The King & I Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh 12th September 2023 Review
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I is at the Playhouse Theatre Edinburgh this week (Tue 12 - Sat 16 September) and this show is everything that classic musical theatre should be – classic songs, a talented cast, good stage sets and many people singing their favourite song on the way out of the theatre at the end of the evening.
Since its first stage production in 1951 starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner in the title roles of Anna and The King, this story, which is based on Margaret Landon's novel Anna and the King of Siam (1944), The King and I has in stage, film and television become loved by millions of people across the world for over 70 years. The novel itself was derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who in the early 1860s was governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam. There is no doubt that The King and I is a rather sugar-coated adaptation of the world that Anna Leonowens found herself in, and yes this is pretty much pure musical fantasy land, but we all seem to love this show even the more for this.
This production by The Lincoln Centre Theater, directed by multi award winning director Bartlett Sher, is a big budget show that as well as so much money obviously spent on costumes alone, also has the luxury of its own stage orchestra, and it is not often these days that a show like this gets taken on tour.
For many people, their “The King and I” is probably based on watching the classic 1956 film starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in the title roles of Anna and The King, but in this production Annalene Beechey is not only keeping that memory alive but bringing her very own and very distinctive “Anna” to the stage. This time too, all of those wonderful vocals on these now iconic songs belong to Annalene Beechey and not as in the film to Marni Nixon.
With Annalene we are given a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for her rights and voice her own opinion too, and this at times is in stark contrast to the often darker undertones of this story set in a Siam where people are often little more than slaves and women deemed to be of very little value as individual human beings. Wisely in this story, Rodgers and Hammerstein often tackled these darker subjects with humour and somehow that works far better here than a more direct approach as it often makes us realise just how ridiculous (even disturbingly dark) the King’s opinions can be at times.
Playing the King of Siam with the light comedy touch so needed for this role is Brian Rivera, and he makes a perfect King for Anna to constantly play against. Brian Rivera also has the performance skills required to give us a portrayal of a man now unsure of his place and position in the world as the world around him changes rapidly and more and more countries around his beloved Siam fall under either the influence or direct control of Western political powers. Watching the relationship between The King and Anna blossom into one of true friendship is also one of the many pleasures of this show.
There can be few stage shows where pretty much every song is known to an audience, but this is one of them. With songs like “I Whistle A Happy Tune”, “Hello Young Lovers”, “Getting to Know You” and of course “Shall We Dance” this is a show for the whole family that is simply loved by generation after generation of people. As you would expect, that classic waltz scene between The King and Anna is just a little slice of perfect theatre magic.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Since its first stage production in 1951 starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner in the title roles of Anna and The King, this story, which is based on Margaret Landon's novel Anna and the King of Siam (1944), The King and I has in stage, film and television become loved by millions of people across the world for over 70 years. The novel itself was derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who in the early 1860s was governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam. There is no doubt that The King and I is a rather sugar-coated adaptation of the world that Anna Leonowens found herself in, and yes this is pretty much pure musical fantasy land, but we all seem to love this show even the more for this.
This production by The Lincoln Centre Theater, directed by multi award winning director Bartlett Sher, is a big budget show that as well as so much money obviously spent on costumes alone, also has the luxury of its own stage orchestra, and it is not often these days that a show like this gets taken on tour.
For many people, their “The King and I” is probably based on watching the classic 1956 film starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in the title roles of Anna and The King, but in this production Annalene Beechey is not only keeping that memory alive but bringing her very own and very distinctive “Anna” to the stage. This time too, all of those wonderful vocals on these now iconic songs belong to Annalene Beechey and not as in the film to Marni Nixon.
With Annalene we are given a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to stand up for her rights and voice her own opinion too, and this at times is in stark contrast to the often darker undertones of this story set in a Siam where people are often little more than slaves and women deemed to be of very little value as individual human beings. Wisely in this story, Rodgers and Hammerstein often tackled these darker subjects with humour and somehow that works far better here than a more direct approach as it often makes us realise just how ridiculous (even disturbingly dark) the King’s opinions can be at times.
Playing the King of Siam with the light comedy touch so needed for this role is Brian Rivera, and he makes a perfect King for Anna to constantly play against. Brian Rivera also has the performance skills required to give us a portrayal of a man now unsure of his place and position in the world as the world around him changes rapidly and more and more countries around his beloved Siam fall under either the influence or direct control of Western political powers. Watching the relationship between The King and Anna blossom into one of true friendship is also one of the many pleasures of this show.
There can be few stage shows where pretty much every song is known to an audience, but this is one of them. With songs like “I Whistle A Happy Tune”, “Hello Young Lovers”, “Getting to Know You” and of course “Shall We Dance” this is a show for the whole family that is simply loved by generation after generation of people. As you would expect, that classic waltz scene between The King and Anna is just a little slice of perfect theatre magic.
Review by Tom King © 2023
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com