Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

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Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 3:36am

On this date, March 29, 1951, Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I opened at the St. James theatre. It starred Gertrude Lawrence who could light up a stage with her presence. (She certainly didn't do it with her singing as the cast album will attest: She sings somewhere in the general vicinity of the notes!) And in the supporing role of King a young actor named Yul Brynner. When Lawrence died a year and ahlf into the run Brynner was given star billing, and he went on to star in the 1956 film version, a 1977 Broadway revival, a tour that played London, Toronto and host of other cities from 1979-1984 and then brought him back to Broadway for a farewell engagement in 1985.

The KING AND I has had many revivals: City Centre in 1961 with Barbara Cook and Farley Granger. Lincoln center with Rise Stevens and Darren McGavin in 1964. And more recently with Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Stephen Sondheim claims KING AND I has the best book of any R&H show which might explain its ongoing popularity.

So, boys and girls, time to get out those cast albums (or even the film soundtrack) and enjoy again "I Whistle a Happy tune", "Hello Young Lovers", "March of the Simese Children", "A Puzzlement", "Getting to know You", "We Kiss in a Shadow", "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?", "Something Wonderful", "I Have Dreamed" and "Shall We Dance" among others.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 9:36am

to this day, one of my favorite songs ever written is from this musical....

He will not always say
What you would have him say,
But now and then he'll do
Something Wonderful.

He has a thousand dreams
That won't come true,
You know that he believes in them
And that's enough for you.

You'll always go along,
Defend him where he's wrong
And tell him, when he's strong
He is Wonderful

He'll always need your love
And so he'll get your love-
A man who needs your love
Can be Wonderful.

Something Wonderful never fails to bring me to tears.......

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 9:42am

When I was 5 or 6 I was in King and I and it was my first real show.

I was a bleached blonde naturally and my parents dyed my hair black. My Dad was the King. It was a great early theatre experience.

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 3:36pm

I saw the show in revival in the 80's with Yul Brynner as the King and Constance Towers as Anna. It was amazing to see him play that role. I always got goosebumps watching the "Shall We Dance" scene. The most vivid memory, though, was the curtain call. When Mr. Brynner came striding out, the audience all stood applauding like mad. He stood there with this stern look on his face -- every inch still the King -- then he smiled and threw his hands up in the air. Immediately after he did this the audience went wildly vocal, cheering as well as applauding.

To this day, when I hear "Shall We Dance" I get goosebumps.

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 3:39pm

Elphaba, I completely agree. My favorite song from THE KING AND I, and one of my top 5 songs they ever wrote.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 3:54pm

Then I won't offer up my opinion on "Something Wonderful"

*whistles innocently*

"You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" --Family Guy

"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.

Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 4:00pm

Don't forget the god-awful TV series based on the show that he starred in.

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 4:12pm

Gertrude Lawrence was amazing. One of the best of all time for sure.

I just get scared she will be forgetten as the years go on, and one all the people who actually got to see her in the original production are gone.

Thank God, the cast album will remain, and her solo material.

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 4:52pm

wish i could have seen this like 50 years ago!

i was stuck with the stupid cartoon version...

#10

re: Another musical theatre mileston anniversary...

Posted: 3/29/06 at 4:56pm

I think I agree about Gertrude Lawrence's singing. This is the one case where I prefer Marni's dubbing to the broadway actress. Then again, I grew up with the movie, so I could be a bit biased.

But anyway, this was the 2nd R&H musical I was introduced to, following Sound of Music. I've come to realize since that I do think it is my favorite R&H musical, and that Sondheim is right. Yul Brenner...what can you say?...and a feminist piece as well. One of the most satisfying (I mean well-done, not that it's like the happiest...) endings in a show. It's very difficult to watch that scene on stage or on film with completely dry eyes.

And "Something Wonderful" is my favorite K&I song too!

Though a special mention has to be given to "Getting To Know You". I knew that song when I was 4, and my family always laugh b/c one day they remembered me singing these lyrics (in case you don't know, the actual lyrics are 'Having to notice suddenly I'm bright and breezy') :

"Having to know this...sunny and jumberezee" When I think of my 4-year old voice singing that, I still crack up.

"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli

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