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In its 17th year on stage, The Lion King is still roaring proudly.

At opening curtain, the visual brilliance of exotic animals are manipulated by costumed puppeteer/actors, who imaginatively blend realism with fantasy. The soul-stirring African arrangements by Elton John and Tim Rice, are performed with exhilaration by the players, enhancing the grand illusion.

After four viewings over the years, my inner child still reacts with wonder to the richly-imagined visual narrative. The simplistic children’s tale about a lion cub’s hard road to adulthood and the animal kingdom’s throne speaks from the heart rather than the head.

There’s little indication that this lion shows signs of wobbly old age. This Lion King still has the energy of a frisky cub.

The Lion King is on stage at Toronto’s Princess of Wales theatre through June 15th.