Hi all, I could not pass up the cheap fare to London, so I am going in mid Feb. I have been reading so much about the NY production and its great reviews. I just booked seats at the Lyceum for the Lion King. Has anyone been to see it? Also, where in Covent Garden could we get a good pre-theater dinner? It will be a Thursday night show. Thanks, Judy

Judy, I, too, have read the rave reviews about the Lion King production. I will be in London this Dec-Jan and hope to see it. Some of my friends laugh when I say I want to see it ("Go rent it at BlockBuster!") but from what I've heard, it nothing short of a grand theatrical masterpiece! I'll be watching this thread to see what others say. Have fun on your trip!

If said it before, but my favorite for pre-theatre (and very close to Lion King) is Rules, the "oldest" restaurant in London. It is a very formal looking place with great traditional food including game entrees and the best sticky toffee pudding in the world. It is normally quite expensive but their pre-theatre prefixe is a real bargain. You choose any starter, any main course, and any dessert for something like US $25 (to my most recent memory this summer). You'll need to pre book as it is quite popular. On the other hand if you prefer after theatre, I'd suggest good old Joe Allen's (like the Broadway joint) right opposite the stage door to the Lyceum. (Or you can do pretheatre there as well --more American and more casual than Rules).

Hi Lauren, I have read many reviews(From London & NY critics), and even the most jaded have nothing but praise for this production. I just saw "Fosse" last week and it was superb, but I heard the Lion King is in a class by itself! Patrick: I read about both restaurants, and will add them to our list of good recs. Thanks, Judy

I saw TLK last December and whatever you have read in the reviews is true! <BR> <BR>10 seconds into the show your jaw is already on the floor and you have turned into a 10 year old kid. <BR> <BR>Go see it!

We must be unique because when my husband & I saw it last April in London (front row seats too!!) we thought it was good but something we would not care to see again, it just did not do much for us (as opposed to Mamma Mia which we loved and have tickets for again this coming Spring). Have seen Phantom, Les Miz, Miss Saigon, etc. etc. many times and don't regret it, but Lion King was just not our thing I guess. The costumes were great, the cast was good, we had marvelous seats, but still it will not make it on our list of favorites. Each to their own -- I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy the performance greatly.

Lori, I have never sat front row theatre! You lucky duck, you! Anyway, I used to live outside NYC for three years, and was able to see many plays and musicals(none front row however). I was just curious if those that have been to NYC and London theater and how they compare? Is it an apples and oranges type thing? I am glad you liked it though, and as you said to each his own. I am trying to talk my guy into another play or musical while we are there, but I will wait for the right moment, hmmm? JEAN VALJEAN??? Is that really you????? How is Cossette? And Jean did you see it in London or NYC? Just curious....

Judy, <BR>Having lived in NYC and LA and seen shows in both as well as London my feeling is that I think it depends on the cast more than anything else, since the productions are basically the same (altho occasionally there are some differences which you will notice if you see the show in, for instance, London and then in LA (or on the road). Sometimes that has to do with the size of the theater/stage more than anything else tho. <BR> <BR>By the way, if you plan far enough ahead it is not hard to get front row (or very close up seats) in London. We use Ticketmaster UK and had 2nd row seats for Mamma Mia in April and have snared front row seats for it again in 2001. Also got 2nd row seats for The King & I in April 2001. We had 3rd row for Fosse and 2nd row for Chicago, but I do plan ahead! Try and see Mamma Mia - it's a fun show, you will leave feeling happy I think.

Hi Lori, ordered the tickets for TLK on Sunday for Feb.15, 2001. We are in the Royal Circle, row M, not bad, yes? Did you do a pre-theater dinner? I am not sure which other play to do, but I will put Mammma Mia on my list....Thanks for the feedback, Judy

Judy, I hate to give you bad news but are you aware that the Royal Circle is the balcony (or mezzanine as they call it in New York). You are apparently in the 13th row of the balcony, not the greatest of seats. But I'd much rather sit there than the first row. I love first row seats for straight theatre but for a huge theatrical musical like Lion King you really need some distance to keep the illusion. Perhaps that is why Lori and her husband didn't like it. The "magic" was spoiled. As to the question of how the show might vary from New York to London -- I have only seen it in London, but I have been told by two different couples that they liked London much better because they could hear and understand it. New York is apparently more heavily amped and the sound is not only too loud, but rather garbled. Sort of like Rent apparently where in New York I really couldn't understand a word they were singing.

