The Lion King X*X*X

Tonight, I took One and Two to dinner and then to see the Broadway touring production of The Lion King. It was a very nice evening all the way around. A friend of a friend about whom One was complimenting at dinner actually ended up sitting right next to us because we unknowingly bought our tickets from the same "broker," (a common employer). What a sweet detail to the evening. Thank you, Lord!

I had been told to anticipate the opening number where the "animals" would approach the stage from the back of the venue, via the aisles. They did, it was magnificent, and (how embarassing is this?) I got a little choked up at the creativity and skill of these artists and -- dare I say -- majesty of the scene.

It was a very physically demanding production for the cast; they were on the stage for a little over 2 hours, and I'm pretty sure one of the ensemble members was pregnant. I was impressed at how much the "young" Simba and adult "Simba" sounded alike in their inflection. Two was so convinced that she asked me how he grew up so fast? She also wanted to know if the "man and woman" got married?

I'm not sure what she's asking, but I sure hope it has nothing to do with the Can You Feel The Love Tonight number. That was not in the cartoon! I mean, yes, the song was in the movie, but not what this production did with it. I was very, very, very uncomfortable with the 3 or 4 dance couples that came out, or flew out, to represent the main characters falling in love. Did I mention how very uncomfortable I was? While Nala and Simba actually only exchanged flirtatious glances from across the stage, the dancers who represented them in this dreamy sequence were gettin' down to business with a lot more body contact than the many young children (or me!) in the audience had any business seeing. One couple in particular, that was free from the restraints of gravity because the dancers were on wires, was appauling in its provocative posturing. The woman in the couple looked like the most suggestive of "gentlemen's" club billboards to which I try to avoid my daughters being exposed. Even worse, the dancers did all this under the cloak of a strange silence -- just orchestra -- no lyrics. Nothing to distract us. I spent what felt like hours averting my eyes and checking to see if they were finished yet, really just wanting this sequence to be over. It sure did work to put the other embarrassing display on the back-burner. It was when One and Two both looked at me with wide-as-saucer eyes as if to say, "They're NAKED!" because they were. Well, not really, but for awhile some of the men were dressed as grass and wearing flesh-colored leotards that displayed their "cleavage" so perfectly as to cause them to look naked when they turned around. Oh my!

I wish there had been a disclaimer. I would have liked to know that these very adult elements were present before I bought my ticket, or at least before my girls had to see them. I'm guessing this whole opinion would be news to everyone connected with the production. I'm sure I'm a "prude." I would, nonetheless, like to be an informed prude so that I may make my own prudish choices.

*Sigh* Hmmm. While One knows the biology of reproduction, I really hadn't planned on having this part of "the talk" with her until the eve of her wedding! I guess choreographer, Garth Fagan thought he'd try to do it for me. Ugh.