One of the best things about seeing live theater is suspending disbelief for a few hours and King Kong, currently playing on Broadway, makes it all the more easy. The special effects are like nothing you’ve ever seen before on a Broadway show. At certain points throughout the performance I felt like I was on one of those rides at Disneyworld or Universal Studios where you are sitting down in front of a screen and feel like you’re moving. Read our review and then enjoy a discount! King Kong on Broadway: It’s Not a Show, It’s an Experience! (+ Discount Code)
Indeed, the show felt like a 4D experience. The plot is based, albeit somewhat loosely, on the original famous 1933 film. The crew travels to a faraway land to film a movie and comes across King Kong, a gigantic gorilla, who falls in love with the beautiful star of the film, Ann Darrow. The director decides to take King Kong back to New York and throughout the story the use of special effects not only helps move the plot along, but also give the viewers an experience they typically don’t get at a Broadway performance. For example, when the crew was on the boat a part of the boat moved on stage and so did the background screen, which created the feeling that you are also moving in your seat. I felt like I was actually on the boat with the performers. When King Kong was running down the streets with Ann Darrow in Manhattan – I felt like I was running along with them. And when they climb up the Empire State Building I felt like I was also moving in my seat.
King Kong himself was able to move thanks to a group of puppeteers. Having them on stage did not take away from the magic – it enhanced it, because they were able to convey with their bodies how King Kong was feeling, together with his own life-like facial features. Speaking of life-like features, King Kong’s voice is very, very loud. The entire theater shook when he growled. Very young kids would be terrified and I recommend it for mature kids, ages 8 and up.
Christiani Pitts, in the role of Ann Darrow, had a stunning, versatile voice, which she showcased throughout the many musical numbers. The songs were perfect for the theme and mood of the show, although for this production, I felt that the music took a step back, so to speak, in order to allow the visuals to shine because that was really the main focus of the entire show. The audience came to see state-of-the-art, ground-breaking technology and sets that take it to a whole other level and King Kong did not disappoint; the special effects left me (and the rest of the audience) literally speechless.
King Kong is two-and-a-half hours long, including an intermission and is currently playing at the Broadway Theater, 1681 Broadway @53rd St. Click here to purchase tickets.
Use discount code KKPMV129, valid for performances through Sept. 1, 2019 via this link.
Photos by Matthew Murphy
This post is made possible by support from King Kong Broadway. All opinions are my own. King Kong Discount
Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.
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