The king and I

Every now and then we get a chance to revisit a genuine masterpiece of modern musical theatre. The King and I is among the small handfull of shows so flawlessly conceived that almost all you have to do is sing the songs and follow the script and the audiences are guaranteed a good time. The lush score, and an East-meets-West book that is both funny and surprisingly moving, can seemingly work anywhere at anytime. There is a suggestion of hearing Rodgers' incomparable melodies, and the vibrant reminder of the genius of Oscar Hammerstein II's book and lyrics. It is Rodgers and Hammerstein at their best, weaving music, dialogue and dance into a seamless, exciting dramatic whole, gradually building to the giddy passionate polka, it careens into the terror of Tuptim's capture, The King's rage, Anna's desperate attempts to hold him back, and the desolation of the decision to leave Siam. There is the wondrous Anna, capturing the emotional conflicts of conflicting cultures, ideologies and social mores, written for and becoming Gertrude Lawrence's last role. The challenge to take a fresh, effective approach to The King, a role Yul Bryner made his own (and was the first to win both Tony and Oscar for the same role). The vocally dazzling young lovers, Tuptim and Lun Tha, and the musical flair of the wise Lady Thiang. Sumptuous moments abound, the starlit garden and grandiose dinner, and the most magnificent Small House of Uncle Thomas a feature for the ballet, plus countless major and minor roles for a big company. Show times are 2pm, 5pm or 8pm depending on the day - please visit the bookings form on our web site for further details.