The King and I Milton Keynes Theatre Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Julie Hayward
The Orchestra began to play a medley of wonderful tunes, as a prelude to the curtains opening and the show beginning. We are transported to the port of Bangkok, back in time, to 1862 in Siam, where we meet our leading lady, Anna Leonowens, played by Annalene Beechey and her son Louis, played by Louis Levy. Anna, a widow, has taken a job at the palace to teach English to the many children and wives of the King of Siam, played by Darren Lee.
This Rogers and Hammerstein musical is based on the novel ‘Anna and the King of Siam’ by Margret Landon and later adapted into an award-winning film, The King and I, featuring the actors Yul Brenner and Deborah Kerr. It is the film that I am most familiar with, it was a firm family favourite. So, the well-known songs, such as ‘shall we dance’ and ‘Getting to Know You’ were full of romantic nostalgia.
The musical numbers were all performed brilliantly, Cezarah Bonner, who plays Lady Thiang, has such a powerful voice. All the cast gave a polished performance, the singing, dancing and acting was superb throughout. The costumes were authentic, and the style of the choreography is magical.
The first act, introducing the children is playful and sweet, you can see that they are enjoying being part of this production and they are confident in interacting with the adults. There is a wonderful tongue twisting song, that is individually performed by Anna and the King, and then repeated as a duet by their sons, who are trying to work out the feelings of their parents.
I was expecting more of a love story, there is a chemistry between the two leading actors, they clearly are fond of each other and while they hint at a possible romance, for me it never really got steamy enough, I felt she adored the children more. The hierarchy and misogyny of the time were explored well, and I think we can still relate to it in today’s world, that sadly often lacks equality.
The second act has the classic scene, of teaching the king to dance the Polka, … ‘And one, two, three. And one, two, three.’ They swirl together around the stage to a fabulous, orchestral accompaniment of ‘Shall we dance.’
There is a ‘show within a show’ which features Buddhist style ballet, this was a new experience for me, I was enchanted by the storytelling, both vocally and through dance. The story then takes a more dramatic twist, it is at times quite sinister, which is a credit to the quality of the actors.
Overall, this is a classic musical which I feel it has been a privilege to see, so if you are a fan of musical theatre, it should definitely be one to tick off your bucket list, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13 plus transaction fee of £3.80
The King and I is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 7th November to Saturday 11th November 2023
For more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes or call the box office on 0844 871 7615
Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, South East, MK9 3NZ
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-king-and-i/milton-keynes-theatre