past productions | news articles - The King and I

THE KING AND I, KING'S THEATRE
The King and I started life as a stage play in New York in 1951, with Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner in the leading roles. It was transformed into a Hollywood blockbuster movie in 1956, by Twentieth Century Fox. Yul Brynner starred again, but with Deborah Kerr (who didn't do her own singing, but mimed to the unbilled Marni Nixon, trivia fans).

Since then, the show has become a big favourite with am-dram clubs, although nowadays it is a little dated, and undoubtedly politically uncorrect, to laugh at Oriental women being forced to abandon their dress and customs purely to impress visiting Europeans.

However, the show remains a popular choice with musical organisations, although the Glasgow Light Opera's production at the King's Theatre is the first time the club has done it in 92 years of existence!

At last night's opening performance, the cast looked as if they thoroughly enjoyed the chalenge of doing something different. Colorful sets, dozens of elegant dancers and a beautiful set of costumes provided a lavish background for a bittersweet tale.

The story is set in Bangkok, where Victorian teacher Anna Leonowens arrives at the Palace of Siam to teach Western manners and English to the King's many wives and children. Confronted with a society in which women are either slaves or concubines, and everyone has to kowtow to the King, Anna finds herself at odds with the stubborn royal leader but gradually begins to win him over.

Aileen Johnston has the fiesty, formidable governess down to a tee. And, unlike her movie counterpart, she sings all her own songs! J Campbell Kerr plays the King like the petulant brat that he is, and he and Johnston work well together, switching easily from comedy turns to more moving scenes.

Another first for the club is the number of children involved - and they all handle their roles with considerable grace and professionalism.

The King and I will be running until Saturday.

ANN FOTHERINGHAM