Soni was authoritative as the mandrill Rafiki captivating the audience, accompanied by the authentic sounds of the Serengeti that came from the drums in stereo from either side of the balconies.

Matthew Forbes as Zazu, the trusted red-billed hornbill adviser to Mufasa, was superb with many a good one liner bringing his character to life, as did Carl Sanderson as Pumbaa the giant warthog full of wind from both ends and the delectable funny and brilliant Alan Michale as Meerkat Timon, all three had comedic presence and often brought the house down with their antics.

However, if there was anything to spoil the performance it was the pantomimesque elements and the jokes that at times seemed hackneyed. Why? The alliteration and rhythm of script had all the Disney characteristics making it stand on its own.

Young Simba and Nala, Amari James and Serenna Hunte, who had excellent facial expressions deserve credit for brilliant performances.

Richard Hurst as Scar and Jean-Luc Guizonne as Mufasa gave assured performances and the death of Mufasa fleeing from the buffalo was accompanied by an effective light display, thunderous sounds with the percussion adding more drama to this scene.

Stephenson Ardern-Sodje and Nokwanda Khuzwayo as adult Simba and Nala were delightful together the chemistry working well. As for the lovely Sarabi (Simba's mother) Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy was totally graceful.

The sinister hyenas were more than realistic with Rebecca Omogbehin, Simon Trinder and Owain Rhys Davies as Shenxi, Banzai and Ed menacingly moving across the stage.

It is, of course, a team effort and the acrobatics from the ensemble, their dance routines all added to a phenomenal spectacle giving it a circus soleil feel. The giraffes bending into the audience was realistic and captured the audience.

Praise to Garth Fagan's choreography who says: "I wanted the choreography to look unlike typical 'Broadway' dancing. I wanted the dance to look like an integral part of this community, which of course includes strong elements from Africa - the kind of movement used by cultures that are close to the earth and to nature." Full marks.

It is though, Julie Taymor, the Tony Award-winning director responsible for the costumes and puppets that brought magic to the production. The team behind the slick scene changes should not be forgotten.

As Simba took his rightful place in the pride, the crescendo in the music began and Elton John and Tim Rice's song The Circle of Life was reprised for Pride Rock. The Serengeti once again came alive as the enthralled audience were itching to show its appreciation by rising to its feet in a justified standing ovation.