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Shall We Dance down to the New Theatre to see The King And I this week?
Better start whistling a happy tune because The King and I is in Cardiff this week at the New Theatre. The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been updated with some jaw dropping costumes and sets and boasts star power for its return to the Welsh capitol. It is one you should take the whole family along to enjoy. Shall we dance?
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”30058″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Another absolute solid gold classic from the kings of musicals, The King And I tells the story of British governess Anna Leonowens as she travels to Siam (now modern Thailand) to educate the many children and wives of the King. As you can expect there are songs, great big dance numbers, a huge and talented ensemble and incredible set pieces that draw the audience back in time to the golden age of the musical. If you have never seen a Rodgers and Hammerstein production, then frankly A) I don’t believe you (…everyone’s at least seen The Sound Of Music) and B) you better break that streak right now because you don’t know what you’re missing.
The first point I want to mention, and I think the thing that will stick in my mind for years to come is the incredible set pieces and costumes of the entire production. Right from curtain up you could hear a collective gasp from the audience as the stage was revealed. The beautiful craftmanship of the show twinned with the bespoke look of the New Theatre transported me through the years to Siam, allowing me to truly get lost in the story. They say they do not make films like The King and I anymore and I would expand on that to say they do not often make productions like this anymore either. The stage seemed to expand and contract depending on the scene, all testament to the creativity of set designer Michael Yeargan.
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”30060″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]The show itself was nothing short of exceptional. With a classic musical like this the audience know what they want. They want to see the story they know, and love brought to life on stage, and that is exactly what this production delivered. The iconic music was beautifully performed by a full orchestra and sung by an extremely talented cast, led by Maria Coyne (standing in for Helen George for our performance) and Darren Lee who brought charisma and talent to the roles of Anna and the King in spades. A particular highlight for me was the retelling of The Small House of Uncle Thomas performed by the Kings children and wives. For me it was here the show hit its peak immersion, storytelling, costume and set design. I absolutely loved it and feel it will stand out in my mind as an example of musical theatre at its finest.
Overall, I really enjoyed diving back into the world of Siam for The King and I at the New Theatre. I felt the film I had seen many times as a child came to life on stage and delivered a wave of nostalgia for a golden age of musical theatre. For any fans of musicals, it is an absolute must![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
