The King and I (UK Tour)

A dazzling revival of the Rogers & Hammerstein classic that charms and delights with its elegance, grandeur and beauty; truly a production fit for a king!

There's nothing quite like the magic of a Rogers and Hammerstein musical: the sweet, hummable melodies, the romantic melodrama, and their timeless social commentary. Bartlett Sher's most recent revival of the monumental 1951 musical effortlessly captures these qualities, bringing the - perhaps slightly dated - show into the 21st century, and creating a piece that is truly 'Something Wonderful' by infusing an emphasis on the anti-imperialistic and feminist sentiments that the piece surprisingly holds.

Following the semi-historical story of Anna Leonowens, a Welsh teacher who is brought to Siam to be Governess to the king's children in the early 1860s, The King and I tells a tale of romance and tragedy through an exploration of the culture shock Miss Anna experiences upon arriving in a vastly different world. While initially this may sound rather mundane - how many times does one need to watch outdated tales of romance - The King and I takes a far more mature approach: the relationship between the protagonist and the King of Siam is nuanced, exploring class and gender roles through their tumultuous and often argumentative encounters. In many ways, its shocking how relevant this story seems today as Miss Anna despairs over the idea of submission to a king (a fascinating discussion in light of the coronation of King Charles III), the King worries over the effects of foreign imperialism, and a focus on knowledge and education (surprisingly translating neatly to the rise of social media misinformation). It's in this way that The King and I is most unexpected: for a 72 year old musical, many of the conversations it holds are even moreso relevant today than when it was written.

Yet while the book of the musical feels fresh and modern, the design of the production feels traditional in all the best ways. From the lavish set and costume design by Michael Yeargan and Catherine Zuber respectively, to the lush sounding score of 10 musicians playing a cleverly reduced orchestration by Tom Kelly that makes the pit sound like a full orchestra of 30, this is a wonderfully large scale production, that quite frankly puts most other current touring productions to shame. It's the show's magnificent design that helps the daunting 3 hour runtime breeze by, as the visual feast of the eyes always leaves new details to be discovered and explored. The production design which hearkens back to the immersive realism of early Broadway equally gives the story a much deserved sense of royalty, creating a remarkable level of awe that makes the theatre-going experience something special - if you're looking for a night of good old-fashioned escapism, The King and I is absolutely the show for you.

The fabulous production is completed by a cast of pure Asian excellence, with any hints of the musical's slightly dubious depiction of south east Asian culture being reclaimed by the sheer amount of diverse talent showcased. The production boasts talent from theatre veterans and newcomers alike; Darren Lee gives a sincere and multi-faceted performance as the King of Siam and Marienella Phillips gives an astonishing vocal performance as Tuptim, while Caleb Lagayan gives a charming performance as Prince Chulalongkorn. In the lead role is Annalene Beechey who sings Hammerstein's delicate lyrics with infectious energy and pure joy, instilling life into one of their most delightful scores. The show itself boasts a handful of memorable numbers: the highlights being Getting to Know You, Puzzlement, and Shall We Dance. Perhaps the greatest surprise moment of the show however, was the extended dance sequence The Small House of Uncle Thomas in which Christopher Gattelli's choreography thoroughly thrills and entertains.

If you're looking for a charming night at the theatre, The King and I is absolutely the show to watch. Filled with bright and breezy songs that will certainly leave you 'whistling a happy tune' and featuring a gorgeous production design, its no 'puzzlement' why this magnificent classic has stood the test of time.

The King and I continues on a UK tour until January 2024, before beginning a West End run.

https://kingandimusical.co.uk/

[Watched 09/05/23]

Photography credit: Matthew Murphy