A sparse stage and even sparser forged — one man and 5 guitars —greet the viewers of Arizona Theatre Firm’s manufacturing of “The Lion.” However that does not imply the play does not pack a punch.
The autobiographical musical, written by Benjamin Scheuer, contains moments that tug on the coronary heart and draw tears, comedian interludes, and what one of many administrators says are scenes which have brought about shocked viewers to “move out or vomit.”
ATC’s 2022-23 season kicked off with the opening evening of “The Lion” final Friday, as about 100 patrons crammed the Temple of Music and Artwork in Downtown Tucson.
The almost naked stage was lit by shadeless lamps in several sizes and styles. 5 guitars have been positioned in a raised platform — one newbie’s guitar, three acoustics and one electrical guitar.
The only real character, Ben, performs “Saint Rick” in his boarding college dorm room after receiving a ebook written, in memoriam, by his father’s colleagues. All of them saying how mild and sort his father was, by no means had a foul factor to say about anyone. However the model of Rick whom Ben remembers is the one who would throw glasses of orange juice throughout rooms or inform him he was no good.
When the temper was meant to be comical, bluegrass got here into play. The tune “Snicker” was like a monitor out of a Mumford and Sons album, and it made the viewers do exactly because the title instructs.
The one-man present is directed by Sean Daniels and Alex Stenhouse in ATC’s manufacturing.
“The Lion” stars London actor Max Alexander-Taylor as Ben. The guitars make up the remainder of the forged. The play tells the story of Ben, a boy rising up in New York who
dreamed of being a musician. He grew up together with his two brothers and his
dad and mom. Ben’s father would play the guitar for them and a love for
music was fostered in his house though his father was a famend
mathematician.
As a young person, Ben endured the standard teenage
angst and points together with his father. At some point, Ben traveled together with his college
band to carry out in Washington D.C. That is when tragedy struck, and Ben’s
world was turned the wrong way up.
“The Lion” debuted on the Southwark Playhouse in London final spring, with Alexander-Taylor taking part in Ben there as properly. The lead actor mentioned the story is “very a lot about how good issues can come out of dangerous issues.”
“It is particular to see how Ben comes out a extra rounded particular person than he beforehand was,” Alexander-Taylor informed the Tucson Sentinel. “It might be tough to not transfer somebody.”
“This story is all about group and grief and household,” Alexander-Taylor mentioned. “It is a actually stunning piece. It is simply me telling the story of Ben.”
The pandemic brought about a bump within the street for “The Lion” opening in
London, however the timing proved useful as Alexander-Taylor was capable of follow his abilities on the guitar.
Stenhouse mentioned he handled
the “traditional” challenges that include making ready a musical for the
public, however one thing that stood out to him was a few of the reactions
viewers members would have due to the descriptions of most cancers and coverings.
Within the tune “White Underwear,” Ben described his father’s situation. His father had a headache, his mom had a glance on her face. She known as an ambulance. The tune has a tense cadence to it. Alexander-Taylor’s actions have been abrupt, including to the sense of panic. In his second of concern, Ben displays on his relationship together with his father, expressing how he does not need his father to die whereas they’re in a struggle.
Later the viewers learns that when Ben returns house from his band journey, his father had died from a mind aneurysm.
Additional into the story, Ben is in his 20s when he learns he has lymphoma. He had been sweating by his sheets, he misplaced about 25 kilos and the decrease left facet of his again hurts each time he drinks alcohol.
“When This Factor’s Over” reveals Ben wishing for the day when his most cancers is gone. He needs to go swimming bare each day and take pleasure in life. He’s confronted by grief another time, however this time however this time in the direction of his mortality, his love in the direction of a lady he can now not have and his decaying physique — his hair loss and the bloating from the chemotherapy. Ben mentioned everybody in New York would inform him how he regarded fabulous when he was skinny, not understanding he was dying.
“As a result of the elements about most cancers will be fairly
graphic; we have truly had individuals move out or vomit on themselves
earlier than,” Stenhouse mentioned. “And Max would go and ensure they have been
alright. There’s a connection that’s fashioned there.”
The music fashion was paying homage to the emotional songwriting in “Hadestown.” The genres diversified as Ben’s maturity progressed, which made the expertise immersive. For instance, after his father’s demise, he did not decide up his father’s acoustic guitar. He went for the electrical guitar as a substitute. He wished to “make noise,” as any moody teenager would.
Stenhouse mentioned one thing that makes the musical particular is a way of intimacy and closeness established between Alexander-Taylor and the viewers. There is not a fourth wall filtering the expertise because the idea of the play is Ben telling the viewers straight about his struggles and victories.
“Individuals relate to the story in so many various methods,” Stenhouse mentioned. “We have discovered it has a common enchantment. The songs are so superbly written. It is rather accessible.”
“The Lion” tells a lesson on overcoming challenges, and the individuals concerned within the manufacturing needed to overcome some themselves. Alexander-Taylor needed to get out of his consolation zone in preparation for his function as Ben.
“I bought the gig simply earlier than the pandemic broke out,” he mentioned. “So, we form of had two years to follow the guitar. The guitar is so tough, so I actually wanted these two years.”
Whereas there is not an age restrict, the descriptions of most cancers might not be appropriate for younger kids. Stenhouse mentioned it’s as much as parental discretion in the event that they wish to carry their kids.
Via ups and downs, Ben finally learns what it means to be a lion. With Alexander-Taylor’s voice and coronary heart together with Scheuer’s story, the viewers is in for a heart-tugging story about love, household, grief, identification and music.
On the finish of Alexander-Taylor’s efficiency on opening evening, the Tucson viewers broke into cheers and he obtained a standing ovation.