The 1996 revival of The King and I

[Keiichi2]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 12:55pm

So, earlier this morning, I purchased a ticket to next year's revival of The King and I on May 1st. Looking forward to seeing it, as I've never actually seen the show performed on stage, just the movie.

I was trying to look up some video and clips of the 1996 revival, but all I could find was a short video of that production's Tony Award performance.

So, I thought I would ask those here who had seen the production what it was like, and what they remember the most about it.

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 1:04pm

Donna Murphy.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 1:07pm

[meyerd584]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 1:35pm

I was there for Marie Osmond as a replacement.
The show was big and entertaining.
But I remember thinking the budget went in to the wrong scenes.

Shall we Dance was underwhelming, but the rest was ok.
I've never been a huge fan of the show, but I enjoyed it.

[#1CarrieFan]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 4:09pm

I will start by echoing previous posts- DONNA MURPHY. We were underwhelmed by Lou Diamond Phillips, but we had my eleven-year-old niece at the performance and she still has the backstage door picture we took of her with Phillips on her dresser. The sets and costumes were scrumptious, the opening set with the arrival from the ship was breathtaking. I'm excited that you will be able to see Kelli O'Hara in what will surely be a Tony-nominated performance.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 7:26pm

Donna Murphy and later on Faith Prince were both wonderful. The sets were glorious and a welcome change from the set being used for years in the Yul Brynner touring revival.

Updated On: 10/19/14 at 07:26 PM

[Feste]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 7:28pm

I saw Donna Murphy. She was wonderful. It was also nice to see Asian actors in the Asian roles.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/19/14 at 8:01pm

The scenic design was, and still is, breathtakingly beautiful and one of my all time favorite designs. There should be a picture book of the scenic progression of that production.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:32am

Jose Llana.....shirtless

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:38am

I LOVED this production. The sets and costumes were delicious. Ms. Murphy was wonderful and truly deserved the Tony for her performance over the egregiously, tho still fab, frontrunner.

I was surprised how much I liked Mr. Philips as the king, but who stole the show for me was Joohee Choi as Tuptim.

Updated On: 10/20/14 at 10:38 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:40am

Johee Choi's Tuptim is still so fresh in my mind, after nearly twenty years. She was spectacular and should have won the Tony.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:44am

I had a great time at this production but had to voice a dissenting vote on the usually wonderful Faith Prince. Strangely miscast here, her voice had all the squeaks and hiccups left over from her time playing Adelaide in Guys and Dolls from 5 years before, utterly devoid of the necessary gravitas. So the lead performance was off, but that didn't stop the show from still being wonderful, probably for me the 2nd most beautiful score R&H ever wrote after Carousel.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:47am

I saw the tour with Hayley Mills and Kevin Gray, and, to this day, it remains one of the most dreadfully boring evenings I’ve had at the theater.

Full disclosure: with the exception of SOUTH PACIFIC, I’m not a big R&H fan.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:47am

I loved this production! Saw it numerous times. Donna Murphy was magnificent. I liked Lou Diamond Phillips and felt he got better with each performance I saw.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:51am

AC, I am haunted by Ms. Choi as well. It was the best year for supporting performances by ladies that I can remember. All were fantastic, and I remember seeing each show wondering "who the f*&? is that?!"

Joohee Choi in "The King and I"
Veanne Cox in "Company" - stunning as Amy, heartbreaking and hilarious
Idina Menzel in "Rent" - the only time I've truly loved her in a role
Ann Duquesnay in "Funk/Noise" - AMAZING and I was happy when she won, but would've been happy with any of these four winning. She was actually a lead, however, imo.

Updated On: 10/20/14 at 10:51 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:58am

What if Johee Choi came back to this production to play Lady Thiang? She'd be great I think.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 11:15am

I love the idea of Choi as Lady Thiang.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 11:28am

Can someone describe what the set was like?

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 11:35am

I echo everyone else's sentiments on here that it was a beautiful production from a design standpoint. Personally I found Donna Murphy very disappointing, however I think she was ill the night I saw it (or at least vocally strained) as she sounds much, much better on the recording than I remember her live. All in all a very solid production.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 11:46am

It's a travesty that they cut the incredible overture.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 1:33pm

Phreak,
Here is a link to one photo on the Facebook page for the current / recent Australia production of this staging... Browse around...
Breathtaking.
King & I Australia

[Keiichi2]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 1:43pm

Thanks everyone for the information!

It sounds like a beautiful production, and I hope next year's version will be just as wonderful.

I looked at those photos, and they do look gorgeous. However, my all time favorite set (based on photos I had seen) was the set for the production of The Secret Garden. Man, I wish I could have seen that.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 1:45pm

I saw it and I loved it (I actually remember it surprisingly vividly). But I was only 10.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 2:01pm

Ditto everything doodle said.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:48pm

Another ditto to what doodle said.