The Lion King: Banda School adapts classical Hollywood animation into an ‘almost perfect’ musical

Almost everyone knows the story of The Lion King. They have either seen it live on Broadway or the West End or in one or both of Disney’s film versions of this amazing production, which is rumored to be inspired by the Kenyan countryside as well as our own animals and plants.

They know that this is a story of succession, toxic jealousy, envy and betrayal that leads to the murder of one brother by another (similar to the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible). It is also about the beauty of Africa and the humanity of its wildlife.

So when Banda School decided to stage this award-winning musical, directed by her and another award-winning actress and singer, Emma Withel, many theatre lovers who worked with her with the Kenya Amateur Dramatists Society (KADS) turned up to see her last musical before she left town. They gave her and the cast multiple standing ovations for their brilliant performance.

Now the question is how all the elements of the show fit together and how that fit made one feel that the musical was almost perfect (for a middle school production played by 11- to 13-year-olds), like a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces fit together into a practically perfect whole.

These elements include everything from adapting and editing the script to costumes including headgear, masks and make-up, to music, chorus, soloist, sound and lighting, to choreography, set design and acting including the entire musical direction by the talented artist Emma Withel.

The Lion King was her last performance before she left Panda for greener pastures. So this musical was one of conflicting feelings between her students and her because she is so beloved by them and the entire school. She is an inspiring and energetic dynamo like an Energizer battery that can light up an entire room with her brilliant light and glow.

But as a textual adaptation, it can be criticized by anyone who has seen the full production live and feels that too much of The Lion King has been cut for their taste. They are entitled to their opinions. But a great many others are more positive and appreciative of the musical as a whole.

Another element that struck us as soon as we entered the Banda Social Hall was the costumes, especially the hand-painted headdresses, crowns and masks which were stunning. What struck us most was the gorgeous gown worn by the fortune teller Rafiki (Maya Monte) who appeared on stage whenever someone needed her wisdom and insight.

As for the headdresses, the most beautiful ones were worn by the first Lion King Mufaso, then by the young Prince Simba and Spark, the sarcastic villain whose jealousy and envy of his older brother created the central conflict of the show. But even wildlife, especially those produced by the creative handicrafts of women and perhaps some men.

But this was unlikely because the show was primarily directed by girls (except for the sound, which could have been better) rather than boys. As a result, there was a strong masculine spirit running throughout the musical. This spirit was reinforced by the fact that very few boys chose to be part of the show. As a result, girls took on roles that would normally have been played by boys.

A single pianist (one of the school’s teachers) played the music, and he was supported by a large choir of girls, who also danced to African and contemporary tunes. The choir was the best place to accommodate the large number of students who wanted to participate in the show but were not chosen to be conductors.

One of the students chosen to be the star was soloist Maya Monte as Rafiki who also played the role of the prophetess.

She was also the one who wore the most gorgeous dress with matching jewelry and makeup.

Then came the set design which was multi-layered with its moving parts all looking green and forest-like; the moving parts make it easy to transition from one scene to another.

Finally, the acting worked, it was the final element to complete the show. It was effective in telling the story. But honestly, it was overshadowed by the costumes, crowns and innovative set designs, which made this version of the Lion King in Kenya the best.