Los Angeles Times
September 30, 2001
Vickery Shows His Scar from 'Lion King'
By DON SHIRLEY
One of the funniest numbers in recent editions of "Forbidden Broadway" has been "Can You Feel the Pain Tonight?," a takeoff on "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from "The Lion King." The number voices the laments of "Lion King" cast members who must schlep enormous masks and costumes around the stage every night.
For John Vickery, that song isn't just a joke.
Vickery was the original Scar in the Broadway production, then took a two-year hiatus from the role before returning to it a year ago in L.A., where he lives. However, he has been out of the cast since July 8, after an X-ray found that "my spine was way out of alignment," he said. He had back surgery on July 17 and is now recovering well, he said. He has been walking a lot in recent weeks, and--starting this week--he plans to resume serious training for his return to the role, which he hopes will take place in early December.
"No show has ever done this to me before. I have to go back and take my revenge," he joked, sounding a bit like the villainous Scar.
Vickery's costume weighs 36 pounds, which "may not sound like that much, but it's not ergonomically distributed around the body, and I carry it around for three hours at each performance."
He doesn't blame anyone associated with the show, and he says that the producer, Disney, has been very cooperative in obtaining payment for his procedures through workers' compensation.
Vickery was initially replaced by his understudy, but beginning Aug. 30, Granville Van Dusen took over the role.