The King and I

Leicester Theatre Trust brings the breathtaking Rogers and Hammerstein musical; The King and I to the Edinburgh Festival theatre. Directed by Paul Kerryson, the musical exceeds all possible expectations and was a delight to behold during the Christmas season. Ramon Tikaram, whose performance was unquestionably brilliant, stars as the King of Siam and leads the formidable cast through this tremendous rendition of The King and I.

The King and I transports you back in time to Bangkok, the capital of Siam where Anna Leonowens, a widowed mother and teacher, arrives at the palace to tutor several of the King of Siam’s children. A turbulent relationship between the two protagonists foreshadows the friendship that is to blossom before the end of the glorious performance.

Told through an evocative score and with several favourites including ‘I Whistle a Happy Tune’ and ‘Getting to Know You’, The King and I was a memorable production. The stage was designed by Sara Perks using a combination of projected images, shadows and music. Supporting stage transitions, they also doubled as abstract illustrations to images typically difficult to present in theatre. This was especially effective during the death scene of Tuptim and her lover.

Another interesting use of stage was by the placement of the orchestra at the very back of the stage, just in front of the skyline of Siam. The costumes added a further beautiful facet to the show's aesthetics; all were directly reminiscent of the film which added to the magic of the performance and allowed the audience to be captivated by its majesty. The King and I was a triumph in itself as the live orchestra lead by Julian Kelly, the professional actors and all the budding young children were magnificent.