Sidney Sheldon and A R Rahman!!. Review on Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Movie

I am pretty sure most of you are familiar with the Trilogy, Lord of the Rings. It can easily compete for the best trilogy ever made into a movie. I am sure Peter Jackson would have toiled a lifetime to adapt Tolkein’s work into a movie. To make that into a musical stage show, when I know it was being made, I thought was only over ambitious but now it’s over there.  There are two main reasons that pushed me to spend around 40 pounds to get a ticket in the stall; 1) One of the composers was A R Rahman and 2) The interest created by Sidney Sheldon’s ‘Other side of me’, to watch at least one stage show. (And that is the reason behind the silly title for this write-up, which might as well be silly!) As it turned out, it was awesome to begin with Lord of the Rings.

(Suggested reading: https://mouthshut.com/review/Hobbit. The_-_J.R.R._Tolkien-96816-1.html if you are not familiar with LOTR)

I had read a couple of reviews and they were not promising. So with low expectations, what was waiting on the Drury lane, London was just spectacular. The Theater Royal turned into the middle earth and we men enjoyed thoroughly as the elves and the hobbits and the oxes were even running around on the aisles!

There were so many things that were impressive in the show. First, the adaptation of such a long story into a short and sweet 3-hour play on the stage. Of course, there were things that were changed and so many things that were left out, which is only understandable. Next, how the stage was utilized to show even war scenes! And, the light effect that made Bilbo baggins and Mr. Frodo vanish when they put on the ring! And beautifully choreographed songs with light, feet tapping music. At the end of the show, half the audience was up on their feet for a standing ovation.

I am actually finding short of words to appreciate the aspects of the show. I do not know if it was perfect, because it was the first show I have ever seen. But it was entertaining and enthralling for sure. While every actor played their part, the one that stole the show was smeagol the pressssus. It was just like watching the gollom right in front of our eyes. The way he enacted the split personality and fickle nature was amazing. Other notable performances were by the one who played Boromir, and the 4 hobbits.

Technical aspects were simply stunning. The stage rotated along the center and parts of the stage rose and sunk to create cliffs and gullies. People were flying in and out from all corners without any glitch of the ropes seen (I can only guess it were ropes!). When Sam and Froddo enter into the caves of the mountain the dialogues were echoing and when the trees spoke it was just as how it was in the movie. It was just so perfect. At the end of the first act, where Gandolf encounters a dragon, the whole of the screen on stage became a dragon and smoke came out from the stage and hit us, the theatre became warm and ashes were flying around. It was like watching a 3-D effect, in fact more real, and was simply awesome to say the least.

And a musical cannot run without music (I know you feel like trashing me for nonsense in that sentence! :)). I could feel A. R. Rahman’s presence in some of the melodies. Otherwise, it was all original and good. He has had to adapt to a different culture and he has done it well. And the entire show banks on the music. Great effort.

I am not just blindly praising without being balanced. I am just giving the show its credit. If you are in and around London, this is not a show you would want to miss.

Smiles,

Envyram

(Please do leave your comments … and ..

*Of course, this is not the section to post this. Please don’t mind. Though I have not checked, I am pretty sure Mouthshut will not have a category called stage shows/musicals).