Julie Taymor is a genius. She adapted a cute little Disney cartoon movie into a spectacular musical that is not so much a show, as a celebration. It is a celebration of life, of love, and of talent. The show, "Lion King," won several Tony awards. Taymor herself won two, one for her brilliant direction of the musical and another for her stunning costume designs.
A video from the Tony awards gives a sample of what the audience sees when the actual show begins. A beautiful sunrise on the savanna is the backdrop for an incredible parade of animals. The gasps and applause heard during the beginning of the song, is the reaction to the sight of the cast in their clever puppet/costumes. They come into view from all directions, down the aisles, in the balconies, and onto the stage. The camera cannot do justice to the show's opening scene. I’ve had the privilege of watching the show and there is no way to stop from straining your neck trying to take it all in. I could happily watch it a hundred times and surely be amazed each time. As Oprah has said about the show, “it’s life-changing”.
One of my favorite songs in the "Lion King" musical is "Shadowland". The young lioness, Nala, sings it with great passion while the chorus chants out African words which mean, in part, "This land of our ancestors is holy." Part of the reason the song moves me so, is its portrayal of the complex emotions felt by anyone when they set out into the unknown. The lyrics seen below are only part of the song, which is staged like a rite of passage:
Shadowland!
The leaves have fallen
This shadowed land
This was our home
The river's dry
The ground has broken
So I must go
Now, I must go
And where the journey may lead me
Let your prayers be my guide
I cannot stay here, my family
But I'll remember my pride
The baboon, Rafiki, is a goofy shaman in the cartoon version of the story. The character was redesigned into a wise (but still quirky) Earth mother figure. At the ending of the song, "Shadowland," Rafiki acts as a celebrant and blesses Nala's journey. The young lioness is leaving to escape from the evil ruler, Scar, who has nearly destroyed her home.
Not only is Julie Taymor a genius, she also might have had some prescience of what might happen to the United States or any other nation, if it continues under corrupt administration. It seems that there is a shadow looming over our beloved homeland right now. It is due to the corruption all through our present administration.
After being a child myself, and after raising five children, I'm quite fond of children's jokes. A recent diary I wrote was based on elephant jokes. I refrained from mentioning before that the Republican party (whose symbol is an elephant) is a real joke now. That fact is very evident nowadays. It is unfortunate because it’s my strong belief that we need two strong, competent parties. Different outlooks are needed in order to create just laws so that our nation can prove itself to be truly civilized.
There are several connections between this diary about shadows and the one about elephant jokes and it is not just because there are cute elephants in the Lion King Broadway play. Another Disney cartoon movie is discussed in the previous diary. In that particular show, "Dumbo", the elephant's shadow is seen when the young elephant first learns to fly. His shadow is seen again, against the walls of the circus tent when Dumbo makes his triumphant flight away from almost certain death. Just to connect it a bit further, here is an elephant joke that is in keeping with this diary ;)
QUESTION: What's as big as an elephant, but weighs nothing?
ANSWER: An elephant’s shadow
A dark shadow has been cast over our government by a group of greedy, rich Republicans. They weigh nothing and think only of their own gain. It is hard to continue life's journey in a land overshadowed by wickedness. Each day, I try to remember my pride in our past, and the hope for a brighter future. May our country soon be led back from the shadow of corruption.
Nala's journey leads her to Simba, the rightful leader of the pride. The circle of life is continued after they journey back together to reclaim their home.
I love happy endings! I hope and pray that there is a happy ending for those of us in the US.