Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings- Page 2

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 6:28pm

That was fast.

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 7:25pm

Love the casting of Jose Llana! Adding TKAI to my show lineup in Sept!!!

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 7:26pm

double post

Updated On: 6/18/15 at 07:26 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 8:23pm

"I'm surprised we haven't heard more vocal/written objections lately to this problematic role, a white-written "noble savage," a "barbarian" at heart who is trying to be "better" (i.e. more white), who descends into animal behavior but is ultimately redeemed by adopting Western (or "more evolved") morals. David Henry Hwang has written about this, but everyone seems quite quiet on the subject during this production."

People pick their battles. In the grand scheme of things, The King and I is a well-intentioned, relatively benign, and artistically significant work. The attempts to bring feminism to this production have, in my opinion, just caused more harm than good. And the way Ken Watanabe plays the role, the king is neither a noble savage nor a barbarian at heart. I don't see him as wanting to be better by trying to be more white but generally wanting to improve himself through education. It's all Anna's plans that involve adopting Western customs and morals. 

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 8:37pm

I saw Jose Llana in the 1996 version of TKAI and think his rendition of "I Have Dreamed" is one of the most beautiful (if not THE most beautiful) I have ever heard.

Also caught he and Lea Salonga in Flower Drum Song in L.A. on its pre-Broadway run.  He was great in that too.

Updated On: 6/19/15 at 08:37 PM

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 10:33pm

I'm surprised we haven't heard more vocal/written objections lately to this problematic role, a white-written "noble savage," a "barbarian" at heart who is trying to be "better" (i.e. more white), who descends into animal behavior but is ultimately redeemed by adopting Western (or "more evolved") morals.

Doesn't the song "Western People Funny" send up the Western civilizers pretty well?

 

I think Ken himself broke the news with a tweet 18 hours ago.

I am sad to announce that 7/12 will be my last day in The King and I. It has been a joy and honor to be part of such an amazing production.

On the show's web site it is said that Ken had always been scheduled to leave at this time due to a prior film commitment.

Funny that they never let the public know that. I'm surprised that this expensive and lavish production would cast one of the leads for less than six months, including previews.

Should the next King turn out to be a disappointment, a few ticket buyers are going to be unhappy.

 

Updated On: 6/19/15 at 10:33 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 10:39pm

Ken's July departure was announced in a March NY Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/theater/ken-watanabe-moves-from-samurai-to-the-king-and-i.html?_r=0

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/18/15 at 10:44pm

It seemed inevitable to me that Jose Llana would play the king. It was just a matter of when. That being said, I loved him in Here Lies Love and am excited to see him again.

I only know Hoon Lee from Banshee, but I enjoy being exposed to new performances, so I hope to get back to see him or Jose later in the year.

I wish Watanabe was able to do a longer run. His reception was mixed, of course, but I really enjoyed the intensity he put into the role.

Updated On: 6/18/15 at 10:44 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:07am

"I don't see him as wanting to be better by trying to be more white but generally wanting to improve himself through education."

But the key words left out of that sentence are "improve himself through white Western education."

We accept and adore The King & I because it's been around so long - nothing wrong there, it's just the appeal of the familiar; if the show were written today (as is), it would never make it to the workshop stage.

The modern version of this story would run something like: "Benevolent, wise, peaceful Asian monarch is beset on all sides by European powers demanding his ports for military purposes and his natural resources for commercial profit (a la Pacific Overtures).

While trying to deal with them through diplomacy, an aggressive repressed self-hating half-caste woman is appointed teacher to his court by the English Embassy. This woman has changed her name from Owens to Leonowens when she fled a charge of seducing her aboriginal students while in Australia.

She proceeds to harangue the King and his wives and children to abandon their traditional ways and be more like Westerners - repressed, over-clothed, monogamous, hypocritical.

One night, after a dinner for the British Embassy during which Anna has drunk far too much wine, she loses her inhibitions and attempts to seduce the King, who gently declines her offers. The next day, her sobriety, repressions, and shame return and she goes to the English ambassador and accuses the King of rape.

He, being the more evolved and "civilized" of the two, to protect what little reputation she has left, admits the charge and issues a formal apology, even though it puts him in the inferior position, diplomatically, with England.

Anna realizes too late what a terrible person she is, and  - what? Commits suicide? Emigrates to America, vowing to start anew and carry on the King's tradition of wisdom and peace?"

You decide.

Updated On: 6/19/15 at 09:07 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/19/15 at 9:40am

I first saw Jose as Chip in Spelling Bee off broadway when I was working at Second Stage, and loved him. I'd like to see him as the king. It's such a wonderful role, and I love the story as written for the stage.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/20/15 at 6:12pm

Would love to see Hoon Lee as the Engineer in Miss Saigon

[Musical Master]

Posted: 6/26/15 at 2:44am

Oops! There IS a thread to this bit of wonderful news. Big congrats to Jose Llana, quite a big circle he has made for himself; plus Hoon Lee would make a wonderful King, he is currently well known for being the current voice actor to play Master Splinter in the 2012 version of TMNT on Nickelodeon.

Updated On: 6/26/15 at 02:44 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/26/15 at 7:40am

It is interesting to note that the people who purchased tickets for the extension likely expected O'Hara and Watanabe, and now will see neither the week of July 18.  It's not a tragedy, but it is "King and I" with two entirely different leads than one might've expected storming the box office in April.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 6/26/15 at 11:40pm

The people who bought tickets for when Watanabe leaves are  damn lucky.

Ken Watanabe is unintelligible as the King. His diction is atrocious and he kept reminding me of Elmer Fudd. Can't imagine why this man was nominated for a Tony.

The revival is over rated. The best thing about this King and I is the ship but to me it sinks after that. With a King you can understand the show would have to be better.

To me the kudos for this revival was a puzzlement.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 6/27/15 at 6:04pm

"On the show's web site it is said that Ken had always been scheduled to leave at this time due to a prior film commitment.

Funny that they never let the public know that. I'm surprised that this expensive and lavish production would cast one of the leads for less than six months, including previews."

Technically, the show itself wasn't originally scheduled to run for six months.

"The people who bought tickets for when Watanabe leaves are damn lucky.

Ken Watanabe is unintelligible as the King. His diction is atrocious and he kept reminding me of Elmer Fudd. Can't imagine why this man was nominated for a Tony."

Watanabe does have a heavy accent, but I had no trouble understanding him at all (and while this may be sacrilege, I have somehow never seen or heard the movie or any performance, so it's not like I know the words). Watanabe was nominated because he commands the stage, is charismatic and has chemistry with every other actor on the stage, right down to the children, and is a fine actor. He has done quite a bit of stagework in Japan. Sorry you didn't enjoy him.

[justafan2]

Posted: 8/4/15 at 11:45am

I saw the show on Saturday and I felt that Jose was FABULOUS!  I had seen him previously in Flower Drum Somg and also Putnam County Spelling Bee and knew he was very good, but he exceeded my expectations as the King!  I saw Yul Brynner in the King and I revival and didn't think anyone could touch his performance, but Jose definitely did (IMO)---not only was his singing/acting great, but he added a comic touch with vocals and body movements.  I think he's only there for 12 weeks--too bad.