Leeds Grand – until Saturday 4 November 2023
4****
The King and I waltzes into Leeds as part of the UK tour. Directed by Bartlett Sher, this Lincoln Centre Theatre production was shown at the London Palladium in 2018.
Annalene Beechey and Darren Lee lead a huge cast as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Widowed Anna was employed to teach the royal children and many wives. Accompanied by her son Louis (Josh Bortoloso, Fin Goodman, Louis Levy and Charlie McGuire sharing the role), they pack up all their belongings and sail to Siam to work for £20 a month and live in a house adjacent to the palace. When they arrive, they are met by Kralahome (Kok-Hwa Lie), the Prime Minister who is initially hostile to Anna and her son. He says there is no house and she must reside in the palace. After a month, she finally gets to meet the King, Lady Thiang (Cezarah Bonner) the chief wife and the favoured wives and royal children (William Alsina, Alexander Chin, Cody Concha, James Javier, Alanha 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, Phoebe Zhao-Welsh) and Crown Prince Chulalongkorn (Caleb Lagayan). She also meets Tuptim (Marienella Phillips), who was sent as a gift to the King from the King of Burma and Lun Tha (Dean John-Wilson) her lover.
The show starts with the entrance of a magnificent boat sailing into Siam, but the scenic budget clearly all went on the boat, as the rest of Michael Yeargans set consists of a back wall and drop down columns. Catherine Zuber designed some magnificent costumes and some of Anna’s dresses needed an acting credit of their own. The live orchestra led by Christoper Mundy excelled with Rogers and Hammersteins songs and the audience appreciated Beecheys clear and exquisite vocals in “Whistle a Happy Tune”, “Hello, Young Lovers”, “Getting to Know You” and “Shall we Dance?” with an enthusiastic Lee. Phillips and John-Wilson shone during their duets, John-Wilson particularly having a stunning voice.
For all the fabulousness, the show is incredibly long and full of dubious politics. The Small House of Uncle Tom ballet staged for SIr Edward Ramsay (Sam Jenkins-Shaw) just extends an already epic production. However Christopher Gattelli and Jerome Robbins have choreographed beautifully.
This is a monumental show in all respects. Outstanding singing and acting but I’m not sure it performs well in this day and age. However, if you can gloss over the niggles and doubts and length; to just appreciate the performance, then you will have, in the words of Lady Thiang, “Something Wonderful”