“Oh I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” – The Lion King Tour, The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. 26.07.2014

So while the other half was out cycling, I was trying to decide what we could do for the rest of our Saturday so I took to the internet. Now I knew that The Lion King was currently on its 1st ever tour, and having checked to see the prices for the seats they weren’t going cheap for once, even with it being the tour, that’s what sometimes happens when the productions is on high demand in the West End still. But today I thought I would just check and see what was available seat wise. To my surprise there on the screen was two empty seats, situated at the front of the stalls Row A Centre on the right hand side next to the aisle, ok they were going for £65 but front row, The Lion King, and in the aisle, I just couldn’t let it go! So when Graham returned and with a batter of the eyelashes, he agreed to going to see it, and within two minutes the tickets were purchased! It was interesting to see these two seats available being front row, but also that this wasn’t the first time this has happened to me, I had had the same experience a few years back when We Will Rock You was touring, again the same seats were available and were purchased on a Saturday evening performance, the box office said it was a cancellation that had caused the seats to be freed up, but it just seems a coincidence that its the same seats, so who knows maybe they free up these seats for lucky audience members and I was lucky to have found them first, or maybe it was just amazing that again someone cancelled and I was in the right place at the right time! We travelled down early to park and get a quick bite to eat, and once fully fed and bellies full it was off to the Mayflower once again to take out seats! Our view well how can I complain about it was brilliant, and the leg room was more than enough! Even Graham was happy! Now having seen The Lion King last year in London I wont go into too much detail again in this blog, but if you wish you can have a look my past review and blog just click here. What was brilliant about being in the front row, was that I felt so drawn in to the performance, and nothing can beat that opening number and the bonus of being in the aisle meant the animals in Circle of Life walked right past us, and the Hyena’s made us jump once again! Even in the beginning of Act 2 Graham became part of the show when the singer in front of us offered a friendly fist pump during the number, now that was entertaining! It was great to see the show up close and I highly recommend it to anyone who goes and has the money to see it in London! I wasn’t disappointed and I am sure you wont be either. Tonight’s touring cast was as follows:

Rafiki -Gugwana Diamini

Mufasa – Cleveland Cathnott

Sarabi – Teisha Duncan

Zazu – Meilyr Sion

Scar -Mark Peachey (Understudy)

Shenzi – Me’sha Bryan

Banzai – Daniel Norford

Ed – Philip Oakland

Timon – John Hasler

Pumbaa – Lee Omsby

Simba – Nicholas Nkuna

Nala – Ava Brennan

It is very rare if I know any performers in the Lion King, as it is very type cast in a sense, except for the roles of Timon, Zazu, Scar, and Ed many of the performers are of African Origin, and I know they ask for these performers directly. As always though they were amazing, and it must take so much time, skill and strength to be part of the chorus/ensemble in this show is just jaw-dropping and they make it look easy!!

The Two main character Nicholas, and Ava playing Simba and Nala were good, Nicholas in particular had a better singing voice than the one I had seen in London, but some of his acting was wooden at times, I don’t know if anyone can beat the first ever Simba I saw on Broadway, he was the original also and they are always hard to follow on as they made the role for the stage. But Nicholas performed well, and very sweetly tweeted me after the show which led to a follow a few minutes after! Ava was good, performing Nala well, and defiantly showed of her strong will to not be tied down.

The comedy trio of John, Lee and Meilyr, playing Pumbaa, Timon, and Zazu, all did there part in making the audience laugh, however not to be too rude I didn’t find Zazu being Scottish working, and again that is the problem with going to a show and expecting to see what you see in the film you have that person in mind and for some reason you cannot take yourself away from them.  It did bring a new take to the part, I just didn’t find it satisfactory and as enjoyable.

The one thing that I was anxious about seeing was who was playing Scar and how they played him, having seen a horrible performance being done in London I wanted to see if it could be restored. Tonight it was an understudy playing him, and Mark Peachey began to restore my faith, it did feel like he enjoyed being Scar and with that had did his homework in learning the role and was a lot more stronger in his performance than the one in London.  I have always said that being Scar is a tricky role to play, and even when doing the Curtain call and doing the speech at the end regarding the Charity he was still the sarcastic Scar and remained in role through that also.  He put a smile on my face and with that completed the show perfectly.

The Lion King, I have said time and time again it will never get old, and as long as its on the west end, or touring and affordable I won’t give up the chance to go and see it again and again! I don’t want to think about what will happen when it announces its closing which I can’t see happening in the near future, but Disney deserves to stay on stage, and with hope that Aladdin may be around the corner and coming to London is just exciting to think about!!

I will always encourage people to see this show, Sadly it is no longer on tour, and no sign of its return on the road anytime soon, but in London its still staying strong, and just as good, if my other half Graham enjoys it then it must mean its good!  I can only hope it remains as it will be the one that I would love to take my children to as their first theatre performance!