How do you tell a story that your audience knows so well?

In this case, the "The Lion King" producers focused on the costumes. And what costumes they were! The producers of the London West End Production at the Lyceum Theater on January 28 gave us clothing, masks, puppets attached to actors, and bird kites on poles.

This play's plot, characters, and dialogue were nearly identical to those in the Disney animated movie. The show included many of the film's classic songs ("I Just Can't Wait to be King," "Hakuna Matata," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight") as well as a few fresh originals.

Shaun Escofferey as Mufasa and Owen Chaponda were great, but Mark Roper's Pumba stole the show whenever he was on stage.

An audience of adults and children was not looking for a new story. They were looking to be entertained. And "The Lion King" delivered!