|
|
|
|
The King and I
|
"The King and I"
Every now and then we get a chance to revisit a genuine masterpiece of modern
musical theatre. The King and I is among the small handful of
shows so flawlessly conceived that almost all you have to do is sing the songs
and follow the script and the audiences are guaranteed a good time.
|
 |
 |
|
The lush score, and an East-meets-West book that is both funny and
surprisingly moving, can seemingly work anywhere at anytime. There is a
suggestion of hearing Rodgers' incomparable melodies, and the vibrant reminder
of the genius of Oscar Hammerstein II's book and lyrics. |
|
 |
|
It is Rodgers and Hammerstein at their best, weaving music, dialogue and
dance into a seamless, exciting dramatic whole, gradually building to the giddy
passionate polka, it careens into the terror of Tuptim's capture, The King's
rage, Anna's desperate attempts to hold him back, and the desolation of the
decision to leave Siam.
|
 |
 |
|
There is the wondrous Anna, capturing the emotional conflicts of conflicting
cultures, ideologies and social mores, written for and becoming Gertrude
Lawrence's last role. The challenge to take a fresh, effective approach to
The King, a role Yul Bryner made his own (and was the first to win both Tony and
Oscar for the same role). The vocally dazzling young lovers, Tuptim and
Lun Tha, and the musical flair of the wise Lady Thiang. Sumptuous moments
abound, the starlit garden and grandiose dinner, and the most magnificent
Small House of Uncle Thomas
a feature for the ballet, plus countless major and minor roles for a big
company. |
 |
|
|
|
Synopsis Production Team
Cast List
Orchestra
Bookings
Show Resources
|
|
Latest
Show News
|
|
Please check this space for the latest news on the progress of the show.
|
Act One
Set in Bangkok in the early 1860's, Anna Leonowens arrives to teach at the
Royal Palace. Met by the intimidating Prime Minister, Kralahome, Anna and
her son Louis begin to discover a clash of cultures and Anna reassures Louis
with Whistle a Happy Tune. At the palace Anna waits as The King
receives a gift of a Princess from Burma, Tuptim, introducing herself through
My Lord and Master. We then meet the Princes and Princesses.
|
 |
|
As Anna settles in, Tuptim reveals her true love for emissary Lun Tha and
Anna shares a private memory of her late husband with Hello, Young Lovers.
The King in the meantime is struggling to understand Western ways, A
Puzzlement, as Anna and her students find fun and friendship through
Getting to Know You. Anna, frustrated by The Kings's broken promises, is startled by Lun Tha
pleading for her help to reunite with Tuptim. They sing We Kiss In The
Shadows. Lady Thiang, The King's first wife, now seeks Anna's help to
stop the British colonising Siam, because The King is Something Wonderful.
Act Two
Anna is put in charge of organising a dinner for the British visitors and
teaching the Court western manners. The Wives find Western People Funny.
Under Anna's tutelage of the Harriet Beecher Stowe classic Uncle Tom's Cabin,
Tuptim narrates the story of The Small House of Uncle Thomas as a
parallel to her own situation feeling trapped by the King.
|
 |
|
The dinner is an unqualified success, although The King finds Anna's
relationship with Diplomat, Sir Edward Ramsay, disturbing. More disturbing
though is Lun Tha's revelation that he and Tuptim plan to escape, I Have
Dreamed. While the ideological differences remain, The King and Anna find there is
mutual admiration, and perhaps even some intimacy as The King endeavours to
explain the Siamese perspective to relationships in Song of The King.
Anna counters with Shall We Dance. As the audience is drawn to what
might have been, we are brought back to the reality that Tuptim and Lun Tha have
escaped, and The King finds himself torn between his duties and his new found
understanding of the world. |
|
|
Production
Team
|
Producer: |
Graeme Marriott |
|
Directors: |
Roy Mears |
|
|
Jenni Mears |
|
Musical Director: |
Geoff Earle |
|
Choreographer: |
Laura Hamilton |
|
Stage Manager: |
Susan Collier |
|
Costumes: |
Margot Sephton |
|
Props: |
Cathryn Knights |
|
Children's Co-ordinator: |
Mary Bryant |
|
|
|
Cast List
|
|
The King |
Albert Ip |
|
Anna Leonowens: |
Emma Watts |
|
Louis Leonowens |
Jack Earle |
|
Kralahome |
Paul Ash |
|
Interpreter |
Colin Sephton |
|
Phra Alack |
Kevin Custerson |
|
Lun Tha |
Danny May |
|
Tuptim |
Georgie Walker |
|
Lady Thiang |
Christine Keys |
|
Crown Prince |
Rubin Matters |
|
Sir Edward |
Kevin Seerup |
|
Captain Orton |
Colin Prossor |
|
Princes/Princesses (Gold Cast) |
Sarah Davis |
|
|
Nicholas Niu |
|
|
Siobhan Kelly |
|
|
James Campbell |
|
|
Imogen Quinn |
|
|
Mollie Williams |
|
|
Christopher Davie-Smythe |
|
|
Molly Campbell |
|
|
Emma Stewart |
|
|
Chloe Kirkles |
|
|
James Robertson |
|
|
Hannah Campbell |
|
|
Aliyah Baynosa |
|
|
Carina Field |
|
|
Leo Richartz |
|
|
Fiona Vilfand |
|
|
Meggyann Davie-Smythe |
|
Princes/Princesses (Red Cast) |
Tahlia Cengia |
|
|
Gavin Ash |
|
|
Fraser Mitchell |
|
|
Josh Stapleton |
|
|
Bridie Easton |
|
|
Emily Seerup |
|
|
Nicholas Lever |
|
|
Casey Brimble |
|
|
Lauren Ash |
|
|
Maya Howard |
|
|
David Ross |
|
|
Ying Xing Niu |
|
|
Olivia Seerup |
|
|
Alison Ross |
|
|
Tom Lever |
|
|
Niamh McGarry |
|
|
Maddison Eldridge |
|
Ballet |
Aoife Barker |
|
|
Emma Uphill |
|
|
Enya Daly |
|
|
Georgia Lundy |
|
|
Jemma Mulvaney |
|
|
Sinead Barker |
|
|
Josh Stapleton |
|
|
Rubin Matters |
|
Wives |
Ami Fisher |
|
|
Annette Davie-Smythe |
|
|
Bernadette Walker |
|
|
Katrina Lever |
|
|
Kay Davis |
|
|
Kerryn Petrie |
|
|
Louise Kirkles |
|
|
Margot Sephton |
|
|
Skye Callaghan |
|
Court |
Ian Barker |
|
|
Mark Stewart |
|
|
Phil Walker |
|
|
Paul Cruickshank |
|
|
Orchestra
|
|
Violins |
Loretta Meagher (leader)
Anne Beruldsen |
|
Viola: |
Jenny Stokes |
|
Cello |
Debbie McCleod |
|
Bass |
Stuart West |
|
Flute |
Vivienne Tate
Tanya Chaves (+piccolo) |
|
Clarinet |
Martin West or
Naomi Absalom |
|
Bassoon |
Jessica Earle |
|
Trumpet |
From:
David Hurst
Madi Foley
and
Chris Eury |
|
French Horn |
Barbara Livett |
|
Trombone |
Steven Jones or
Darcie Foley |
|
Percussion |
Keith Morgan |
|
|
|
|
Rehearsal Pianists |
Tanya Chaves
Jessica Earle
Jack Earle |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
