The Lion King

Last Wednesday night, we finally made it to the Lion King.  It was freezing, but we made it!

We found a great parking spot across the street and were there in plenty of time to pick up our will-call tickets, grab a booster seat for Noah (cool, huh?), hit the bathroom for one more potty break for Noah (and the rest of us), and find our awesome seats.  We upgraded (for a price) to better mezzanine seats, and we really upgraded!  We ended up in the front row of the mezzanine, the section just behind the orchestra section, smack dab in the middle of the section.  I couldn’t believe our luck!  We watched as the drummers were checking their equipment on either side of the stage, and reinforcing to Noah that we had to speak quietly once the show started.   Noah also needed reminding that it wasn’t going to be like the movie theater, but with real people on the stage.  Just before the show started, we noticed an unusually tall man sitting right in front of Noah in the back row of the orchestra section.  Great.  But Noah didn’t seem to mind.  I’m not sure he even noticed him!

Noah was instantly engaged from the first note of “Circle of Life,” recognizing Rafiki and mesmerized by the animals starting to parade into the theater.  Being the emotional person that I am, I had a hard time not crying, watching Noah’s face.  And I was so excited to be there myself!  The story followed the movie almost perfectly, adding a few extras here and there.  The costumes are amazing, and the performers take on the mannerisms of their particular animal so realistically.  Every second of the show was terrific.  Noah was great through the whole first act.  At intermission, Denise and Lizzy took Noah down to their seats (3rd row in the orchestra section) to check out the stage.  I initially was jealous that their seats were so close, but they admitted ours were probably better for seeing the entire stage.  I smuggled our friend Amy down from her seat in the last row of our section to sit behind us in one of two empty seats for the second act.

The second act was a little slower, with parts that were added or extended from the movie version, and Noah asked at one point if the show was almost over.  Mind you, the show started at 7:30 and runs for about 2 hours and 45 minutes!  But he rallied, enthralled to the very end.  We all were.  The costumes, colors, songs, acting, stage design, music-I could go on and on-were fantastic.  I’ve been to my share of musicals, and I think this one takes the cake.  For a very long time, not one show was coming close to my obsession with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Donny Osmond (Liz P. knows what I mean!).  But it’s been edged out by The Lion King.  I knew about 15 minutes into the show that I wanted to see it again.  And again, and again.  I’m so glad we took Noah.  I can’t wait to take Caden to see it.  I’m so glad we didn’t take him this time.  He never would have made it.  But maybe in two years, like his brother, he’ll be ready.  Andy even enjoyed it, and he’s definitely not a theater-goer!

On the way home, we asked Noah what his favorite part was.  “The hyenas.”  Really???  That’s the part I think I should fast-forward through when we watch the movie!  Whatever.  Or should I be concerned?

It was an amazing experience.  I wish I could have taken pictures of Noah watching the show.  I hope he remembers this for a long time.  I know I will!