King Kong

By: Anton Massopust III

“Free the King – Kill the Queen”

King Kong comes to Broadway in a new musical at the Broadway Theater. This new take on the classic story tells a similar updated tale. This time Ann Darrow (Christiana Pitts) is no damsel in distress. She’s a young, desperate girl living on the streets of New York during the Great Depression trying to become an actress when reality sets in. A filmmaker Carl Denham (Eric William Moris) is looking for a leading lady for a new picture and brings Ann aboard a ship. They take a mysterious voyage to Skull Island. This time there are no natives here, but the island seems to have living vines that capture Ann. Then the big guy (Kong) arrives!  The giant ape is portrayed by a 20-foot-high marionette weighing in at 2000 lbs. which has 14 performers and 16 microprocessors.

Kong hurts his hand, and after he saves Ann from a giant serpent, she runs back to the ship in order to escape and go back to New York. Denham is determined to capture Kong and bring him back to New York as an exhibit. His idea is instead of having a movie, he’ll display Kong.

We all know the rest of the story. Kong escapes and faces down and makes his final stand at the Empire State Building.

Can this story endure onstage? Yes! Kong is very realistic looking, and his roar stuns the crowd. The sets and the way the interaction with the puppet and the actors are breathtaking. Kong is the star of this show. The show has only four principle characters: Ann, Carl, Lumpy and Captain Englehorn, and a small company of dancers. The focus is on the friendship between Ann and Kong and if one would lose their soul in order to gain what they want. 

The Kong puppet is a sight to behold. The songs are good. I especially liked, “The Last of Their Kind,” as it leads up towards the final climax. Pitts is terrific as Ann and has a beautiful vocal range, Morris plays a wonderful Carl Denham. He is a cruel and manipulative villain. The special effects are awesome and give you a spectacular experience to see onstage. Kong is King of Broadway! Go see it!