By Sabrina Fancy
The new Rogers and Hammerstein Broadway smash hit musical The King and I comes to London’s West end June 21st for a 14 week run before touring Asia.
This 4 time Tony award winning show stars the queen of musicals Kelli O’Hara, who won a Tony award for her portrayal of Anna. The Oscar and Tony nominated Ken Watanabe reprises his role as the King of Siam.
This classical musical tale is set in the 1860’s Bangkok, follows the King of Siam who wants to change how he is perceived by the world. He hires Anna, a refined Welch widow to educate his royal children and many wives in the ways of the west. The King and I, follows a culture moving into modernity and change, which threatens the kingdom along with the tempestuous relationship that develops between the King and Anna. The secondary plot is a budding love story.
I was able to attend an informal rehearsal where I was treated to some of the musical performances with the cast, included ‘Getting to know you’, ‘I have dreamed’ and ‘Shall we dance.’ I was blown away and am looking forward to seeing the King and I at the London Palladium which is looking to be quite possibly the musical of the year!