The King and I: Hilarious and Heart-Wrenching

Rodgers and Hammerstein. There are no names in the history of Broadway that carry quite the same gravitas. The duo were masters of their craft, as evidenced by their repertoire of beloved musicals that continue to delight audiences more than half a century later. Their songs are enchanting, their characters are iconic, and their stories maintain a perfect balance of humor, social awareness and tragedy.

When Rodgers and Hammerstein were first approached with the idea of adapting the novel Anna and the King of Siam for the stage, they were skeptical about the idea; the novel was a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive story. What eventually convinced them was the film adaptation and how it strung the episodes together into one unit. The rest is history; The King and I was an immediate hit and continues to receive periodic revivals and inspire adaptations for film and television. Now, the production is kicking off another national tour at Providence Performing Art Center.

The King and I relays the tale of Anna Leonowens (Laura Michelle Kelly), a stubborn, quick-witted English woman who travels to Siam with her son, Louis (Graham Montgomery) to teach English to the children and wives of the King (Jose Llana). The strong personalities of Anna and the King clash at every opportunity, but the two come to respect each other despite their difficulties as they set out to convince the world that he is not a barbarian. While Anna admires his quest to modernize Siam, she is morally opposed to his harem and especially his acceptance of a slave girl named Tuptim (Manna Nichols) as a gift from Burma who is to be his newest wife, forcing her to keep her relationship with scholar Lun Tha (Kavin Panmeechao) a secret.

The King of Siam is an iconic role, as much because of the writing as the originator of the role, Yul Brynner. While no one can quite surpass his precedence, Llana comes as close as anyone can get. He brilliantly captures both the self-aggrandizing ferocity and uncertainty that make audiences love him, despite his more questionable principles concerning women. His facial expressions in particular are supremely endearing especially as he reacts to his children’s antics in “March of the Royal Siamese Children,” when they first meet their teacher.

As Anna, Kelly delivers the most classic songs of the musical, including “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Getting to Know You” and “Shall We Dance?” flawlessly. As a pair, she and Llana exude a powerful chemistry along the ups and downs of their relationship.

Their chemistry is rivaled only by that of Nichols and Panmeechao as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha. Their soaring love songs, “We Kiss in a Shadow” and “I Have Dreamed” are entrancing and beautiful. Panmeechao in particular has a way of looking at her practically with heart eyes like a cartoon character struck by Cupid’s arrow.

Also noteworthy is Joan Almedilla as Lady Thiang, the King’s first wife. Though the King looks down upon women, it is clear to the audience that Lady Thiang is his right hand and that he would likely be lost without her. She is a woman who sees everything and often understands the other characters better than they understand themselves. Almedilla portrays her strong presence and calm wisdom with excellence.

There are a number of child performers in The King and I, including Louis and all of the King’s children, and they are all a joy to watch.

Visually, the production is a sight to behold. The costumes, which reflect both Victorian England and Siamese cultures, are truly gorgeous. The ballet of “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” is quite a spectacle in itself, with choreography that reflects the Eastern tradition and intricate masks, props and costumes.

This production of The King and I is both hilarious and heart-wrenching and maintains all of the integrity of what its creators intended. It shows the audience both the good and the bad of what happens when East meets West, and it makes us empathetic toward even the most seemingly ruthless of leaders.

The King and I runs through Nov. 6 at Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St, PVD. For tickets, visit ppacri.org or call the box office at 401-421-2787.