The King and I

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Musical dates
Title: The king and me
Original title: The King and I
Original language: English
Music: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Literary source: Margaret Landon : Anna and the King of Siam
Premiere: March 29, 1951
Place of premiere: St. James Theater in New York City
Roles / people
  • Anna Leonowens
  • The king
  • Prince Chulalongkorn
  • Louis Leonowens
  • Lady Thiang
  • Tuptim
  • Lun Tha
  • Kralahome
  • Sir Edward Ramsey

The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (text) based on the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon , published in 1944. The Broadway premiere took place on March 29, 1951 at the St. James Theater in New York .

action

Anna Leonowens , the widow of an English officer , came to the court of the King of Siam as a teacher in 1860 . In order to puff up the bad image of the Siamese a little, she should teach His Highness, his 67 children and countless main and concubines the basics of western civilization . The resolute Englishwoman, blessed with all the virtues and skills of the glorious empire , quickly turns the palace upside down and is not afraid to stand up to the authoritarian king. When the King of the imminent arrival of a British diplomat hears the emergency threatens: This also no one falls out of character with the state banquet, allows Anna to court summarily detention, seeded women Western behavior and gives the Siamese en passant also still the same, the Benefits of constitutional monarchy , Christian monogamy and the abolition of slavery .

background

The then unknown Yul Brynner played King in the original production, a role he played in the 1977 and 1985 revivals. He himself said that he was far too young for the role in 1951 and therefore found his own portrayal of the king in the revivals more successful. He also played the king in the later film adaptation of the musical.

The songs of musicals, including " Hello, Young Lovers ," " Shall We Dance " and " Getting To Know You " and " I Whistle A Happy Tune " can be used as a prototype for Rodgers & Hammerstein's later great musical success The Sound of Music Seen become.

Film adaptations

In 1956 the musical was filmed under the title The King and I. Directed by Walter Lang . The main roles were played by Deborah Kerr as Anna and Yul Brynner as King of Siam. The film was able to build on the success of the play. In 1999 a remake of the film was released under the name Anna and the King . Jodie Foster plays the role of Anna Leonowens here.

The songs

first act
  • “Overture” orchestra
  • "I Whistle a Happy Tune" - Anna and Louis
  • "My Lord and Master" - Tuptim
  • "Hello, Young Lovers" - Anna
  • “The March of the Siamese Children” orchestra
  • "Home Sweet Home" (scene in front of the curtain) - priests and children
  • "A Puzzlement" - King
  • "The Royal Bangkok Academy" - Anna, wives and children
  • "Getting to Know You" - Anna, wives and children
  • "We Kiss in a Shadow" - Tuptim and Lun Tha
  • "A Puzzlement" (repeat) - Louis and Prince Chulalongkorn
  • "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" - Anna
  • "Something Wonderful" - Lady Thiang
  • "Something Wonderful" (repeat) - Lady Thiang
  • “Finale”, first act - King, the entire court
Second act
  • “Entr'acte” - orchestra
  • "Western People Funny" - Lady Thiang and wives
  • "I Have Dreamed" - Tuptim and Lun Tha
  • "Hello, Young Lovers" (repeat) - Anna
  • "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" (Ballet) - Tuptim and Wives
  • "Song of the King" - King
  • “Shall We Dance?” - Anna and König
  • "I Whistle a Happy Tune" (repeat) - Anna

Awards

Web links