The King and I

Infobox Musical
name= The King and I


caption= Poster for the original Broadway production
music= Richard Rodgers
lyrics= Oscar Hammerstein II
book= Oscar Hammerstein II
basis= Novel by Margaret Landon
"Anna and the King of Siam"
productions= 1951 Broadway
1953 West End
1956 Film
1977 Broadway revival
1979 West End revival
1985 Broadway revival
1996 Broadway revival
1999 Animated film
2000 West End revival

awards= 1952 Tony Award for Best Musical
1996 Tony Award for Best Revival

"The King and I" is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Its script is based on the book "Anna and the King of Siam" by Margaret Landon. The plot comes from the story written by Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Leonowens' story, "The English Governess at the Siamese Court," was autobiographical, although its objective accuracy is questionable; in Thailand, the possession of anything related to "Anna and the King of Siam" or "The King and I" is illegal, because of the historical inaccuracies about the King of Siam. [ [http://wikitravel.org/en/Thailand#Other Thailand travel guide] from Wikitravel]

The musical opened on Broadway in 1951 and was the sixth collaboration for the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It ran for 1,246 performances, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical, among other awards. It spawned numerous revivals and a popular 1956 film version.

Plot

Act One

Mrs. Anna Leonowens, a widow from Wales, arrives in Bangkok, Siam with her young son Louis to teach English to the children of the royal household. Though both are nervous, Anna teaches Louis to whistle a happy tune so they do not look or feel afraid ("I Whistle a Happy Tune"). The Kralahome of Siam (a sort of Prime Minister) greets Anna and tells Anna she will live in the palace. Anna asserts that her contract requires that she be given her own house. She agrees to live in the palace until she can speak to the King himself about her house.

Lun Tha, an emissary from Burma, brings the King of Siam a gift from the Prince of Burma. The gift is a beautiful young woman named Tuptim. Lun Tha and Tuptim had fallen in love during their journey to Siam, unbeknownst to the King. Tuptim reflects that though the King sees her as a slave loyal only to him, she secretly loves Lun Tha ("My Lord and Master").

The Kralahome introduces Anna to the King, who ignores Anna's questions about her house and instead emphasizes the importance of bringing Western culture to Siam. Lady Thiang, the King's head wife, explains to Anna that in Siam, and especially in the palace, the King cannot be questioned. Though Tuptim is heartbroken by her separation from Lun Tha, Lady Thiang maintains that she should be happy because she is in the King's palace. Anna remembers Tom, her husband, and wishes that all young lovers could be as happy as they were ("Hello, Young Lovers"). Since Tuptim, unlike most slaves, can read English, Anna lets her borrow some of her books, including Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The King introduces Anna to his many children she will teach ("March of the Siamese Children"). Anna teaches them English songs ("Home Sweet Home") and proverbs involving the theme of "home", subtly remiding the King of her request for a house of her own. The King also very much wishes to absorb western knowledge, but is sometimes conflicted over how to reconcile western ways with his own. He declares it is "A Puzzlement" trying to determine what is right and good.

Anna and the King's children become friends ("The Royal Bangkok Academy"/"Getting to Know You"). Anna replaces the abstract, inaccurate classroom map with a new world map. The children admire the beautiful map but are angered by how small Siam is compared to the rest of the world. Anna tries to explain snow and ice, and the children insist such a thing cannot exist. The King sternly tells the children that they must listen to Anna and believe what she tells them. Anna again asks for a house and the King refuses.

Anna has been helping Lun Tha and Tuptim meet secretly ("We Kiss in a Shadow"). Alone, Anna angrily declares that she will leave Bangkok since the King is stubborn and proud and refuses to honor their contract ("Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?"). Lady Thiang urges Anna to stay, explaining that the King needs her help and advice but is too proud to ask. A British letter describing him as a barbarian and urging the annexation of Siam as a protectorate has been discovered. Lady Thiang tells Anna that the King has many ideas and dreams for Siam but needs support from both of them ("Something Wonderful").

