Theatre gets a dash of magical fun at Hong Kong Disneyland

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My visit to the Disneyland in Hong Kong was an entertaining revelation. There is theatre everywhere. From the word go there is magical fun in the air. The set is Main Street which is modelled on a small town in the US of 1890-1910. Though being very similar to Anaheim’s main street, the theme is heavily influenced by European immigrants. Plaza Inn which mimics a classical Chinese eatery that was created by a wealthy American couple who were infatuated with Chinese culture.

Another restaurant, The Market House Bakery, is reminiscent of a bakery founded by a Viennese pastry chef who brought the world’s most famous desserts from the Austrian courts. These and other buildings like the post office, the city hall and the place to rent out buggies are made of wood rather than stone as in the US. This enormous set forms the entrance to Disneyland.
The normal parade of Disney characters down Main Street has taken an aerial splendour.
Disney’s Flights of Fantasy Parade premiered on January 18, 2011 as part of the Celebrations in the 5th anniversary of Hong Kong Disneyland. The parade celebrates the dreams of Disney characters and includes characters such as Mickey and friends, in the float Mickey’s Magical Airstrip. Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella, Simba , Tinkerbelle, Stitch and Woody and Buzz Lightyear are also seen on airier floats. Caught Up in Daydreams, Romance Takes Wing, Junpin’ Jungle Jam, The Magic of Pixie Dust, Hangin’ Ten and Ridin’ High, and To infinity and Beyond are some of the intriguing floats that go by on Main Street.
As we entered Adventureland, we saw a stretch of water on which plied some boats and a raft which was stranded with people waiting to be transported from Tarzan Treehouse island. We took the Jungle Cruise, a boat journey where real-looking elephants spurt water, where one is led through a ruined city abounding in ghosts, to an eerie rain forest with huge insects caught in webs hanging on the leaves, and then the most exciting part of the trip to be attacked by pirates with gun fire, rockets and the works escaping which to emerge into placid waters with crocodiles carved out of stone sunning in distant coves, and hippopotami frolicking in the water.
In Fantasyland, we party with the Mad Hatter in large tea-cups that take us in a whirl of fun. We see Cinderella’s carousal and Sleeping Beauty’s castle. We travel through Winnie the Pooh’s Sleeping Hollow in a honey pot. As the evening draws close we, along with hundreds of weary spectators, gather in front of Tinker Bell’s Palace and gaze joyously as it lights up gradually, revealing its story through the twinkling sparkles and changing colours. And are lost in the fireworks finale which comes up besides the place in variegated forms and fanfare of myriad hues as it plays to synchronised evocative music is 15 minutes of sheer wonder.
However, what is really outstanding is The Lion King played in the forest area of Disneyland, Adventureland and in an arena space entitled Theatre in the Wild. As we neared the space, we heard the murmur “lion king” “lion king” in the crowds surging towards a spot In the forest. We came upon a huge domed hall with four entrances each leading into a massive round arena with tiered seating on four sides and managed to get into the first row in the “Elephant” block. This, along with the other three named Warthog, Giraffe and Lion, filled up within two minutes of the opening of the huge gates.
The performance is neither a condensation of the great Broadway hit nor the multiple award-winning film The Lion King. It is a brilliant revue specially created for Disneyland and is graced by the music of Tim Rice and Elton John. The show is in English with the two tumble monkeys translating the key message of the narrator Rafiki, a powerful black American singer, in Cantonese. Rafiki dedicates the show to Simba who sits on a high parade-like pedestal float in all his glory as the presiding puppet figure. As she begins the story of his life on Pride rock the other mounted floats move in. The one with the elephant is followed by a giraffe. Both animals are made to look as real as possible. On the third float, we find Timon the mischievous meerkat and Poumba the warthog. Timon’s importance as Simba’s supporter and friend is established as he climbs off the float to participate in Rafiki’s introduction.
In the story, Simba is being raised by his father Mustafa to become the king. His uncle Scar kills Mustafa and usurps the throne on Pride Rock. Simba the cub, who is made to feel guilty about his father’s death is rescued and brought up on a steady diet of grub and homespun humour by Timon whilst Poumba teaches him the meaning of the song Hakuna Matata (No Worries).
Simba falls in love with Nala who leads an army of tigresses to help Simba in his final battle with Scar and his army of Hyenas. On meeting after the glorious victory, they sing the Elton John song Can you feel the love tonight?
The show has animals and flora representing the African Savannas. The zebras are particularly beautiful and friendly as they come up to shake hands with the spectators without missing a beat. The elephants, giraffes, gazelles, birds and of course the wicked and cruel hyenas are all there in their realistic costumes and makeup giving the show its characteristic flavour of the African savannas.
Most of the characters are Chinese, the exceptions being Simba and Scar who are African Americans like Rafiki. Timon is a loveable Muppet whose interruptions in the narrative are ever humorous.
The tribal element in the show is evident in the costumes worn by the three lead characters. Despite several efforts one could not get the names of the performers, but the actor playing Rafiki on the 14th of may 4.35 show is a brilliant singer and has great stage presence. The actors in the hyena roles are terrific in non speaking roles. Simba is also very effective particularly as the lover with Nala a Chinese actor who is a great dancer and also sang tunefully the love duet with samba. Scar’s presence is brief and he is as convincing as the villain.