KING AND I, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Birmingham and touring
Birmingham then tour
KING AND I: Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Alexandra Birmingham
Runs: 2h 50m, one interval, till 18 January and touring
Tkts: 0870 607 7533
Review: Rod Dungate, 7 December 2001
Strong book, songs marvellously fresh in context, a revival that deserves its warm reception.
This tour has all the immediate appeal the show has always had: it deserves every bit of the warm response it gets. And to what does it owe its lasting appeal? More than to its feel-good-factor, it owes it to the strength of its main character Anna, the 'I' in the title. For here's a widowed Victorian woman who, to earn a living, takes herself off to Siam to teach the royal children and sets about trying to improve the lots of anyone who doesn't happen to be the King.
R & H did a superb job in translating the book to the stage and avoiding embarrassing imperialist overtones: while, today we may feel some embarrassment that Anna teaches people how to bow and curtsey we must still agree it's a great improvement on grovelling on the ground which is what they were all previously forced to do.
R & H also created a strong play, it so happens that some of it's sung the very best kind of musical. For this Marti Webb is marvellously suited to the main role. Her voice is free from sugary affectation and has an easy naturalness that enables her to move seamlessly from spoken to sung words. We may know these songs backwards, but there's nothing like hearing/seeing them in context. GETTING TO KNOW YOU ceases to be just a pretty (rather sentimental) song and in Webb's warm and honest performance, becomes a thought from someone whose life really has been changed by getting to know people from another culture. (There are a few world leaders who could learn a lesson or two from this!) With some lovely witty acting by the children the song is a key moment of the evening.
Ronobir Lahiri is a fine figure of a King. A handsome man he actually looks a bit of a bruiser too. Lahiri, chest pushed forward head thrust back, dons his dignity in a way that's just slightly comic he truly is both King and little boy (the description Anna herself gives of him.) He's good casting with Webb and their famous second half duet (SHALL WE DANCE?) has real electricity I wanted it to go on.
In the smaller role of Lady Thiang (Wife No 1), Gina Respall makes her presence felt in SOMETHING WONDERFUL her voice is dark and thrilling.
The production is beautiful to look at and nowhere more beautiful than in the second act ballet 'Small House of Uncle Thomas'. Designs by Brian Thomson, costumes by Roger Kirk, lovely choreography by Jerome Robbins, sometimes humorous this is a most gorgeous moment of Oriental story-telling.
Captain Orton: Christopher Wells
Louis Leonowens: Adam McCoy or Harry Blumenau
Anna Leonowens: Marti Webb
The Interpreter: Samart Santhaveesuk
The Kralahome: Madhav Sharma
The King: Ronobir Lahiri
Lun Tha: Jo-Jo de la Cerna
Tuptim: Aura Deva
Lady Thiang: Gina Respall
Prince Chulalongkorn: Daniel Jenkinson or Stefan Ruiz
Sir Edward Ramsey: Michael Fenner
Royal Wives, Slaves, Courtiers, Guards, Monks, English Guests, Market People: Cezarah Bonner, Hsin-Ping Chang, Li-Tong Hsu, Shu-Ping Hsu, Hye Won Hwang, Ae Soon Kim, Ben Key, Benjamin Loh, Ming Low, Antoni Luke, Alan Mosley, Sani Mulliaumasealpi, Azumi Ono, Stephanie Reese, Caroline Rovina, Samart Santhaveesuk, Miwa Saiek, Moon Suk, Unku
Royal Children: Joe Arden, Charlie Beenham, Gabriella Benali, Arif Khan, Nilissa Petfield, Eddie Arden, Billy Beenham, Panny Frost, Danny Hoang, Carmen Loke, Jesse Milligan, Krystal Lau, Allan Cork, Gibbrix del Mundo
2002-12-07 17:10:09