Anna helps the King plan a dinner, a ball, and a theatrical production for the visit of Sir Edward Ramsay, a British diplomat. The King and the court pray to Buddha for help in impressing the British, and the King mentions in the prayer that he will build Anna the house she has requested.

Act Two

The King's wives are perplexed by the new hoopskirts they must wear to the dinner ("Western People Funny"). Ramsay arrives and the King soon realizes that he and Anna are old friends. The King is jealous and escorts Anna to dinner himself.

Tuptim and Lun Tha plan to meet during the party, but Lady Thiang warns Tuptim not to go. Tuptim ignores her warning and she and Lun Tha plan to leave Siam together ("I Have Dreamed"). Tuptim will leave the palace after presenting the theatrical entertainment for the party. She will join Lun Tha on his ship back to Burma. They tell Anna their plan and she approves it, remembering her love for Tom.

The theatrical entertainment is an elaborately choreographed Siamese version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", written and narrated by Tuptim ("The Small House of Uncle Thomas"). The story concerns the slave Eliza's escape from wicked Simon Legree. The King does not approve of the moral of the play, but Sir Edward is impressed by the entire evening and certainly believes that the King is not a barbarian.

To thank Anna for her help, the King presents her with one of his rings as a gift. The King receives word that Tuptim is missing. He presumes she has hidden from him because she knows he disapproved of her play. Anna tries to convince the King that he should be more lenient with Tuptim; she is only one woman among the many women in his household. The King recites a Siamese proverb comparing women to flowers and men to bees; the bee flies from blossom to blossom, but the flowers must remain constant ("Song of the King"). Anna tells the King that the English feel quite differently about romance; she tries to describe the feelings of a young girl at her first dance, waiting to be asked for the first time to dance ("Shall We Dance"). Carried along by her memories, she dances a little but stops when she realizes the King is watching her. The King asks her to teach him to dance like the English do. Anna begins teaching a polka, holding his hands with arms outstreached. The King learns quickly and dances happily until he realizes that they are not dancing as the English people did at the ball. He insists on dancing as a couple and puts his arm around her waist as they dance again.

The Kralahome interrupts, announcing that Tuptim has been found trying to escape with her lover. Lun Tha is dead and Tuptim wishes to die too. Anna urges the King not to beat the girl; he states he will do so anyway. Anna accuses him of being incapable of love. The King finds himself unable to whip Tuptim (presumably due to Anna's influence on him) and storms out. The Kralahome angrily accuses Anna of destroying the King with Western ideas; he declares it would have been better if she had never come to Bangkok. Anna gives the Kralahome the ring given to her by the King and asks him to return it to him. She will leave Bangkok by the next boat.

As Anna is preparing to leave, Lady Thiang brings her a letter from the King explaining that he is dying. In the letter, the King tells how he has tried to improve Siam through good Western ideas, admits his failings, and thanks Anna for her help. Anna goes to him, and the children are called in to see their father for the last time. The children beg Anna not to leave, and Prince Chulalongkorn, who will be the next king, asks for Anna's help. Anna declares she will stay. The King urges his son to assert his leadership, and he declares that from now on, no one will bow face down to the King. They must stand proudly and bow only like the English do. As he issues this edict to the royal court, the old King dies and Anna takes his hand and kisses it.

Music

;Act I
* Overture -- Orchestra
* I Whistle a Happy Tune -- Anna and Louis
* My Lord and Master -- Tuptim
* Hello, Young Lovers -- Anna
* The March of the Siamese Children -- Orchestra
* Scene Before Curtain (Home Sweet Home) -- Priests and Children
* A Puzzlement -- King
* The Royal Bangkok Academy -- Anna, Wives, and Children
* Getting to Know You -- Anna, Wives, and Children
* We Kiss in a Shadow -- Tuptim and Lun Tha
* A Puzzlement (Reprise) -- Louis and Prince Chululongkorn
* Shall I Tell You What I Think of You? -- Anna
* Something Wonderful -- Lady Thiang
* Something Wonderful (Reprise) -- Lady Thiang
* Finale, Act I -- King, entire palace;Act II
* Entr'acte -- Orchestra
* Western People Funny -- Lady Thiang and Wives
* I Have Dreamed -- Tuptim and Lun Tha
* Hello, Young Lovers (Reprise) -- Anna
* The Small House of Uncle Thomas (Ballet) -- Tuptim and Wives
* Song of the King -- King
* Shall We Dance? -- Anna and King
* I Whistle a Happy Tune (Reprise) -- Anna

