BWW Reviews: Candlelight Dazzles with Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I

The King and I/music by Richard Rodgers;/book & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II/based on Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon/directed by Neil Dale/Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre/through August 4

A friend referred to The King and I as a War Horse, an old chestnut, for it has surely surpassed time as an enduring musical classic, but upon seeing it again, one realizes just how potent, vibrant and topical a piece it truly is. Musicals of such depth and perspective with a keen eye to the future seem to be a thing of the past. Yes, it's a love story at the core, an unlikely one, but with many, many more levels. It entails issues of race, slavery, the urgency for a king of a tiny uncivilized kingdom to change his primitive, barbaric ways, and for his children to receive a truthful education as he embarks on assimilating 19th century Siam to western culture and civilization...and to repeat, it's a bigger-than-life love story that has become eternally revered not only for its music but for its intolerance of bigotry of any type. In Candlelight's stunning production, nothing is lost; every gorgeous detail is present, and the story of Anna and The King is radiantly performed through August 4 in Claremont.

I stress that the show is topical, because in the 21st century, we are still unbelievably plagued by narrow-minded attitudes and behavior, in some places worse than others, but they still very plainly exist. In this story the love affair between Tuptim and Lun Tha suffers because of the bonds of prejudice. They are punished because of love. And Anna and the King never fully realize their love for one another until it is too late...again due to the formidable obstacle of ignorance and intolerance. It is on his death bed that the King sees the light, permitting changes that will sadly exclude his participation. He will not see his children and his country mature.

The entire ensemble of King and I are first-rate. Clynell Jackson III gives a big, bold performance as the King. A black man, he is so perfect for the role, although I have seldom seen the King cast this way. He understands so deeply the pain and isolation caused by racism and translates this inner conflict perfectly to the role! Jenny Moon Shaw makes a lovely Anna, full of passion and good sense, but never going to extremes. Her sterling presence and lovely voice assuage a perfect fit. Praise as well to Richard Bermudez as Lun Tha, with such a gorgeous body and voice, and to Angela Briones as Tuptim, to Stella Kim as Lady Thiang, to Frank Minano as Captain Orton/Sir Edward Ramsay and to every other actor and all the children who are divinely disciplined in their scenes, particularly in "The March of the Siamese Children". Neil Dale has staged it all beautifully with a keen eye to detail, and Simeon Den has done a splendid job of choreographing the ballet of "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" as well as "Shall We Dance?" for the principals. Chuck Ketter has designed some simple yet functionally elegant sets and FCLO Music Theatre has supplied the scrumptious costumes.

Apart from the substance of The King and I, there are those simply divine Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes like "Getting to Know You", "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "We Kiss in a Shadow", 'Something Wonderful", "Hello Young Lovers" et al. I am a sucker for beautiful music and we have it in abundance here. There is nothing like a Rodgers and Hammerstein show; they were the first real American musical geniuses and have remained among the greatest composers - ever.

Do yourself a favor and travel down to Claremont and see this lovely production of The King and I at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre. They are first and foremost the best dinner theatre in SoCal!

(photo credit: John LaLonde)

http://www.candlelightpavilion.com/home/

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