Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Well, even when seen from the top of the mezzanine section in Jones Hall in Houston, The Lion King is still a spectacular show.
Sure, the story's the same as the movie, more or less -- but theatre-goers don't see this production for the plotline. I think you really have to see this one in person to get the full effect: it's a visual feast of color and costume and light and scenery. The technical aspects of this show are simply astounding. I've watched it before, yet I have the same sense of amazement today as I did the first time I saw it. I find it truly incredible and wonderful how everything is created and brought together on that set. Absolutely beautiful.
Although I do admit that I prefer the Broadway production that I saw last year to the touring production. The effects were still astonishing -- but I had a better seat, and the Broadway cast was more satisfying, particularly Scar and Zazu. In fact, the Broadway Zazu (Tony Freeman) practically stole the show at times -- he was great.
Which brings me to my story.
My sister Leah, after seeing the production of The Lion King in New York last year, was quite impressed with the actor who portrayed Zazu. "I love Zazu!" she exclaimed to anyone who would listen. "I want to be Zazu when I grow up!" It was all very amusing, especially when she would say this loudly on the streets of New York. A few people gave us odd looks.
The next morning, the drama group my sister and I were traveling with was going to attend the filming of The Today Show. No one had any garish signs to wave in front of the panning television cameras, but we soon rectified that situation: someone produced a big black marker, and lots of cheap posters of Sugar Ray (who were to be the guest performance on the show) and soon enough, our drama club was brandishing several ugly and occasionally misspelled signs. Leah had written a sign, too, which read, "I LOVE ZAZU! (aka Tony Freeman)". To anyone who was not aware of my sister's newfound obsession, this sign was utterly bizarre.
So, when the cameras started panning our direction, Leah, who is rather short, held up her sign and waved it vigorously, but to no avail: the taller people from Colorado, with the poster board in front of us, blocked our signs from view entirely. I'm sure the poster problem would have continued in this fashion... until I had my great idea.
"Leah," I said, "Give me your sign." Leah gave me a suspicious glance and warily handed over the Zazu sign. Meanwhile, I reached for one of the many rolled-up Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider posters that had been given out earlier. Then I dug into my pocket and retrieved the safety pin that had been on my shirt that morning. You see, by pinning the sign to the top of the rolled-up poster, it gave Leah a decent handle, and gave the Zazu sign about another three feet of height.
But that wasn't all. It also enabled the sign to swing back and forth, and in front of others. So, when the camera panned across once more, it was suddenly much easier to make the Zazu sign visible. Very visible. In fact, for the rest of the show, there were few moments where the now-infamous Zazu sign was not visible; anytime the camera was anywhere near our section of the audience, the sign was there, proclaiming "I LOVE ZAZU" to the nation.
Our drama teacher shook his head with something between amusement and anger. "Get that stupid sign down -- why didn't you write something worthwhile if you were going to do that??"
Leah and I just giggled inanely, until she was out of breath, and I was developing an asthma attack.
And so, that edition of The Today Show includes only a few very brief shots of Tomball drama students -- but lots of clear shots of my sister's Zazu sign. The only time Leah ever put down her sign was toward the end of the show, when Sugar Ray performed; she set it on the ground in order to dance along embarrassingly to "I Just Wanna Fly". We happen to have a series of very silly hand motions for that song, so of course we had to make sure we danced with our hand motions on national television.
What can I say? Embarrassing yourself on TV is fun. Hee hee.
| 1:54 AM |
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