'THE KING & I' AS WE ALL REMEMBER IT.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer RODGERS & Hammerstein's ``The King & I'' is a musical about overcoming one's fear of change and progress, yet the national tour now playing in Hollywood remains entrenched en·trench also in·trench v. en·trenched, en·trench·ing, en·trench·es v.tr. 1. To provide with a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying or defending. 2. in the mid-20th-century era of its creation. Stefanie Powers (TV's ``Hart to Hart'') stars as Anna Leonowens  This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. , the English widow brought in the 1860s from Singapore to instruct the children of the king of Siam. The king is played by Ronobir Lahiri, who co-starred with Powers in the United Kingdom national tour of the show. The king has hired Anna with the goal of enlightening his many wives and children in the language and customs of the West, yet he holds fast to his beliefs in his ancient culture and the submissive sub·mis·sive adj. Inclined or willing to submit. sub·mis  sive·ly adv.sub·mis status of women. Anna challenges not only his traditions but his power, confronting him on an unkept promise to let her live outside the palace and upbraiding up·braid tr.v. up·braid·ed, up·braid·ing, up·braids To reprove sharply; reproach. See Synonyms at scold. [Middle English upbreiden, from Old English him for accepting a beautiful slave, Tuptim (Michelle Liu Coughlin), as a gift from the king of Burma. While her outspokenness would have been shocking in the 1860s, particularly as a British subject In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981. addressing royalty, and eyebrow-raising in 1951 when ``The King & I'' opened on Broadway, it has lost its impact on its audience over time. Director Baayork Lee Baayork Lee (born 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, theatre director, and author. Early Life and Career Lee was born in New York City's Chinatown to an Indian mother and Chinese father. at age 5 played one of the princesses in the original production and seems intent on holding true to the show's roots, from the Jerome Robbins Noun 1. Jerome Robbins - United States choreographer who brought human emotion to classical ballet and spirited reality to Broadway musicals (1918-1998) Robbins choreography to the beautiful yet highly conventional sets by Kenneth Foy. Lahiri plays the stubborn king with strength, humor and just the right touch of tenderness, but he has not made the role his own. From his shaved head and fists-on-hips stance to the cut of his costumes, the performance seems an homage to Yul Brynner, whose Broadway and film performances indelibly defined the character. Those who think of Powers as a TV star will be pleasantly surprised by her stage presence and vocal skills. At 62, she is about two decades past the character's age, but she still has the energy for it. Powers and Lahiri play well off each other in the show's trademark `"Shall We Dance?'' scene, and she shines particularly on ``Hello, Young Lovers'' and ``Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?'' The romance between Tuptim and Lun Tha (Martin Sola) seems pasted in as a plot device and a reason to toss in love duets that are not suited to the unspoken love between Anna and the king. ``The King & I'' is an eye-pleasing production, especially the play within, ``The Small House of Uncle Thomas,'' Tuptim's interpretation of the novel ``Uncle Tom's Cabin Uncle Tom’s Cabin highly effective, sentimental Abolitionist novel. [Am. Lit.: Jameson, 513] See : Antislavery .'' But it is wrapped up in its traditions, a time capsule of both 1860s Siam and 1950s America. Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com THE KING & I - Three stars Where: Pantages Theatre There are multiple venues named the Pantages Theatre: Canada
When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays; through April 17. Tickets: $42.50 to $67.50. (213) 365-3500. www.broadwayla.org. In a nutshell: With Stefanie Powers and Ronobir Lahiri in the leads, the names have changed, but the show remains very familiar. |
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