After I pull the lever and ride the gondola across, I just come into a place and another black ape appears. All I can find is a hallway at the end of which theres a gate and opposite to the gate a large stone blocks the path.

Youre not supposed to be able to move before you press tab, navigate to your inventory and equip the torch. I agree the intro is very confusing - you are not supposed to light the torch, you are supposed to equip it.