Lion King Musical

JUST AROUND POSTER SHOW "THE MUSICAL THE LION KING "

Disney

Yesterday I saw the Disney movie "The Lion King". I wanted to remember the Musical "The Lion King" . It was curious to see the differences between the movie and the musical, what scenes , songs were new, and what remained of the film. The Disney film is from 1994, and I always remembered as a very endearing and childlike, with catchy music and a new digital animation for the time. And some more. The Musical I saw 20 years later, overwhelms me, excites me, I wonder. And in essence, is the same, but seen with new eyes. In the background is the same story, the same characters, the same music.

Usually when a movie ends, I never read the film credits. I turn off the TV and go to do something else, or do zapping. Yesterday I was mesmerized the entire time, and glued to the couch reading until the credits. I realized I wanted everyone behind in a movie animation. I thought I needed to do all that work great professionals behind. Like to see the Musical, just thinking about the artistic quality of the function, the category of actors, choreographers, the percussionists, the voices, the makeup artists, etc., etc.

Story

It's because the story is thrilling. This issue strikes a chord. It is the classic story of the prodigal son. A plot that, at their level, from children to understand the greater and intensely overwhelmed. The kids can watch the story of a father and son; good and bad animals , fight a lion by getting older; the naughty little Simba, a lion cub who sets a trap...

Instead, an adult discover more. See search assertiveness of young Simba, jealousy and wounded pride of Scar, spirituality and emotional relationship of our parents and ourselves Mufasa, the love between two young Simba and Nala; life full of irresponsible adult Simba, the life-death- life relationship, the decline of a kingdom, the cycle of life. In addition, the silence and the vastness of the cosmos ... the inner world of the subconscious ... Even Simba influences in the story of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Moses and Joseph in the Old Testament, from the film "anime" (cartoon) discovered Japanese 60's Kimba the White Lion ...

Africa

Each of the characters, each of the scenes, reflects universal values , so I understand that 20 years later, it still connects with the audience. The center of all Africa: the African savannah, hunting lioness, Rafiki the baboon shaman of the animal kingdom; Zazu, the royal butler, very British air with a touch of red beak; the restless meerkat Timon, Pumba the warthogs, hyenas, appearing as street, gulfs, cynics, cranks ... we see and hear every second to Africa in the script of the musical. African part whole story. Africa is the matrix of all ideas. Africa sheds its color, its mystique, its majesty, its drama: the force of nature, reality and cruelty of nature.

The creators

And this magic is achieved by professionals. counted in the Disney movie with the known Jeremy Irons (The Mission, Batman, Eragon, The Kingdom of Heaven), one of the best players in the world, to be the voice for Scar. The Castilian dub Mufasa was conducted by Constantino Romero, who has doubled in big movies (Terminator, Darth Vader). The song's lyricist Tim Ryce (Jesus Christ Superstar, Aladdin, Evita) , the composer of the soundtrack is Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean), and the composer of the songs is a myth of the rock: Elton John, which offers a collection of memorable songs: The Cycle of life, I'll be the Lion King, Prepare, Hakuna Matata (Swahili said) and is the night of love. Just this last song expresses the essence of music and film.

Music

The Musical The Lion King, both Elton John, Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina as arrangers , Jay Rifkin and Lebo M. (the latter, African, Mufasa associated with Mandela for inspiration in their strength) develop music where a unique combination of African styles and choral singing occurs, with European and African percussion orchestrations. It is the union of African music and pop. Rock music appears with hyenas, while hunting is more appropriate with African percussion, two drummers on either side of the theater in the boxes, showing authenticity and energy from Africa to the scene.

Actors

And I can not forget the scene actors. It's amazing the motion of an actor articulated through an animated sculpture. In the dances and the interpretation we see movements of dances Indonesian, Balinese, and Japanese, as well as contemporary dance, ballet, hip- hop, theater inspired shades, Japanese techniques for theater (Bunraku) scenes, and the use masks and puppets. The choreography imitating animals is amazing, where you feel a lot of energy, and lots of fitness.

Statistics

So many people working on this project, as those responsible for the choreography of the fight scenes, sound, lighting, choirs, makeup (makeup Mufasa is inspired by the tribal decoration Village Warriors Masai), wardrobe, the script, the animated masks, scenery, music, etc., make the musical the Lion King is the best musical of all time, seen by 70 million people worldwide representing more than 40,000 functions, the 4th of history that has been longer in theaters on Broadway.

Since the Lion King Musical started, both the film and the Musical have gone hand in hand. The Musical has enriched the film, so when out on DVD, it brought bonus features songs and scenes from the Musical.

Epilogue

I hope to see the Musical, with my children. They have already seen the film. But the magic is in the Musical. It will discover many things, among others, the Life Cycle, the relationship of people with nature, we must respect, and find peace among ourselves.

Francisco Amós Tomás Pastor

Teacher of music in IESO Sierra Almenara (Purias, Lorca, Murcia)

Youtube:

The Circle of Life