THE KING AND I 96 Revival- Page 2

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 6:09pm

Question: as the original King and I was Lawrence's property so to speak, what was her relationship like with Yul Brynner (especially since he was unknown at the time)? Is it true that she's the one who suggested him for the role?

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 7:18pm

It was Mary Martin who suggested Brynner, who had been in Lute Song with her.

According to all accounts, Lawrence was very happy with Brynner. A oft-repeated story is that on her deathbed she requested that he be raised to star billing.

Some accounts suggest that Brynner really directed their scenes together and that he was the only one who could keep her in line. The credited director, playwright John Van Druten, was weak. Josh Logan, bitter about his treatment by R&H on South Pacific, turned it down, something he later regretted. So Brynner more or less directed the Anna-King scenes, overseen by Hammerstein, who directed the show as a whole, while Robbins staged the numbers, Brynner may have rehearsed privately with Lawrence. Maybe she was a little attracted to him, although she was bisexual.


Updated On: 10/18/06 at 07:18 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 7:42pm

This was my first Broadway show and I enjoyed it.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 7:45pm

i thought it was a stunningly designed production

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 8:38pm

I was very impressed with this revival. After having seen the film version only....I was quite speechless with the sets as they were quite stunning. The actors were fantastic, and I'm so glad they kept "Lord and Master" and "I Have Dreamed" in the production. Surprisingly, Lou Diamond Philips was quite good as well despite the comments I read about him. The only critique I have is the blocking of "Lord and Master" and the actress who played Tuptim. The staging of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was so close to the film version I thought it wasn't a live performance.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 9:35pm

so was the revival any different than the original? anything taken out or added or changed?

was the tour with Maueen McGovern based on this revival? because if it was it was beautiful... she replaced haley mills, right?

oh and the orchestrations to the 96 revival are superb

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 9:36pm

i have an article about the revival that was in my playbill from the carousel revivial.. i do believe that nothing was changed in the text from what i read/recall.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:04pm

The 1996 revival sets were designed by Brian Thomson who is the set designer of the stage version of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT currently playing in Sydney.

This revival started off as an Australian production in Adelaide (1992?), and played Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and starred Hayley Mills. The primary producer was John Frost who is one of the Broadway HAIRSPRAY producers and is involved with PRISCILLA as well.

[pants2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:09pm

oh faith prince was terrible, she burst out laughng twice during the performance, in serious moments, like when she's trying to convince the kind not to beat the girl, i forget her name

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:28pm

Tuptim.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:04am

Changes were made. The overtura was cut except for those opening chords and "Western People Funny" was cut. And they spoke in Thai instead of miming speaking while the orchestra musically represented their speaking. I think there were no other major changes, at least none that I recall, though there were some changes to the orchestrations and changes to the vocal arrangements on "We Kiss in a Shadow" and "I Have Dreamed," changes that I think Rodgers would not have liked.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:04am

I saw this production in London in 1999 or 2000(with Jason Scott Lee as the King) and I was blown away by the sets. Again, this was probably one of the reasons I became a Set Designer. The opening market set was so cool, I still remember it quite vividly.

Akiva

[TomMonster]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 2:59am

I loved the production. Brian Thomson and the director spent time in Thailand to design it as closely to the real palace and environments that Anna would have known.

Ironically, the show and films, are banned in Thailand. The Yul protrayal is offensive to the King of Thailand. Mongut had been educated at Oxford and spoke perfect English. Also, while Anna's books are not banned, it's now become clear that she lied about alot of what transpired in that court...

More ironic is that the silk industry in Thailand was re-discovered by Jim Thompson (an ex-WWII spy) who fell in love with Thailand and wanted to re-invent the ancient Thai silk industry.

The original Broadway and film versions of the show used all of his silks and traditional designs.

After leaving his wife after the war he built a fantastic traditional teak wood house in Bangkok and set up shop. He disappeared, mysteriously, while on vacation and no one knows what happened.

His house has become a museum, with all of his amazing collections of art and design, and some very clear insight into his "gay" sexual activities...

And his silk is still considered the best in the world.

However, even though his silk, and Anna's book are allowed, the Thai people are truly offended by the R&H treatment of their King. (FYI: The current King is the longest running monarch on the planet and also was born in Mass!)

EDIT: So, if you've ever bought a Jim Thompson scarf--you can just whistle a happy tune...

Updated On: 10/19/06 at 02:59 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 7:52am

Akiva, how was Elaine Page in that production? I have both the US and London recordings.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:41pm

I found a fascinating book in the library called "Louis and the King of Siam" which continued the story. Anna and Louis returned to England where Louis attended Oxford, then they came back to Siam where Louis became a military advisor to King Chulalongkorn and Anna continued teaching the children of the royal family (the new king's children as well as his younger siblings). According to the book, Anna was rather eccentric in her old age.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/19/06 at 12:57pm

"Anna was rather eccentric in her old age."

I think she was eccentric in her young age as well. She came telling people that she was a widow, but rumor had it that Louis' father was still alive, yet never married to Anna.