Driftwood Players decided to say the heck with a holiday show and instead chose to do a classic Rodgers &Hammerstein musical.
Considering tickets are selling quickly, it looks like the company chose wisely when they picked the endearing musical “The King and I.”
“The whole thing works really well, even though British Imperialism doesn’t really say happy holidays,” director Alan Wilkie joked.
“It is one of those shows that people want to come and see. We already sold out three shows.”
Wilkie said audiences will like this version of “The King and I” because he borrowed a lot from the movie, his set designer produced a gorgeous backdrop of Bangkok, and his singers and dancers can sing and dance.
“Actually, I’ve got a really good cast, and excellently trained character actors, even in the small parts,” Wilkie said. “The whole thing pulls together really well.”
Singing (music direction by Mark and Nancy Press) and choreography (by Lee Ann Hittenberger) are key in the “King and I.”
There’s a mini ballet in the middle of the story. And there’s a soaring musical score that demands vocal attention.
The music includes classics such as “Getting to Know You,” “Hello, Young Lovers,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune” and “Shall We Dance?”
The music embellishes this romantic tale of the relationship between an English widow and the King of Siam.
The widow, Anna Leonowens, is summoned to Bangkok’s Royal Palace in 1862 to tutor the king’s many children and wives. But Anna struggles with the king’s culture. This tussle over traditions and values ends with Anna and the king coming to an understanding of sorts, though tragedy looms.
The king is played by Stan Asis, an older king but a good king, Wilkie said.
For Anna, Wilkie said five people auditioned but Lindsay Powers could sing it the best and act it the best and had the best accent and, importantly, had the best chemistry with the king.
“They have to have chemistry and they do have chemistry,” Wilkie said.
“The King and I,” opens at 8 tonight at Driftwood Players’ Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18. Tickets are $23 and $20. Call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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