The King and I
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1951 musical, ‘The King and I’, is to be revived at the Royal Albert Hall, where it will run for just 20 performances from the 12th to the 28th June. It will star Maria Friedman and Dae Kim, who is best known for his appearances in the television series ‘Lost’. It is to be directed by Jeremy Sams.
The production has a budget of £3million and promises to be sumptuous. It will be staged in the round and is a collaboration between the South Kensington venue and Raymond Gubbay. It will have a cast of 75, which includes three sets of twelve children and it wall also feature an orchestra numbering sixty. The set, designed by Robert Jones, is being described as “massive” and will feature a life-size ship, standing pools of water and fireworks displays.
The musical is based on Margaret Landon’s novel ‘Anna and the King of Siam’. It was made into a film in 1956 starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. It was last seen as a London show when it played at the Palladium in 2000/01. That revival starred Elaine Paige, who was replaced by Josie Lawrence.
The score includes ‘Hello Young Lovers’, ‘Shall We Dance’ and ‘I Whistle a Happy Tune’.