Musical Analysis

The best-known songs from the musical are probably "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Getting to Know You," "Hello, Young Lovers," and "Shall We Dance?" The most colorful number in the musical, visually (to Western audiences), is the ballet "Small House of Uncle Thomas," choreographed by Jerome Robbins.

Rodgers and Hammerstein knew they were writing for stars — Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner, the original Broadway leads — who were primarily actors rather than singers. Therefore, they reserved the sweeping, more challenging melodies for the characters of Tuptim and Lun Tha and kept the songs sung by the other leads simple.

Mary Martin, who had starred in "South Pacific" by Rodgers and Hammerstein a few years previously, was an investor in "The King and I". When Gertrude Lawrence wanted to have a song with the children, Martin suggested that Rodgers and Hammerstein write new lyrics for "Suddenly Lovely," which had been cut out from "South Pacific". The song then became "Getting to Know You." ["Playbill" [http://www.playbill.com/features/article/64181.html Happy Talk] 18 Dec 1995 ]

Productions

Original Broadway 1951 The musical opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 29 1951 and starred Gertrude Lawrence as Anna, and a then mostly unknown Yul Brynner as the King. The production was directed by John Van Druten, choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with scenic and lighting design by Jo Mielziner, and costumes designed by Irene Sharaff.

It ran for 1,246 performances and won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor (for Brynner, who was billed below the title and therefore considered featured instead of lead), Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design. Lawrence died the year after "The King and I" opened on Broadway. She was 54 years old.

London debut 1953

The musical opened at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on October 8 1953, and starred Valerie Hobson as Anna and Herbert Lom as the King. Muriel Smith portrayed Lady Thiang. The show ran for 926 performances. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/paige/essentialvote.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/paige/essentialvote.shtml] ]

1960 Broadway revival

City Center produced a revival of "The King and I" with Barbara Cook as Anna and Farley Granger as the King. It played for a short run of 23 performances.

1964 Cleveland Pops Orchestra cast

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra under Lehman Engel performed a concert version and made a studio recording of "The King and I" with Barbara Cook as Anna, Theodore Bikel as the King, Jeanette Scovotti as Tuptim, Daniel Ferro as Lun Tha, and Anita Darian as Lady Thiang.

1977 Broadway revival

Brynner reprised the role twice on Broadway in 1977 and 1985 and played it over 4,000 times in the course of his life. He often stated he was far too young for the part when he originated it and felt more comfortable as the King in later years.

The 1977 production opened at the Uris Theatre, (now the George Gershwin Theatre) on May 2, 1977 with, in addition to Brynner, Constance Towers as Anna Leonowens, June Angela as Tuptim and Martin Vidnovic as Lun Tha. It was directed by Yuriko. Angela Lansbury took over the role of Anna later in the run. The revival ran for 695 performances.

1979 London revival

In 1979 a new production opened at the London Palladium with Brynner recreating his most famous role, co-starring with Virginia McKenna and John Bennett.

1983 Los Angeles tour

Brynner reprised the role for a 6-week period beginning in August 1983, at the Pantages Theater In Los Angeles, where he had earlier played the role in 1954. [ [http://www.broadwayla.org/info/civic.light.asp] ,] [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/668774632.html?dids=668774632:668774632&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+22%2C+1983&author=SYLVIE+DRAKE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc='KING'+YUL+BRYNNER+STILL+RULING+WITH+IRON+HAND&pqatl=google] ,]

1985 Broadway revival

The 1985 revival opened at The Broadway Theatre on January 7 1985 with Brynner, and Mary Beth Peil as Anna. The production was directed by Mitch Leigh. This revival was nominated for two Tony awards. Yul Brynner received a Tony Special Award "honoring his 4,525 performances in "The King and I". It ran for 191 performances.

