It’s only six months since the award winning musical THE KING AND I was on stage at the New Theatre in Cardiff and if last nights full theatre is anything to go by, it’s easy to see why this show has made a welcome return to the capital.
I also make no apologies for this review including many elements from our previous, especially as this is the same London Palladium production, with just a few small changes.
This is one of those shows where you feel you’re about to witness something incredibly special, long before you take your seat in the auditorium. You not only expect perfection but that’s exactly what we were served up last night with a mix of fine acting, impressive singing and a staging which is regal and opulent in every sense.
Any production that begins with the raising of a golden curtain is definitely special in my book.
First of all, here’s what the last nights audience thought of the show……..
This romantic production has all the lavish pleasures of the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. But banish any comparisons to the movie. The story and songs remain the same. The design and costumes are as splendid as any stage production has ever been. But with all that, the show somehow feels fresh, incredibly relevant, but always familiar.
The King and I is based on the true story of British Governess, Anna Leonowens, played by ANNALENE BEECHEY, who is hired by the King of Siam (DARREN LEE) to educate his many children and wives. The relationship between Anna and the King is a difficult one, he is incredibly stubborn and Anna equally so. But over time they reach a kind-of understanding and appreciation of their differences in both status and culture.
The story is set in the 1860s, a different and perhaps not currently acceptable time in history. Although the show does touch on this, its main focus is the relationship between our two main characters. Anna, attempting to introduce progressiveness into the court, while the King resists and scowls his way through resistance.
Okay, this is a review and not a history lesson, but context is important for a show like this. Annalene has come back into this production after a hugely successful run at the London Palladium. Her stage presence is fantastic and she is every bit an Anna as you would hope for. You can listen to our interview with Annalene HERE.
If ever there was a show which personified musical theatre it would undoubtedly be THE KING AND I. Often hailed as “the theatrical event of the year”, the multi-award-winning and critically acclaimed Lincoln Center Theatre production is out on tour direct from its record-breaking sold-out season at The London Palladium and it’s in Cardiff right now, still packing in the crowds on its almost sold out run.
It’s fair to call it the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals – with one of the finest scores ever written including; Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance, and featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers and a full-scale orchestra. This is a huge production.
Anna is very much an English lady, intelligent, determined and passionate abut the job in hand. Anna brought all those qualities to the role with great humour which carried the show along.
As for Darren – brilliant, simple as that. For those of us who remember the Yul Brynner days of the King, we have preconceived ideas of how he should be played. Darren keeps all the elements which made Yul great but portrays the King like I’ve never seen before.
You’re a little uncertain if the King is the good or bad guy, with Darren however, his portrayal is all good, better than good in fact. He’s regal and imposing, as a King should be, but also incredibly cheeky and funny. You can watch our interview with Darren HERE.
As we said this is a big show and the main stars are supported by a superb cast, who are equally powerful. MARIENELLA PHILLIPS plays Tuptim and has an incredible voice which we get to hear in an early solo. DEAN JOHN-WILSON is always a favourite to see on stage as Lun Tha and KOK-HWA LIE adds the perfect amount of menace as Kralahoime.
If you did see this production on its last visit, there are quite a few returning faces, and all excellent in their roles. CEZARAH BONNER returns as Lady Thiang, the King’s head wife. CALEB LAGAYAN (Les Misérables) is Prince Chulalongkorn, SAM JENKINS-SHAW (The Night Watch/Jane Eyre) takes the role of Captain Orton/Sir Edward Ramsay and MARIA COYNE (Phantom of the Opera/Wicked) will be the Alternate Anna.
Of course, the show is filled with plenty of the ‘Ahh Factor‘ with the children. Who you see on stage could well differ from last night’s performance. To see the full cast listing, go HERE, or head to the bottom of this review. Needless to say, they were all excellent and not at all intimidated by the size of this production.
There is nothing to dislike about this production and everything to love. I was trying to find one word to sum it up and the most appropriate has to be elegant. THE KING AND I is performed perfectly. Beautifully staged and designed. The orchestration is immense and the whole feel of this production is opulent.
There’s no getting away from the fact you will spend a long time in the New Theatre – three hours in fact from start to finish, but as a few members of the audience members told us both this and last time, they’d be happy for it to go on for a few hours more.
THE KING AND I really is one of those must-see productions, and with a staging on this scale a visit to the New Theatre in Cardiff should be on your radar. The show runs through to Saturday 25th November. It’s on stage at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tickets range from £26 to £54 with a variety of prices and concessions in between. I can tell you that some of the performances are selling really quickly. You can find out more, and get your tickets HERE.
The rest of the cast includes Cezarah Bonner who returns as Lady Thiang, the King’s head wife, Caleb Lagayan is Prince Chulalongkorn, Sam Jenkins-Shaw takes the role of Captain Orton/Sir Edward Ramsay.
We said this is a massive production so let’s give mention to the ensemble which includes Chi Chan, Jeffrey Chekai, Emily Grace-Ling, Cher Nicolette Ho, Rachel Wang-Hei Lau, Daniel Len, Candy Ma, Rachel MacDougall, Amelia Kinu Muus, Yuki Ozeki, Prem Rai, Ria Tanaka, Hiromi Toyooka, Jasmine Triadi, Jensen Tudtud, Qinwen Xue and Jason Yang-Westland. Swings include, Emmanuel Duarte, Samuel How and Rachel Picar. Josh Bortoloso, Fin Goodman, Louis Levy and Charlie McGuire will play Louis, Anna’s son. William Alsina, Alexander Chin, Cody Concha, Joshua Fairbrother, Alana Baharil Koppen, Kanaho Kurihara, Sanna Kurihara, Caitlin Lau, Ruby-Mae Lewis, Khun Cho Lwin, Grace Mugridge, Angelica Quynh An Nguyen, Sabri Leonel Puci, Myles Tullett and Phoebe Zhao-Welsh will play the Royal children.
