So, I saw the last show last night. I mean the *very* last show. I was able to get in for the 10:30pm show last night at AK. It was very emotional for the cast members as there were a few sitting in the audience in front of me. I could tell by their behavior and the cast members that were part of the show interacted with them. Also, they knew every word and every dance move. When the show ended, you could see a lot of emotion on the performers faces. I felt bad for them, but they really gave it their all this last show.
This was our first time seeing it. I had avoided it because I just had no affinity toward Jungle Book and it didn't strike my fancy. However, I made it a point to see it just to be able to say I saw it.
The costumes are beautiful. Very well done. The music and choreography also outstanding. However, the rest was confusing. There are so many visual elements to look at in this show, it's confusing. The main stage with the singers on it is not visible from the left hand side. I didn't like that. I honestly thought we had grabbed a seat in the middle, but learned a few minutes in, we were in the middle of the left side. There were so many visual elements with this show it was hard to focus on what was happening. You had dancers in front of you, dancers on a barge behind those dancers, then the screen showing the book kinda behind that, then off to your right was the main stage with the singers, and then people coming up and down the steps, aisles.... it was just soooo much. I couldn't focus and had NO idea what was happening. I got the emotions from the music, but my god, what a visual overload.
I kind of expected this to presented something like Fantasmic!, but this was a bit much. It's too bad because I really thought this show might have had some potential. The musicians and dancers were so talented.
