Be enchanted by a musical that reigns supreme
AUDIENCES at Newcastle Theatre Royal will be getting to know a cast iron classic this week as a hit production of The King and I comes to Tyneside.
Since opening at the London Palladium in 2018, Bartlett Sher’s revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical has been bathed in praise.
The pandemic saw to it that a national tour was cut short in 2020 – but the show is back on the road before returning to the West End later this year.
“I’m absolutely loving the tour – getting to see so much of the UK is a real treat,” says US actor Darren Lee, who is leading the cast as the King of Siam opposite Annalene Beechey as Anna.
“It’s great to be able to finish what we started back in 2020 – I’d never done a UK tour before and like a lot of actors, since the pandemic, I have a renewed appreciation for being able to get on to a stage and perform for an audience. It’s a real privilege – not least when you’re performing a show like this.”
Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I is based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel, Anna and the King of Siam via the mid-19th Century memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the many children of King Mongkut of Siam.
Featuring iconic songs, Shall We Dance, Whistle and Happy Tune and Getting to Know You, the musical chronicles the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King and British schoolteacher, Anna, who is brought in to teach his wives and children.
“What is wonderful about this show is that without changing any dialogue or songs, it remains relevant to a contemporary audience,” says Darren. “One of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s many gifts was being able to convey something really important through what may seem a simple idea.
“Shall We Dance seems very lighthearted but the reality is asking can two opposing powers come together in a moment and create something bigger and more beautiful.”
Having played the role – made famous by Yul Brynner in the original 1951 production and 1956 film for which he won Tony and Academy awards respectively – on Broadway and in the West End, Darren says he can’t imagine getting tired of bringing the King to life on stage.
“I relish the role of the King, it’s very near to my heart and I really look forward to reprising it whenever I get the chance.
“Growing up as an Asian US actor, the King has been around my whole life – it’s part of popular culture and I was very much aware of it and this role, which was so original. Starting out, I definitely thought about whether I might get the opportunity throughout the course of my career to play it and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to do it many times.”
Darren, whose family lived in California, started performing at a young age… but it wasn’t long before the puppet shows he put on for his parents from behind the curtains turned into him being signed up for shows on the Disney Channel and a string of commercials.
“I just loved to perform and inhabit characters. I grew up near Los Angeles, so it was everywhere.”
Discovering a love for musical theatre in high school offered him a ticket to Broadway in his senior year, in the cast of Shogun.
“Then right after that was the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon… and my parents had a good idea that I wasn’t coming back anytime soon!”
Having sidestepped stage school, Darren – who will take the role of the King back into the West End – opted to learn on the job, which has served him pretty well.
“And now I get asked to teach,” he laughs. “I really enjoy that aspect of my work, directing and choreographing new work too… but there’s always something special about bringing a classic back to the stage.”
The King and I is at Newcastle Theatre Royal from today until Saturday. For tickets, visit www.theatreroyal. co.uk or call the box office on 0191 232 7010.
Sam Wonfor is editor of Cultured. North East, a website spreading the word about North East culture from www.culturednortheast.co.uk
I relish the role of the King, it’s very near to my heart Darren Lee