The King and I at Music Circus, Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera
A Review by Ken Kiunke
Staff Writer
The 2013 summer season at Sacramento’s Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion continues with The King And I, Rogers and Hammerstein’s fifth collaboration, which premiered in 1951. The show was based on the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, and was proposed as a musical vehicle for Gertrude Lawrence, a veteran stage actress near the end of her career. Both Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein were reluctant to take it on, seeing little promise from the book. However, urged on by their wives, they relented, and made several adaptations to make the story suitable for their style, including the addition of a true romance between two secondary characters, since Anna and the King could not very well be a couple in love. (After all, he already had a couple dozen devoted wives, and a country to run…) Photo: Christiane Noll as Anna and cast in The King and I
Casting for the “supporting role” of the king began with Rex Harrison, who had played the part in an earlier film version of the story, but he was unavailable. Enter 30-year-old Russian-American actor Yul Brynner, who won the audition, reluctantly shaved his head, and created the iconic part he was known for, and frequently returned to, for the rest of his life. Gertrude Lawrence died after just over a year, and Brynner became the star opposite several Anna’s over his career, winning both a Tony Award and later an Oscar for the film adaptation.
The Music Circus has brought The King and I to its familiar theater-in-the-round 13 times, all the way back to 1956, and most recently in 2005. Christiane Noll, an award winning Broadway and opera star, is playing Anna, a part she sang in a little remembered 1999 animated version. (Miranda Richardson voiced the speaking parts while Noll did the singing, echoing the 1956 film, when Deborah Kerr’s Anna was sung by an overdubbed Marni Nixon, who made a career of singing for actresses.) Photo: Christiane Noll and Paul Nakauchi as Anna and the King of Siam in The King and I.
American born Noll is terrific in the part of the proper, yet feisty Englishwoman who comes to Siam as a teacher, scientist, and diplomat for the King eager to bring his country into the modern world. Her stellar voice delivers on the iconic tunes Getting To Know You and Hello Young Lovers.
Photo R: Andrew Apy and Christiane Noll as Prince Chulalongkorn and Anna in The King and I Taking on the role of the King of Siam is Paul Nakauchi, who is no stranger to the part. He actually appeared with Yul Brynner early in his career as an ensemble player in a production of The King and I, and has played the King himself in several other productions.
But playing a part that another actor has owned is a big challenge. Any good singer and actor can play Curly from Oklahoma, but parts like Harold Hill from the Music Man, 
owned by Robert Preston, and The King of Siam, owned by Yul Brynner, is a huge challenge – you either have to do your best to imitate the actor, or take the part in a totally different direction. Nakauchi did it his own way as much as possible – not being totally bald, for one, helped set him apart. And he was quite effective, and played a more mature, gruff king, with enough humor to keep the audience laughing at every “etcetera” he uttered. To fully enjoy his performance you had to forget Brynner and look at the role with new eyes. Photo L: Paul Nakauchi as the King of Siam in The King and I
And though I did miss Yul Brynner, I enjoyed the stage production much more than the film, which I recently watched as well. The movie is somewhat dated, and the singing often comes off as corny. In the supporting cast, Rita Moreno as the “gift wife” Tuptim, is practically wasted – she is barely recognizable made up to look Asian, and like Kerr, her singing is overdubbed. Diane Phelan as Tuptim in this production did an outstanding job singing and playing the Burmese “Juliet” in love with her “Romeo”, well played by Telly Leung. Also missing from the film are some enjoyable songs, like Anna’s Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You, which features some clever couplets by Hammerstein - rhyming “polygamy” and “bigamy” with “That clearly makes a prig ‘o me”; and “In your pursuit of pleasure, you, Have mistresses who treasure you” – “pleasure-you” and “treasure-you” being the rhyming phrases.
Photo: Telly Leung and Diane Phelan as Lun Tha and Tuptim in The King and I
Other outstanding supporting performances in the Music Circus production included Tami Swartz as the head wife, Lady Thiang, who is both moving and joyful, as she plays the important role of helping Anna accept the King for who he is. The two boys, Anna’s son Louis, played by Carter Thomas, and the King’s oldest, Prince Chulalongkorn played by Andrew Apy, both do a great job in their roles. And the highlight of Act 2, which also comes off much better on stage, is the ballet – The Small House Of Uncle Thomas, Tuptim’s interpretation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The music is eccentric and fun, the costumes and effects bright and colorful, and the singing and dancing by the Royal Dancers brings this little play-within-a-play to life. Photo: Andrew Apy (Prince Chulalongkorn) and ensemble in The King and I
The closing scene (spoiler alert – the King dies at the end) is moving and sad, and heartwarming when Prince Chulalongkorn grows into his role as the new King. This is one advantage Paul Nakauchi has over Yul Brynner. I never believed Byrnner’s King could actually be dying, apparently despondent over his lack of moral certitude in his treatment of his people (Tuptim in particular), and Anna’s scolding of him. I did not buy that the young confident King of Yul Brynner could be so torn, but Kakauchi’s King is a much more tortured and troubled soul, and it is a little easier to believe his inner conflicts could lead to his depression and death. The Music Circus crowd on Opening Night was very appreciative of director Stafford Arima’s production, giving a rousing ovation for the cast, and standing for Noll and Nakauchi as they took their bows. The King and I runs at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Music Circus through August 11th. Photo: Andrew Apy (Prince Chulalongkorn) and the Music Circus Junior Company (Royal Children) in The King and I
The King and I (August 6-11) ends Sunday; and Chicago at the Music Circus is August 20-29. The King and I brings Broadway stars, Tony nominee and "Glee" veteran to the Music Circus stage. East meets West, cultures clash and reconcile. Due to popular demand, a matinee has been added on Sunday, August 11 at 2 pm! Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H St., (916) 557-1999. Enjoy 10% Off at select restaurants when you show your Music Circus Tickets; Bulls, Republic bar & grill, Lucca, Monsoon, and Yogurtagogo. The King and I runs 2 hours and 50 minutes, which includes one 20 minute intermission. This show is recommended for ages 8 and over. Courtesy Photo top: Theater in the Round makes every seat a great seat. Courtesy Photo right: The Pavilion courtyard on performance night.
Tickets range from $30 to $74 dollars and are available by phone, online at www.tickets.com or can be purchased in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office. (Please note: as a courtesy to all patrons, children under 4 [including babes in arms] are not permitted in the theater). Drinks, snacks, popcorn, water, wine and beer concessions are available for sale. For more information on this show and future shows, visit the website at www.californiamusicaltheater.com
Photo: (L to R) Christiane Noll (Anna), Paul Nakauchi (The King of Siam), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and the cast in The King and I
All Photographs by Charr Crail
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