'King and I' delights
By Ruby Nancy
"The King and I" is the kind of musical that you have to really love in order to love it, if you know what I mean.
With its talk-sing lyrics and plot that refuses to deliver a happy ending, plus a slavery subplot and a heroine who seems to acquiesce to the demands of an autocrat because she loves him, this is a show that plenty of people find easy to complain about - and not without reason, in my opinion.
Despite that, the handful of lovely songs included in this show have helped make it a longtime favorite, especially "We Kiss in a Shadow," "Something Wonderful," "Getting to Know You" and "Shall We Dance?" And the silliness and gravity that go hand-in-hand in the "Small House of
Uncle Thomas" ballet sequence also adds emotional appeal.
In the case of this show's current incarnation, which plays at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through this weekend, there are additional elements that make it enjoyable as well. Chief among the blessings is that lovely, lively Nicole Horton, who plays Anna, the schoolteacher hired by the King of Siam.
A wonderful, powerfully expressive singer with a broad range of both vocal and acting talent, Horton gives the role a warm, totally human touch that quickly draws you into her story.
Conflicted by her growing closeness to the King and her opposing political views, this character has plenty to work with, but only a major talents can pay them well - rather than simply playing a copy of the film version - and Horton is completely up to the task.
She cries in anger and shouts in argument, melts with love and empathy, cuts up with her kid when they spend time together, and marshals a host of palace residents into a semblance of British society - and Horton shows us all these things, her physical movements and delivery of line and lyric showing emphasis.
Director Jay Berkow told me he viewed the character as "a woman way before her time," and Horton gives us that, fully realized.
Benjamin Cole gives us a sometimes-harsh King, though his version of the character has a major element of child-like playfulness that helps balance the character. Though a bit awkward in the beginning - at least at the performance I saw - Cole warms up nicely, and his glee at learning new things is absolutely infectious. He does well trading arguments and barbs with Horton's character, too. I appreciate the fact that he was styled and not made up like Yul Brynner (who played in the film), too. His slightly rugged, lean look is also a nice change, and Cole does a good job of letting the audience see the pressure the King has - serving as an old-fashioned Eastern monarch in a rapidly changing world.
Other minor issues and performances detract from the performances the leads give - like an overly operatic supporting performer, one horrendously awful wig, and several wobbly accents - but these things don't detract very much. Ultimately, and especially in the second act, this is, overall, a very good show.
The first of several big musicals scheduled on the Showboat this summer, "The King and I" is a crowd-pleaser well-worth your time. Enjoy!