Review: THE KING AND I at Popejoy Hall

The King and I is known as one of Roger's and Hammerstein's finest works, and the current production, directed by Bartlett Sher, allows audiences in Albuquerque to experience this firsthand. From exquisite costuming to a breathtaking set, and phenomenal performances, this production of Rogers and Hammerstein's The King and Ifill the much-beloved musical with charm and heart. The musical, which is on tour straight from the Tony Award winning Lincoln Center production, is not to be missed.

Set in Bangkok in the 1860s, The King and I tells the story of Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, who is hired to be a tutor for the King's wives and children. Over the course of the musical, Eastern and Western ideals clash as the King and Anna get to know each other. By the end of the musical, Anna and the King have grown to care for one another and have a deeper understanding of one another's beliefs.

As the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens respectively, Jose Llana and Elena Shaddow embody their roles with perfection. Their bantering back and forth as Anna and the King clash left the audience laughing throughout the production. The tempestuous relationship between Anna and the King is expressed beautifully through the score, culminating in "Shall We Dance". As Lady Thiang, the King's head wife, Joan Almedilla has a commanding presence onstage and is able to express her character's love for her family and her country with ease. Q Lim, who is making her tour debut as Tuptim, is magnificent in her role, expressing her heartache and desire for a different life in a way that helped the audience feel for her character. The rest of the supporting cast, which included Brian Rivera as Kralahome, Kavin Panmeechao as Lun Tha, Charlie Oh as Prince Chulalongkorn, and Rhyees Stump as Loius Leonowens, was incredible as well, helping to elevate the production to something extraordinary.

The stunning costume and set design helped to take the audience on a journey to Bangkok that will not soon be forgotten. From a ship being moved across the stage as Anna arrives in Bangkok to pillars and gold statues of Buddha helping to set the scene, it was easy to be transported to a different time and place. The beautiful costuming helped to further express the differences between Western and Eastern culture in another way, especially in the scenes where Anna tries to aid the King in modernizing his country.

From the costuming and set design to the performances themselves, every aspect of this production of The King and I expressed how wonderful and magical musical theatre can be. This production, which has a run time of nearly three hours (including a 15 minute intermission), allows audiences to experience a night at the theatre unlike any other.

The King and I runs from June 21 - June 24 at Popejoy Hall with performances at 7:30 pm Thursday, June 21, 8:00 pm Friday, June 22, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23rd, and 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24th. Tickets cost $45 - $110, plus fees, and can be purchased at unmtickets.com, the UNM Bookstore ticket office, UNM ticket office at The Pit, by phone at 925-5858 or 877-664-8661.

Image credit: Popejoy Hall

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