When I heard about King Kong Alive on Broadway, I was a bit skeptical. How could the enormous looking gorilla conquer the Great White Way? I imagined it to be a more campy version of the movie. But, my curiosity got the best of me and decided to see it for myself.
Taking the kids would have been too much of a risk. Our 8-year-old could probably handle the larger than life creature, but her 5-year-old brother would be a gamble. Besides, the King Kong website recommends that children be at least 8-years-old to see the show. So, my hubs and I decided to go alone.
King Kong Alive on Broadway was definitely different from any other show we’ve ever seen.
4 Reasons to See Broadway’s King Kong
Interesting Plot
The show takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression in New York City. Ann Darrow is a no nonsense young actress with dreams of making it big. She is discovered by filmmaker Carl Denham, who promises to make her a star in his next movie.
They take a trip to Skull Island where they come in contact with the great King Kong. But, the film crew captures the 20 feet tall, 2000 pound ape and takes him back to New York City to put on display.
Ultimately, Ann Darrow has to choose between her dream of becoming a star and setting King Kong free. There is a powerful message about having the courage to do what’s right, and putting aside your dreams for a greater good.
Cool Effects
The effects were amazing. There are moments when King King is running through Skull Island.
His movements are so realistic, you feel like you’re running along with him. Let’s not forget about his roar. Jon Hoche is a classically trained British actor, and the voice behind the primate. His voice is digitally modulated — processed and mixed with sampled sounds — in real time to make it deeper and more animalistic.
It’s unique
King Kong takes puppetry to a whole new level. You don’t often see 20 feet tall, 2000 pound ape on a Broadway stage. It took ten puppeteers to control King Kong’s movements, including his facial expressions.
Catchy Tunes
The Broadway version of King Kong is a musical, which is a departure from what we remember of the classical film. Australian Eddie Perfect wrote the pop songs, along with a score by the British film composer Marius de Vries. The catchy tunes tell the story while adding flavor to the show.
Modern Take on the Classical Film
Ann Darrow isn’t a white woman with blond hair. She’s an African American women with naturally curly hair. Her damsel in distress persona is a far cry from the updated no nonsense portrayal. It’s a true depiction of the progressive times we live in today, which is a breath of fresh air. Women are no longer frail and subservient. They’re not waiting around for a guy to save them. As we see with the new Ann Darrow, women are strong, independent and can take care of ourselves.
