Theater Review: The Lion King

                       

                The "Circle of Life" number from "The Lion King"

There’s a good reason Julie Taymor’s “The Lion King” has been playing on Broadway for 24 years. Here’s your chance to see it live at San Diego Civic Theater.

The eye-popping spectacle runs through Sept. 11 and captivates from the top, with a “Circle of Life” march of characters down the two aisles of the theater’s orchestra level, and continues with a huge cast of 38 singers, dancers and puppets (like giant giraffes, in addition to the lions of the title and umpteen others in colorful costumes by Taymor) and lovely choreography by Garth Fagan.

The basic plot revolves around the grooming of young Simba the lion (played at this performance by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter) to take over as head lion when dad Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey) retires.

Young Simba’s accession is opposed by his power-hungry uncle Scar (Spencer Plachy), who wants the job for himself. He’s gone over to the dark side, hatching a plot to kill his brother and take over the pride. He’s enlisted a trio of hyenas – Shenzi (Martina Sykes), Banzai (Forest VanDyke) and Ed (Robbie Swift) to help.

When Scar succeeds (and manages to convince Young Simba that it’s his fault), the young lion withdraws to the forest, leaving his wicked uncle in charge (but never fear, he will return in triumph later). 

But never mind all that. It’s the look of the show that will have you gasping, with colorful sets, terrific creature costumes and puppets manipulated by a superb group of actors and dancers. Where else will you see an antelope bike, or sky-high giraffes, or a four-man elephant?

The show is also stuffed with amusing characters, like Zazu (Jürgen Hooper), the hornbill who serves as Mufasa’s majordomo, Timon the meerkat (Tony Freeman) and the lumbering warthog Pumbaa (John E. Brady). But all can dance and sing and conclude at the end of act one that “Hakuna Matata” (No Worries) rules their lives. Don’t we all wish that were true for us humans?

Do yourself a favor and grab a ticket for this show. It’s too much fun to miss.

The details

“The Lion King” runs through Sept. 11, 2022 at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Avenue, downtown.

Shows Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: broadwaysd.com/upcoming-events/disneys-the-lion-king/ 

COVID policy: Masks and vaccination strongly recommended.