Past Productions -
The King and I
Music by
RICHARD ROGERS Book & Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Based on the
novel entitled ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ by Margaret
Landon
This amateur
production is given by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBERGER
LTD.
on behalf of THE ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN THEATRE LIBRARY of NEW
YORK.
The Hitchin
Thespians are pleased to announce their production of The
King and was performed at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Lytton
Way, Stevenage from 5-10 March 2001.
Produced by
Jim Snell, assisted by Mollie Gilbert. Musical Direction by
Roger Heath.
SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
The musical
opens on a sailing vessel carrying a widow, Mrs Anna
Leonowens and her son Louis towards Bangkok. The time is the
early 1860’s. Anna, who has been appointed governess to the
children of the King of Siam, is greeted by the Prime
Minister. He has been assigned to show Anna to her rooms in
the Palace. Anna is not pleased: she had been promised a
monthly salary and a house of her own; but she agrees to go
to the Palace to speak with the King.
A courtier,
Lun Tha arrives from Burma with Tuptim, a present to the
King. Sadly Lun Tha and Tuptim have fallen in love, but
cannot be together. Anna is introduced to the King who
dismisses her request for a house. Lady Thiang, the head
wife, tries to explain the situation to Anna, but she has
already formed her own opinion of the King's manner.
When the
children are introduced to Anna, her apprehensions are
quelled as she falls in love with them. She begins teaching,
enjoying the new challenges, but meets difficulties
explaining snow to children who have never seen it, and
explaining Burma's presence on the World Map. The King is
supportive and secretly seeking to learn all he can himself,
but angers Anna with his constant dismissal of any promise
of a house.
Lun Tha and
Tuptim continue to meet secretly, chaperoned by Anna.
Lady Thiang
begs Anna to go to the King who, having received a letter
from the British suggesting he is a barbarian, is in need of
advice but too proud to ask for it. Anna goes to the King
and plans are made that a visit by the British diplomat Sir
Edward Ramsay will be an opportunity to put on a dinner,
ball and play to try to create a better impression. The Act
closes with the King ordering the court to pray for help in
their cause, and making a promise to Anna to give her the
house she has pestered him for.
ACT 2
The dinner is
a great success, despite the discomfort of the King during
Tuptim’s presentation of "The Small House of Uncle Thomas",
and Sir Edward leaves persuaded that the King and his regime
are not barbaric. The King is pleased with Anna and in their
growing friendship is enforced by the King’s insistence that
Anna teach him the "English dance".
The mood is
broken with the news that Tuptim and Lun Tha have vanished
together. On their discovery, Lun Tha is killed and Tuptim
returned to the Palace. The King is enraged and, about to
whip Tuptim, is reminded by Anna that the action is savage
and barbaric and that this is a trait he had strived so hard
to reject. The King turns away. Anna packs her bags, feeling
unable to stay she plans to embark the next boat leaving
Bangkok.
Then she
receives a note from the King, who is dying, expressing his
gratitude to her. Anna reaches the King just in time. He is
surrounded by his wives and children who beg her to stay.
Anna realises how much she loves then and they need her,
especially Prince Chulalongkorn, who will succeed his
father. She agrees to stay, whereupon the King dies.
MUSICAL
NUMBERS
Overture, "I
Whistle A Happy Tune", "My Lord And Master", "Hello, Young
Lovers", "The March Of The Siamese Children", "A
Puzzlement", "Getting To Know You", "We Kiss In A Shadow",
"Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?", "Something
Wonderful", "I Have Dreamed", "Shall We Dance?".
MAJOR
PROFESSIONAL RUNS & FILMS
The Broadway
opening was on March 29 1951 at the St.James Theatre. It ran
for 1246 performances. The cast included Gertrude Lawrence
(Anna), Yul Brynner (The King).
The London
opening on 8 October 1953 was at the Drury Lane Theatre.
Valerie Hobson took the role of Anna playing opposite
Herbert Lom as the King.
Further
productions opened in 1977 and 1985 on Broadway.
A major
Broadway revival was staged in 1996 with Lou Diamond
Phillips as the King. The London Revival opened on 3 May
2000 with Elaine Paige as Anna and Jason Scott Lee as the
King.
A film version
was produced in 1956 by Twentieth Century-Fox, starring
Deborah Kerr (singing dubbed by Marni Nixon) and Yul Brynner.
The King
and I has been highly acclaimed winning, amongst others,
4 Tony and 6 Academy Awards.
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