The Lion King - The Disney Experience

There's a demarcation line in Disneyland where 'characters' like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse must cross at break time before removing their cartoon heads and heading off for a well earned cuppa!

Once crossed no members of the public are able to spot 'humans' exiting their costumes; the magic is preserved. But Heaven help those employees who ignore the rule. They will probably find themselves on the next bus home!

That sums up the Disney corporation - attention to detail. The Lion King, just like Space Mountain or the Run Away Train theme park rides, is a Disney experience Walt would have been proud of. It is about detail, polish, performance and delivering the Disney magic on tour.

The Lion King has just opened for a seven week run at Bradford's Alhambra and last night's press launch was heralded with a packed house and the arrival of Disney's very own PR man; the public will not be disappointed even if their pockets groan a little.

However, groans will soon dissipate into screams of joy for, not only is the entire run virtually sold out, but the show also promises to be one of the most spectacular seen in West Yorkshire for some time.

When an extensive development team first started putting this one together two decades ago, someone must have said: "Make it great and we'll worry about the budget later."

No expense has been spared and it is hard to be unduly critical unless, of course, you don't like the Disney way.



The costumes are amazing, it is spectacular, sunrises like that could only happen in a cartoon, and the cast is as slick as a New York ad-man.

The music, largely written by Elton John, is mesmeric as are so many of the characterisations, which combine to tell the story of Simba, a young lion, who is to succeed his father, Mufasa, as king.

However, after Simba's uncle Scar murders Mufasa, Simba is fooled into thinking he was responsible and flees into exile in shame and despair. He later returns, challenges Scar to end his tyranny and good triumphs over evil. The biblical story is complete.

You might have been watching an advert for The Colors of Benetton, such were the beautiful pastel shades, and tributes must go to the magical Gugwana Dlamini as Rafiki the shaman and Simba's cartoon sidekicks, Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat, played Avenue Q style by Lee Ormsby and John Hasler. Not forgetting, of course, the wonderful hyenas!

When you are spending a lot of money on a ticket you want to be sure that you'll have a great time.

Rest assured this is a musical for the entire family and, just as no corporation would punish any executive taking the decision to invest in IBM computers, so no child would give mum and dad a hard time for taking them to see The Lion King.

It'll cost you a bob or three but then again isn't money there to buy memories? It'll be a while before this one's back.

Runs until May 10th (2014)