BWW Reviews: THE KING AND I - A Visual Masterpiece

From the opening moments of this latest revival of Rogers and Hammerstein's iconic musical The King And I, we are transported to the heart of Asia, its intricacies, its nuances, its customs. Pre curtain, four male Buddhist monks adorned the stage with incense, creating a reverent, calming and authentic moment, the prelude to a plethora of stunning moments littered throughout this magical piece.

The Kind and I is a visual masterpiece. The set is opulent, dripping in gold and crystals, with the red stage and accompanying elephants completing some of the grandest, most spectacular scenery in the contemporary theatre. Fresh from winning numerous awards for his costume design in King Kong, Roger Kirk has created truly beautiful costumes. The design aesthetic is not only faithful to the text, it enhances it and is without a doubt one of the highlights of this show.

The other defining feature of this production of The King and I are the performances of its leading lady Lisa McCune as Anna Leonowens and leading man Jason Scott Lee as the King of Siam. The acting performance of both is exemplary. Their intricate filmic quality is utterly believable and connected with precision. McCune's slightly Welsh lilting accent is mastered to perfection. While vocally their performances are not exceptional, (that is reserved for Shu-Cheen Yu as Lady Thiang,) their overall command of the text, their presence, commitment and connection to each other is of the highest order.

The orchestra, under the guidance of Peter Casey, are as opulent as the rest of the show. Their sound is grand and glorified and they accompany the performance with delicacy and intimacy. The Royal Children are highly professional and are another fine accompaniment for the adult performances.There are some truly beautiful moments in this piece. The opening of Act 2 is a fine example of this, with the picturesque stills of the ensemble women endeavoring to make western garments a poignant representation of cultural diversity and differences.

Opera Australia's production of The King And I is a classical piece of music theatre brought to life by a visual palette that arouses the senses and elicits direct emotional response. Their follow up from the Lincoln Center's production of South Pacific is every bit as successful and with its creative team and two perfectly tuned performers at the helm it is deserving of every accolade afforded it.

The King and I

Princess Theatre Melbourne

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