As a child of the 1990s, I have a major soft spot for “The Lion King.” I can barely hear the first strains of “Hakuna Matata” without wanting to sing along! Luckily, with Hickory Community Theatre’s most recent production, I was able to share my love of Simba, Timon and Pumbaa with my two daughters and their friend. We attended opening night of “The Lion King Jr” at the beautiful Jeffers Theatre in downtown Hickory. The production includes all the essential characters and songs of the beloved movie and Broadway show (Music and Lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice) with one notable difference: the play is condensed into 60 minutes plus intermission. This shortened length makes it absolutely ideal for younger kids. The fast-paced dialogue and quick succession of song and dance numbers kept the audience engaged. My girls, ages seven and eight, were captivated the entire time but we saw kids as young as four years old completely enthralled.
Another distinction between this play and the typical Broadway production is that every single role was filled by kids all the way from Young Simba (Auguste Thielemann) to the mighty Mufasa (Jordan Erby). I admittedly was unsure what to expect from an all-kid production but I was completely astounded at their talents. The singing was clear and on pitch, their dancing numbers were well-choreographed and executed, and even their stage presence could compare favorably to some adult productions I’ve witnessed. The set design was simple and effective.
“The Lion King Jr” grabs you right from the start as the mighty giraffes enter the stage (on stilts!). Other African animals in equally impressive costumes filter gradually on the stage as they sing the iconic “Circle of Life”. Upon quizzing my kids and their friend afterward, we all agreed on a few of our favorite parts including the wise Rafiki (Kaylyn Hall) with her enchanting baboon antics, the graceful Sarabi (Alissa Corey), and the perfectly snooty Scar (Angelina Prendergast). We were all in stitches by the hilariously delivered dialogue and impeccable comedic timing of Timon (Quinn Mullis) and Pumbaa (Gabriel Beech). Their take on “Hakuna Matata” was a definite highlight of the performance.
Every single child on that stage should be congratulated on a job very well done! I can’t remember the last time I was so enchanted by a production and my kids hands-down loved it! The performers’ hard work and pure talent were very much noticed and appreciated. We were completely engrossed in their storytelling. If you are looking for a way to expose your kids to the theater, this is a must-see. I dare you to not laugh along as Timon and Pumbaa dance the Hula before a crowd of hungry hyenas or to enthusiastically clap as Rafiki climbs Pride Rock to introduce Simba and Nala’s young cub to his kingdom. This performance was a triumph from start to finish.
Performances of “The Lion King Jr” at Hickory Community Theatre are October 18th through 28th, 2018 with evening performances on Thursdays (Oct 18 & 25), Fridays (Oct 19 & 26) and Saturdays (Oct 20 & 27) at 7:30pm and matinee performances on Sundays (Oct 21 & 28) at 2:30pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and youth 18 & under. Call the box office at 828-328-2283 or visit hickorytheatre.org for ticketing and more information.
