Marienella Phillips and Dean John-Wilson in The King and I at the New Theatre, Oxford and Touring
The King and I continues at the New Theatre, Oxford until 7 October 2023. The tour continues until 2 March 2024.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
No matter how many productions of The King and I have been staged since it premiered on Broadway in 1951, and no matter how many actors have played the indomitable King of Siam, Yul Brynner’s portrayal is forever recognised as the most legendary. For any actor over the intervening 70 years, the role has been a big ask and one that is open to huge criticism often accompanied by uncompromising audience opinion.
Although the latest UK tour of Bartlett Sher’s production has been running for a few months now, the latest casting sees Annalene Beechey reprising the role of Anna Leonowens and US actor Brian Rivera playing the King of Siam for a limited four-week run.
However, on opening night in Oxford, it was actually the alternate Anna, Maria Coyne, we saw. Her exquisite vocals are perfection and her ability to build an incredible rapport with Rivera on stage is to be commended. Rivera also is a great choice. He has presence, supremacy and an underlying vulnerability which ticks all the boxes. I have to confess to having seen this production at the start of its run earlier this year and the difference in the relationship between the two leading characters now is palpable.
Meanwhile, Cezarah Bonner encapsulates the authority of chief wife Lady Thiang with a subtle strength, Marienella Phillips captures the desperation of Tuptim and Dean John-Wilson brings a romantic gentleness to his role as Lun Tha. Sam Yo observes the superior status of the Kralahome, Caleb Lagayan plays Prince Chulalongkorn with defiant naivety and Sam Jenkins-Shaw doubles as Captain Orton and Sir Edward Ramsay.
The Small House of Uncle Thomas ballet is presented beautifully and, while the set is often clunky (potentially down to the first night in its new tour venue), the moveable pillars work well to denote the various scenes and billowing voiles soften the look where required.
Julie Watterston
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