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Original poster

Lion King, Les Mis, or Mousetrap?

88 replies

Stillcountingbeans · 15/02/2023 20:11

Or something else?

DH and I are planning a special treat - a night in London and a theatre trip. We don't mind if it is a musical or play.
What would you recommend?

OP posts:
Emmamoo89 · 15/02/2023 21:03

Lion King 🦁

ohyouknowwhatshername · 15/02/2023 21:04

I seem to be in the minority, but I loved the Lion King. Amazing music, singing and costumes.

Honeyroar · 15/02/2023 21:09

If you see the Lion King don’t sit high up, you get the effects so much more lower down in the stalls. The first time I saw it was in the stalls and I loved it. Saw it again last year in the upper circle and it wasn’t half as good.

Les Mis really doesn’t do it for me. So I’d probably go for Mousetrap. Phantom is always dramatic.

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Theatre
Meredusoleil · 15/02/2023 21:10

ohyouknowwhatshername · 15/02/2023 21:04

I seem to be in the minority, but I loved the Lion King. Amazing music, singing and costumes.

Me too! It's in my top 3 musicals and I have seen many.

Really don't get the love for Les Mis. Found it super dark and depressing!

Agree with pp that Wicked was way better than I thought it was going to be. Also made my dd2 jump a few times!

leccybill · 15/02/2023 21:11

I could watch all 3 hours of Les Mis then happily watch it again immediately. It is SO good. It draws you in with emotion, even if you don't know the story. The songs are so rousing.

Lion King: It's a ballet with people wearing elaborate animal costumes, which is fun. For 10 minutes. It's too long and quiet for youngsters and too Disney ish for adults so I'm not sure why it's so popular, and with whom. I've seen it twice and liked it but wasn't bowled over.

I hated Wicked! No plot, no memorable songs, dated dialogue and jokes. I just didn't get it.

I'd love to see Mousetrap.

Isthisabitweird · 15/02/2023 21:13

2:22 is brilliant, loved it.

lion king more of a show with the kids.

mousetrap really good.

les Mis couldn’t wait for it to be over 😳

UsingChangeofName · 15/02/2023 21:19

This is going to depend on what you like.

I mean, I am much more of a fan of musicals than straight plays, so I wouldn't choose Mousetrap - but it has been running 70 years, so clearly a lot of other people would.

Les Mis has some of the most moving songs ever. It has a wonderful score however , the clue is in the title - it really is 'miserable' Grin.
The story is grim and sad. I mean, others would describe it as emotional, and moving. (I know I'm in a tiny minority here) but it isn't really 'light entertainment'. I've seen lots of musicals more than once, but have no wish to go and see Les Mis again (yes, I know, hundreds of thousands have). I'll listen to the music all day long though.

Lion King on the other hand, was a wonderful show from start to finish. I've been back to see it and would choose to see it again.

But - we all have different tastes.

Original poster
Stillcountingbeans · 15/02/2023 21:19

Really mixed opinions here!
I am leaning towards either Les Mis or Witness at the moment.
I would rather err on the side of 'dark and depressing' than 'for children', so I think Lion King is out.
Not a fan of the music in Phantom of the Opera, except 'Music of the Night' which is one of my all time favourite songs.

OP posts:
Purpleavocado · 15/02/2023 21:27

Hamilton is fantastic, DH loves it too. I wasn't too impressed with the Lion King.

Pinkflipflop85 · 15/02/2023 21:33

purser25 · 15/02/2023 21:01

The Women in black is good very simple scary ghost story

It closes very soon, so won't be an option for OP.

FettleOfKish · 15/02/2023 21:33

Not sure if it's been mentioned but I saw to Kill A Mockingbird last week and it was excellent.

Made a nice change to see a play rather than the musicals I'd usually default to in the west-end.

Hoping to see Romeo & Julie over on the south bank soon as the twist on it sounds interesting, and Callum Scott Howells was phenomenal in It's A Sin.

MelchiorsMistress · 15/02/2023 21:33

Les Mis is good but I think seeing the film first spoiled it for me. I was expecting more.

Woman in Black is worth a look, or Blood Brothers if you want to combine depressing with a musical.

PinkPantherPaws · 15/02/2023 21:38

Can't comment on the other two - but we saw Le Mis last month and it was phenomenal, the best thing I've ever seen on stage. DH thought the same.

I was utterly gripped the whole way through and a couple of scenes had me very close to tears (and I'm not generally a crier AND I know the storyline inside out AND have watched the film with nil tears!). The acting and the emotion in the songs from the cast was out of this world though, goosebumps-good.

