Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The closing Broadway series musical of Hanover Theatre’s ninth season is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, “The King & I”, one of the duos best work. This version won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 2015. They based this musical on the true story of English school teacher, Anna Leonowens and the seven years she spent in Siam. This story is as fresh and meaningful as it was in her autobiography called “Anna and the King of Siam” which was turned into a movie under the same title. Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the modernistic King sends for the schoolteacher to tutor his many children and wives in the chauvinistic culture of the Eastern world. Two worlds collide in this exquisite and breathtaking musical and is told against the backdrop of the Orient. It also makes a strong statement about a woman’s place in the male dominated society of the 1860’s and by using the example of star crossed lovers, it shows the evilness of slavery. College of Holy Cross graduate Bartlet Sher returns in triumph to Worcester with the musical hit that he directed on Broadway to entrance audiences at the historic Hanover Theatre. He brings this meaningful musical masterpiece to life winning it and his multitalented cast a resounding and well deserved standing ovation as its reward.
From the lavish sets and gorgeous costumes, this musical delivers the goods to the audience from start to finish. Bartlet’s brilliant blocking of each scene and his eliciting marvelous performances from his cast are evident all night long. He mixes the comic and dramatic moments together splendidly and creates many picture postcard moments along the way. The glorious musical hits found in this show soar with power and punch, too. The choreography of Christopher Gattelli based on Jerome Robbins original choreography from 1951 is absolutely breathtaking especially the Small House of Uncle Thomas ballet. The 15 piece orchestra is also sensational!
Leading this cast is Elena Shaddow as Anna. She captures the hearts of the audience the moment she sets foot onstage. From her marvelous British accent to her glorious singing voice to her unbelievable acting prowess, Elena makes you laugh and cry at all the right moments. Her songs include “Whistle a Happy Tune” to help bolster her son, Louis’ courage in a strange new land, “Hello Young Lovers” which is a poignant song about her late husband, Tom and “Getting to Know You” which she sings with the wives and children while doing a fan dance near the end of it. Her comic songs include “Shall I Tell You What I Think of You” which is a comic gem of a number with her flailing about the stage while dressed in a petticoat to berate the King on his boorish behavior and “Shall We Dance” which is a powerful and fun number where she teaches the King how to dance the polka. The comic closing of Act 1 where she must keep her head below the King’s is hilarious. Elena’s dramatic standout moments include her argument in the schoolroom with the King, her berating him on his treatment of Tuptim in the whipping scene and the heart wrenching scenes leading up to the death of the King in both the letter reading scene and the children’s final visit with their father. Jose Llana is also outstanding as the King. He rules his kingdom with an iron fist until he comes into contact with this feisty British schoolteacher. He adds some human elements to this usually hard and unbending role and has many comical moments along the way. Jose’s songs include “A Puzzlement” where even a King needs to question himself every now and then as well as “Shall We Dance”, the exuberant dance number with Elena that stops the show with applause. Jose delivers the comic lines perfectly especially in the Moses sequence and how men and women interact in the orient. His dramatic moments are stunning especially the whipping scene which builds in intensity until he breaks down and Jose tugs on your heartstrings in his death scene which is magnificent with the right amount of poignancy to it. Bravo to both leading players.
Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang has a gorgeous voice. Her majestic delivery of “Something Wonderful” sends chills up your spine as she convinces Anna to counsel the King. As the head wife she persuades Anna to do so and also has the backbone to convince Anna to remain in Siam as well as the compassion to comfort her son before his father’s death. She also berates Tuptim on her secret meetings with Lun Tha and after the ballet performance. Joan also sings the comic “Western People Funny” about the difficulties of wearing Western hoop skirts by Oriental women. The two young lovers, Tuptim and Lun Tha are played by Q Lim and Kavin Panmeechao who act beautifully in their roles. Q gives Tuptim, the strength she needs to live in a foreign country as a worthless slave and concubine. Her character writes a story about the evils of slavery in America and adapts it to her situation in Siam. Q sings of her contempt for the King in “My Lord and Master” and narrates the ballet scene excellently, leading the others to glare at her contemptuously when she verbally attacks the King. Three of the wives sing the ballet sequence. Q and Kavin have the two prettiest ballads in the show, “We Kiss in a Shadow”, l love the gliss at the end of the number which sends chills up your spine, and “I Have Dreamed” which are both about their unrequited love for each other. Kavin’s strong tenor voice helps sell both these numbers with their harmonic endings. The love match is doomed but both performers have the audience rooting for them to win against all odds.
Brian Rivera does a wonderful job as the menacing prime minister of Siam, the Kralahome. His fierce loyalty to the King comes through with the delivery of his lines especially when he berates Anna in the whipping scene. Brian’s transition in the last scene by evoking sympathy at the King’s death is well done, too. Charlie Oh, a graduate of Northwestern University plays Prince Chulalongkorn, the younger version of the King who has been influenced by his schoolteacher. He makes a marvelous entrance in the “March of the Siamese Children” with the others. Charlie’s interactions with his mother, Anna, the King and Louis are well done, too. He and Rhyees as Louis do a bang up job on “A Puzzlement” reprise where they wonder why adults act the improper way they do. 13 year old Rhyees Stump has a perfect British accent as Louis and sings wonderfully in the opening number with Anna as well as in “Getting to Know You.” He is very natural in this role and moves about the stage like a veteran performer. Rhyees has a bright future in show business. Kudos also to the unbelievable dancers in the ballet scene as well as the whole cast and crew on delivering a brilliant Broadway musical extravaganza to a very appreciative audience. So be sure to run to the box office to catch this magnificent musical masterpiece before time runs out. Tell them Tony sent you to the gorgeous Hanover Theatre in Worcester to catch “The King & I.”
THE KING & I (15 to 20 May)
Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge Road, Worcester, MA
1(877)571-SHOW or www.thehanovertheatre.org