Patrick: I looked up the seating chart for the Lyceum....I would have preferred the"stalls", but the mezzanine doesn't ssem too bad, and as you said the perspective is differant farther back. I think you are right about the plays vs. musicals, but I would not mind front row now and then. Also, I think London has special level of serendipity(because it IS London, don't you think?

I am a theatre person (participation in as well as observing) and every year I try to make a pilgramage to London as well as to New York where I pig out on shows. I definitely prefer London theatre to New York theatre. Maybe it's the fact that if you preorder an intermission drink you know it will be waiting for you on a little shelf or table and no one is going to steal it. Maybe it's the fact that they actually sell ice cream in the theatre and allow you to eat it there (something I've never done as I don't normally eat ice cream, but nevertheless. . .) Maybe it's the lowering of the safety curtain at interval --often a glorious antique creation or theatrical painting. But back to the choice of seats. I sat front row for An Inspector Calls and loved it -- I saw and felt every expression. I sat front row for Crazy for You and although I liked the show it was simply too close to really enjoy the spectacle and the choreography. If I had my choice I'd always sit in the first row of the mezzanine for musicals and within the first couple of rows of stalls for straight shows.

I have to agree with Patrick that some shows are probably not really good to see from the first (or any close up row) in the Stalls (what is called Orchestra here in the US) .. maybe that is why we did not care that much for The Lion King, it was just too close. We've enjoyed all the others we've sat close for tho, but I also think first row in the mezz is a good place to sit (preferable to way back in the orchestra for sure). Judy, I have to admit we rent an apartment in London and on theater nights have our "pre-theater dinner" at "home". Usually we have been on the go all day so it works out well for us to pick up some goodies at Marks & Spencer or Harrod's or someplace and rest up and chow down!

We've getting a little far off the subject but while we're at it. . . I really prefer eating after the theatre. There's no pressure of making curtain, no nodding off from having eaten too much, etc. London is so much better than New York for that. Of course, there are a lot of NYC restaurants open for after theatre, but most of the biggies only seat until 10:00 leaving us after theatre diners out in the street. In London, even most of the bigger nicer places seat until 11:00 or even later, making such a dining experience possible. I just ran into a brick wall on the special New York hosted forum asking about places to eat after theatre and being given the names of all the "great" places to go, but they still all close at 10:00 so can't do it. Even the Fodor's host couldn't make good suggestions.

We saw Lion King in London last summer with our two teenage children. (4th row center) Loved the show - loved the seats. The whole night was magical! Went to Cats the next night and did not enjoy that nearly as much (sometimes i think it's what you see first that makes the biggest impression)

Judy, <BR>I saw Lion King last March in London. I didn't get a ticket until I arrived but still managed to get the last seat in the house. The highest seat in the theatre but I still loved it. It was just plain well done.

Thanks for all the input dear people. Used advice from this forum and ordered tickets to Witches of Eastwick(Patrick? How was it?) for 2-fo-1 price,,,could not pass it up(itsagift.com)...they also had tkts for Phantom, Cats and Les Miz at half price...FYI...Judy ps. I love theater too!

Sorry, but Witches opened just after we were there in May, so haven't seen it yet. Have heard many good reports. Some of my theatre expert friends say it isn't the greatest show in the world, but the production will take your breath away. Something about people flying out over the audience and lots of special effects.

We didn't see it, but we DID see a fur-covered cab w/ a lion king sign on top of the car! Hilarious!! Of course, we took a picture!!

We saw Lion King last winter in London. Got seats from the "line up" last minute. Show was absolutely incredibly wonderful. We still marvel at it. Also say Mamma Mia the same day, last minute. Another winner. We play the cassette regularly on long trips to the shore.