#1
Posted: 7/15/15 at 12:12am
So has anyone seen Jose in the role yet? How was he?
Jose Llana The king and I
#2
Posted: 7/15/15 at 12:59pm
I'm curious to hear as well. As talented as he is, he strikes me as being miscast in that role. Just my gut feeling, but I'll be happy if I'm proven wrong.
#3
Posted: 7/15/15 at 1:09pm
I think he's perfect for it and I love that he's sort of "graduated" from playing Lun Tha in the last revival to playing The King in this one. I almost wish he'd been cast initially so we'd have Llana on the cast album.
#4
Posted: 7/15/15 at 4:28pm
If you would believe it or not guys, it actually appears like Ken Watanabe will eventually return to the production. I saw 2 Instagram posts from cast/crew associated with the show (I forgot who, sorry) who in the comments when asked said that while Ken played his final performance this Sunday that he will be returning. I would assume he will return once Jose Llana and Hoon Lee wrap up their runs, but I am not 100% sure. Just wanted to let you guys know.
#5
Posted: 7/15/15 at 4:30pm
I was hoping to see him again before he left but I didn't get around to it so this is great news!! Hopefully something official will be posted to confirm this.
#6
Posted: 7/15/15 at 5:27pm
I was told that Ken would like to return early next year if the production is still running. I don't know how long Ms. Ohara is contracted for; some have said the end of this year. Ken I guess had a very large fan base, and brought in a lot of people from other countries. Next week Kelli will be out and her understudy will be on.
#7
Posted: 7/15/15 at 7:20pm
Has anyone else who's played this role (on Broadway at least) not shaved their head for it?
#8
Posted: 7/15/15 at 7:23pm
Lou Diamond Phillips only shaved the side down. He had hair on top.
#9
Posted: 7/15/15 at 7:24pm
"Has anyone else who's played this role (on Broadway at least) not shaved their head for it?"
Lou Diamond Phillips in the 1996 revival
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O17XJ7-Nh4A
#10
Posted: 7/15/15 at 8:17pm
I am much more interested in seeing Ken in the role than any of the new Kings, so I am glad to hear he may return.
#11
Posted: 7/15/15 at 8:27pm
I saw the show with Ken Watanabe right after opening in April, and honestly I thought he gave one of the most underrated performances of the season. His presence and emotions and the subtleties that he brought to the character were just so amazing that if I were you I would wait for Ken to return (if it holds up to be true). Even if he doesn't, the show will most likely run for a while so you wouldn't really be risking too much in waiting (except I wouldn't miss Kelli O'Hara because she was so good words can't even describe it). Enjoy the show though no matter who you see it with guys!
Updated On: 7/15/15 at 08:27 PM
#12
Posted: 7/15/15 at 8:37pm
I think he'll be great. So do the kids in the show.
#13
Posted: 7/15/15 at 9:17pm
I have tix for Sept to specifically see Jose Llana as King!!
#14
Posted: 7/16/15 at 1:44am
"I was told that Ken would like to return early next year if the production is still running. I don't know how long Ms. Ohara is contracted for; some have said the end of this year. Ken I guess had a very large fan base, and brought in a lot of people from other countries. Next week Kelli will be out and her understudy will be on."
Kelli O'Hara's scheduled absences from the show have been posted through December. It is thought that she will leave in January about when the current block of tickets on sale runs out.
#15
Posted: 7/16/15 at 11:36am
That's a great poster of Llana. I was in the area yesterday and it caught my eye. I'm going to try to see this with him in it. He was a great Lun Tha in the 1996 revival.
#17
Posted: 7/16/15 at 4:51pm
Great photo.
It's interesting to me the varying ages of the men who have been playing the King. Ken is 55, Jose is 39, and Lou Diamond Phillips was only 34 when he played the role! That's a 20+ year range!
#18
Posted: 7/16/15 at 9:51pm
I still would like to hear from someone who has seen him in it......
#19
Posted: 7/17/15 at 11:13pm
Just got out of the performance. Well of course Jose is a very seasoned stage performer. He is acting is very good. He had a great singing voice and very good diction. Dancing is fine. Got a lot of laughs. The only main issue I would have to say, especially from on stage, he could pass for a good 15 years younger than he actually is. If he was playing Lun Ta again I don't think I would think twice about it. So does make it a little odd when he talks about he didn't start having children to very late in life when he doesn't look very far along. Ironically he did look much older in his deathbed scene.
having not seen into the role I can't compare. But I would say José did a great job.
#20
Posted: 7/18/15 at 12:14am
I saw it tonight as well. Overall his performance was very good. I agree he came off as very young--much younger than I would think of for the King. I also think because he is physically smaller he didn't have the kind of command of the stage or presence as I imagine Ken Wantanabe must have had (although I didn't see it with him). He didn't seem intimidating to me. However, obviously his size is not within his control and I don't mean to diminish his performance. I thought it was a beautiful show and he did well in it--it just wouldn't be my dream casting. He has a beautiful voice and acted it very well--he was funny in all the right parts. I very much enjoyed his performance and I would not dissuade anyone from seeing it with him.
Obviously Kelli and Ruthie Anne were AMAZING. If I had to pick between waiting to see it when Ken Watanabe comes back but Kelli might be gone, I'd prioritize seeing Kelli in this role because Jose was certainly enjoyable to watch and did a great job.
#21
Posted: 7/18/15 at 12:58am
I am happy to hear that some of you thought it did a good job. I think I might get a chance to see him in it in the next month or so.
#22
Posted: 7/18/15 at 1:08pm
I'm am interested in hearing how Llana is doing in the role (Here Lies Love reunion with Miles and Ricamora!). When I saw it Watanabe, I admit I understood about 90% or more of what he said, but I could not take my eyes off of him. Watanabe absolutely commands the stage and gave such a rich performance. I went outside to smoke during Intermission, and I was happy to hear other audience members outside saying how incredible Watanabe was in the role and didn't mind if they didn't catch everything he said in "A Puzzlement". Cerveris deserved the Tony, but I do think I may have voted for Watanabe instead if his diction was just a little better.
#23
Posted: 7/18/15 at 4:34pm
I agree, Ken Watanabe gave one of the finish acting performances in a musical I've seen in at least the last decade. And aside a line or two in puzzlement I understood everything without a problem
#24
Posted: 7/18/15 at 6:00pm
I'm excited to see Jose in this part! I saw him in Here Lies Love and thought he was excellent. Going in two weeks
#25
Posted: 7/18/15 at 6:37pm
I saw him on Thursday and thought he was very good. I slightly preferred Watanabe, but Llana is a worthy replacement and makes the role his own.
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