On Theater: ‘Lion King’ reigns again

How’s this for a scenario: A king is murdered, and his realm usurped, by his evil brother, and the monarch’s son is spurred into vengeful action, years later, by a visit from the spirit of his long-deceased dad.

Oh, right. Shakespeare thought up that plot line first for a play he called “Hamlet.” But Elton John and Tim Rice also used it to create one of Broadway’s biggest hit musicals — “The Lion King” — which currently is roaring strong in its third visit to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

It is again a visual spectacle with towering giraffes and an elephant-size elephant rumbling down the aisle. And again, the music commands attention, although the chanting in some obscure African tongue seems a bit overdone this time around.

And once more the colossal ensemble marches to the beat of director Julie Taymor, who also created the imaginative costumes as well as the animal masks and puppet designs donned by most of the performers in this lavish musical-dramatic-fantasy production. We see the humans operating these animatronics, of course, but we soon relegate them to the backs of our minds.

Front and center in this atmospheric jungle are the three major characters — Mufasa, the wise and strong ruler (Gerald Ramsey); Scar, his chill-inducing sibling (Patrick R. Brown); and young Simba (enacted as an adult by Aaron Nelson). All three are memorable.

Brown especially registers with his ability to merge his sly, oily villainy with biting humor, as if he’d spent a great deal of time watching old George Sanders movies. Ramsey commands the first act with his powerful presence and sage mentorship to his young cub.

When Scar plots to eliminate Mufasa by turning a herd of wildebeest on him, it’s a case of the king getting the bad gnus first hand.

Before Nelson morphs into the title character, Simba is played enthusiastically by Tre’ Jones, a hugely talented youngster who shares the part with BJ Covington. Likewise, his young female companion Nala is sweetly portrayed by Mikan Tarpley (Savanna Fleisher shares the role), also impressive.

Comedy relief is virtually demanded, and it arrives shortly before the first-act curtain in the form of Timon, the wisecracking meerkat (Nick Cordileone), and Pumbaa, the flatulent warthog (Ben Lipitz). These two wacky jungle denizens proceed to Hakuna Matata their way through a scene-swiping second act.

Drew Hirshfield rivals this duo on the laugh meter as a chatty and squawky jungle bird, while Mukelilsiwe Goba handles the high-pitched chanting duties — which many probably could do without. Nia Holloway impresses as the adult Nala, a lioness to be reckoned with.

Kids especially will be awestruck by the over-the-top costumes and elaborate special effects — and there’s even a gag reference to “Frozen” (this is, after all, a Disney production). For older audiences, we get a few bars of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Garth Fagan’s precision choreography prevents the show from becoming an African fire drill, and music director Rick Snyder keeps the show humming at a frenetic pace.

“The Lion King” continues to be both a prime visual and emotional experience no matter how many times you’ve been through this jungle. It’s ruling the Segerstrom Center through Nov. 1.

TOM TITUS covers local theater.

*

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “The Lion King”

WHERE: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays until Nov. 1

COST: Tickets start at $31

INFORMATION: (714) 556-2787