The multi award-winning Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I returns to the UK, following its critically-acclaimed sold out season at The London Palladium.
Why go and see it? Winner of 4 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Revival, The King and I has been thrilling theatre audiences for decades
Starring the West End’s Annalene Beechey and Broadway’s Brian Rivera, The King and I is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals – with one of the finest scores ever written including Whistle a Happy Tune and Shall We Dance.
This gloriously lavish production is brought to the stage by an internationally renowned creative team under Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific / My Fair Lady / To Kill a Mockingbird) and will feature a world-class company of over 50 West End and Broadway performers and a full-scale orchestra.
Where?
Edinburgh Playhouse until 16th September - Part of UK Tour
MIX UP REVIEWS:
Stewart - ★★★★
"This production is a tremendous feast for the eyes, the stunning costume designs by Catherine Zuber deserve their own showcase, they are absolutely outstanding and I found myself quite often totally entranced by them. The staging is immaculately put together, grand and epic and this is the show deserving of such high standards.
For those not in the know this classic musical follows an English teacher and her son travelling to Siam to work for the King and teach his family the language. Her modern take on the world conflicts at first with the King before a friendship is formed.
The musical itself is old school stuff and most famously brought on screen in 1946 with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner. Its not exactly 'my cup of tea' to be honest, perhaps a little too saccharine in places and the epic length is felt but if this is your bag then this outstanding production will blow you away.
The music is fantastic, the staging is immaculate and performances all around are exceptional. Our two leads are fantastic, Brian Rivera as a likeable King and Annalene Beechey finding lots of unexpected humour as our heroine Anna. Supporting cast all fantastic with Sam Yo making a strong appearance as the king's advisor Kralahome and Caleb Lagayan giving a memorable performance as the Prince who travels his own unexpected journey within the show. Meanwhile the kids are all fantastic (lots of 'awwws' from the audience) with Fin Goodman as Anna's son leading the quality of the work.
Have to give a shout out also to my favourite part of the show The Small House of Uncle Thomas ballet which is performed to the King's guest in the second half. It's wonderful!
All in all a great production that whilst catering to the older crowd will likely pick up a lot of new fans along the way as it travels around the UK. Go see it, you never know, it might precisely be your cup of tea!"
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