1992 Hollywood Studio Cast

In 1992 the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, under the baton and direction of John Mauceri, recorded "The King and I". The cast included Julie Andrews as Anna, Ben Kingsley as the king, Lea Salonga as Tuptim, Peabo Bryson as Lun-Tha, and Marilyn Horne as Lady Thiang. 1996 Broadway revival

Another Broadway revival opened on April 11 1996 at the Neil Simon Theatre, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as King Mongkut in his Broadway debut and Donna Murphy as Anna Leonowens. The secondary parts were cast as follows: Lun Tha was played by Jose Llana, Tuptim by Joohee Choi, and Lady Thiang by Taewon Kim. The production ran for 780 performances and closed February 22 1998. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won four, including the awards for Best Musical (Revival) and Best Actress in a Musical.

A production based on the 1996 Broadway revival opened May 3, 2000, at the London Palladium. It starred Elaine Paige as Anna and Jason Scott Lee and Paul Nakauchi as the King.

In 2005 the musical was rated fourth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of "The Nation's Number One Essential Musicals" (wherein "Nation" refers to the United Kingdom).

2007 Asia tour

The musical made its Asia premiere in Shenzhen, China, on April 25, 2007. The tour continued to Hangzhou, China, as well as to Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The production starred Paul Nakauchi, formerly of the 2000 London revival production, as the King and Brianna Borger as Anna. .

Film and television versions

1956 film versionThe musical was filmed in 1956 with Brynner re-creating his role opposite Deborah Kerr. The film won 5 Academy Awards and was nominated for four more. Brynner won an Oscar as Best Actor for his portrayal, and Kerr was nominated as Best Actress. The film also won for best music.

1999 Animated version
RichCrest Animation Studios released a new, animated adaptation of the musical in 1999. However, except for using some of the songs, the story was unrelated to the Rodgers and Hammerstein version.

Other film and television versions

A short-lived television series entitled "Anna and the King" was created in 1972, giving credit to Margaret Landon for the creation. Yul Brynner reprised his role in the series as the King while Samantha Eggar played Anna Leonowens.

There are two non-musical films based upon the Anna Leonowens story. In 1946, Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne starred in the film "Anna and the King of Siam". In 1999, 20th Century Fox released another film entitled "Anna and the King". This version starred Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat.

Reaction in Thailand

Most Thai were shocked by the portrayal of their revered nineteenth-century king, Mongkut, in the musical "The King and I". The stage and screen versions were based on Margaret Landon's 1944 book entitled "Anna and the King of Siam". To correct the record, well-known Thai intellectuals Seni and Kukrit Pramoj wrote the account "The King of Siam speaks" in 1948. The Pramoj brothers sent their manuscript to the American politician and diplomat Abbot Low Moffat, [http://library.albany.edu/speccoll/findaids/apap063.htm#history Finding Aid for the Abbot Low Moffat papers, 1929-1943 (APAP-063)] . Bonita L. Weddle, compiler, January 31, 2000. M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York.] who drew on it for his biography entitled "Mongkut the King of Siam" (1961). Moffat donated the Pramoj manuscript to the U.S. Library of Congress in 1961. [http://www.loc.gov/rr/asian/guide/guide-southeast.html Southeast Asian Collection, Asian Division, Library of Congress] ]

References

External links

*ibdb title|1935|The King and I 1957
*ibdb show|5067|The King and I productions
* [http://www.rnh.com/show_detail.asp?id=KI&s=1 "The King and I" on R&H Theatricals site]
*imdb title|68039|Anna and the King (TV Series; 1972)