The King and I: From The London Palladium (2018)

The King and I: From The London Palladium: Directed by Gary Halvorson, Bartlett Sher. With Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, Ruthie Ann Miles, Dean John-Wilson. Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the King brings to teach his many wives and children.

“I hope this production travels to Vancouver, it is absolutely fabulous.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRodgers and Hammerstein ……. what can you say about talent like that?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYou can only say that youu0026#39;re lucky enough to have been on the earth to listen to the lyrical and musical masterpieces that they produced.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlmost every song can stand alone and bring you to tears (as they do in South Pacific). But when those songs are delivered by such ineffable talent and supported by incredible dancing and set design, you are left just gasping for breath in admiration.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHow they find these actors and performers is a u0026quot;puzzlementu0026quot; to me, just like the ways of the world were a puzzlement to the King of Siam…… but somehow they DO find them and they sparkle like diamonds.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe kids are just so endearingly cute, Lady Thiang, the principal wife, so incredibly beautiful and elegant, that they all could just walk across the stage and bring the house down.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo have this presence and to be able to sing like birds and dance like butterflies is to send you to heaven.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEach and every supporting performance builds a beautiful story that lets the two stars, Kelli Ou0026#39;Hara and Ken Watanabe shine like the tropical sun on top of it all.nTheir interpretation of the lyrics and the emotions they convey is just nothing short of ecstasy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI would pay any amount of money to see the show live if it ever came to Vancouver, even if it was a touring cast. As it is, I am so happy that the people at PBS were able to pull this broadcast off. Three hours of my life where I was totally removed from myself.”