CherrySocks · 15/02/2023 21:42

Lion King is visual and colourful and musical - a spectacle (same plot as Disney film)
Les Mis is emotional and the music is stirring but in my case I found it too draining and upsetting
The Mousetrap is an Agatha Christie on stage if you like Whodunits but a bit dull visually
Hamilton is high-energy but the plot is a bit challenging, difficult to follow all the details

See them all though! They are all good in their different ways.

Original poster
Stillcountingbeans · 15/02/2023 21:42

Mockingbird is another one where I have already seen the film, so not sure there is any point in seeing the play,

I saw Blood Brothers some years ago - okay but not great

OP posts:
Pinkflipflop85 · 15/02/2023 21:42

MelchiorsMistress · 15/02/2023 21:33

Les Mis is good but I think seeing the film first spoiled it for me. I was expecting more.

Woman in Black is worth a look, or Blood Brothers if you want to combine depressing with a musical.

Blood brothers closed in London in 2015...

Hollyhocksandlarkspur · 15/02/2023 21:45

Witness for the Prosecution if you love Agatha Christie and trying to puzzle things out. Being in the jury was great fun. The setting is brilliant as it’s in the old County Hall courtroom, just off Westminster Bridge and feels the perfect venue for this. Walk by the river, drinks and food on the South Bank - perfect.

ReviewingTheSituation · 15/02/2023 21:49

The story of Les Mis is of course a bit depressing, but I find it absolutely gripping. The music is just THE BEST. So many stunning numbers. Seeing it live is just amazing.
It's a new production, I believe, which is supposed to involve some different staging from previous productions. I want to go and see it again for that reason alone.

I also get what others are saying... the ending is a bit drawn out for me. Even though I absolutely love it, the last 15 mins go on too long. But I'll forgive it as the rest makes it all worthwhile.

DanglingMod · 15/02/2023 21:49

The problem with The Lion King is it's full of very small children do a generally very noisy audience constantly getting up and down to the loo and fidgeting/talking. If they did an adult/older children only showing, I'd go again. It's a good show.

Les Mis is amazing, the new Oklahoma and the new Guys and Dolls are supposed to be really good. Moulin Rouge is a fabulous spectacle. There's a bit of a dearth of decent stuff on at the moment, though.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 15/02/2023 21:50

Have heard very good things about Sylvia which has just opened at the Old Vic (just to throw another option into the mix).

The Mousetrap is a good play but I wouldn’t choose it for a special night unless you’re big AC fans (or have been inspired to go after watching See How They Run).

FettleOfKish · 15/02/2023 21:54

@Stillcountingbeans I hadn't seen the Mockingbird film but I have read the book and I very much enjoyed the show. I really enjoyed how the set was constantly and so smoothly changed by the cast, and there were more laughs than I'd expected.

I also saw Dirty Dancing last week, and having seen the film 10 times didn't diminish my enjoyment of the performance. Theatre is so different to any other medium.

DillDanding · 15/02/2023 21:57

Lion King is for kids, surely.

Les Mis and The Mousetrap are widely different.

If you want musical theatre, go for Les Mis.

Nutellaontoastplease · 15/02/2023 21:58

I loved Lion King, I thought it was amazing. I would see it again in a heartbeat.
Les Mis was outstanding and I'm glad I saw it. I wouldn't want to see it again though, I found it to be emotionally draining.
Jersey Boys was great, and I really enjoyed Back to the Future.
Mouse Trap was fabulous, a lovely play in a lovely theatre. I would go and see that again.
My parents have seen Witness to the Prosecution and raved about it.
I'm not sure if it still showing but Chicago is always a good show, as is Thriller Live!
You're spoilt for choice!

UsingChangeofName · 15/02/2023 21:59

The problem with The Lion King is it's full of very small children do a generally very noisy audience constantly getting up and down to the loo and fidgeting/talking. If they did an adult/older children only showing, I'd go again. It's a good show.

This is SUCH a good idea.
I really love Joseph (and the Technicolour Dreamcoat), but it has been spoilt more than once by the theatre being taken over by children too small or too badly behaved to be taken to the theatre, so I won't go to see it anymore.
Would be marvellous to go to an adult only performance though Smile

rainyskylight · 15/02/2023 22:07

Lion King is …. fine. Very child friendly.

Witness is good fun, great setting. Classic whodunnit. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Les Mis - if you already know you want to see if, and know that’s it’s miserable but love the music, then you need to go once on your life. I’ve been once as a teenager and once as an adult and was moved to tears both times.

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