The King and I - Lincoln Center- Page 2
The King and I - Lincoln Center
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#25The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:47pm
"Anna, by the way, is not a soprano role. It's actually not a singing role at all."
Bingo. Gertrude Lawrence, the original Mrs. Anna did not have a lilting soprano voice. I think Hui He, a Met soprano currently playing Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly, might be a good choice as Tuptim (she's a little young for Lady Thiang but could be a lovely Tuptim-I saw her as Aida, actually-and she possesses a beautiful voice).
As for Lady Thiang, I'm guessing some other Met lady. (Lea Salonga is an outside possibility, but she's been doing Allegiance, which could land next season.) You need someone who can hit the notes in "Something Wonderful" with authority.
The King is the toughest role to cast, IMO. You need someone with a lot of charisma and presence.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#26The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:48pm^ Think I saw him do the role at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Maria Friedman. It's a thankless role, The King, IMO... It's Anna's show through and through. But yeah they'll have get a big draw for the role of the King anyway, whoever it is.
candydog2
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/07
#27The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 12:58pm
I prefer an older Anna of at least 40. It's not exactly an ingenue role. Even Lansbury was 52 when she stepped in to the 1977 revival for a brief engagement.
I think that Victoria Clark would be wonderful casting personally. All the other actors? Maybe some talented unknowns in need of a break and then someone recognisable and respected for the King.
#28The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:03pmI really don't get Bart Sher's thing for Kelli O'Hara. I agree with givesmevoice, I think O'Hara has a very pretty voice but there's no real emotional depth to it. I would much prefer to see Kate Baldwin or Laura Benanti in the role. Both have the gravitas to pull it off, and I think both would make far more interesting choices for the part than O'Hara would. But I'm also aware that I'm in the minority with regard to my feelings about her.
#29The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:11pm
How about Bryan Cranston for the king? We already know he looks good with a shaved head. And can you imagine how hot a ticket it would be with him in the role?
I'm sort of kidding, by the way. But sort of not.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#30The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:12pmOMG I totally forgot about Victoria Clark. I just got chills thinking about her in the role. Perfect age, perfect stature, perfect presence, perfect billing, Tony-winner, and she's worked with Sher before. She'd be perfection.
#31The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:16pm
"It's a thankless role, The King, IMO..."
It might seem so today (particularly if you've never seen a really good King), but remember that it's the role that made Yul Brynner an international star - akin to what Lorelei Lee did for Carol Channing.
#32The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:27pmIt wouldn't be politically correct today, but I would have LOVED to see Raul Julia play the King. He's the only actor I can think of who could have possibly eclipsed Brynner in the role.
#33The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:29pmJust think what they could do with the production design with all that stage space. I vote for Raul Esparza as the King. Maybe he and Kelli can finally get their Tonys.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#34The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:36pmLC is perfect for this show with its gigantic stage space... I can only imagine the opulence of the design...
#35The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 1:43pmI doubt Esparza will be the King, or anyone not Asian at this point. Not only because of the backlash over this, but because only the show's iconic status prevents it from being protested over the somewhat reductive Engrish spouted by the Siamese characters.
wonkit
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
#36The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:02pmI guess that means that political correctness (or whatever) would prevent Yul Brynner from being cast today. He was Russian, not Asian. I second Esparza as the King - time to get him out of TV land (even though I adore his Dr. Chilton in HANNIBAL).
#37The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:04pm
It raises that monster of a question, darquegk, of how to approach the ethnic background of the actor they choose to play the King. How "Asian" must he be? Fully Thai? Fully any Asian (anywhere between Surabaya, Seoul, and Kathmandu)?
Brynner was (probably) almost entirely of Russo-European descent, although there is the possibility that was a bit of Buryat-Mongolian blood there. Lou Diamond Phillips' background was comprised of a father who identified as 3/4 European/1/4 Native American and a Filipina mother who self-identified as more Spanish than Asian.
Darren McGavin, who played the role in 1966, was, of course, fully white, as was Rex Harrison (my personal favorite portrayal of King Mongkut).
It's a very delicate question - a difficult role to play both respectfully and adeptly (I though Phillips gave off an air of 2-week summer stock, but acknowledge others thought he was great).
Who do you think could excel in the role (not just mildly satisfy - I mean, why do a major Broadway revival if it's no better than a Paper Mill production?), and would be accepted politically?
#38The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:13pm
I know this is probably a terrible suggestion, but Mark Dacascos (from Iron Chef America) is someone I'd be fascinated to see try it.
I also have a bit of a crush on Terry Chen, whose work I've enjoyed on both Bates Motel and House of Cards.
#39The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:15pm
I guess that means that political correctness (or whatever)
Oh my lord.
#40The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:31pm
The King is a hard role. I'd be willing to say a nigh-impossible role, because his whole character teeters uncomfortably on camp and on "Confucius say..." Yoda-like Orientalism. The convention that he does not entirely sing, but often barks out his musical phrases makes him a more bizarre, vaguely alienating presence.
Yul Brynner was very good, but also got very lucky being what they call "ambiguously brown" in an era when that was considered good enough to play Asian onstage and onscreen. He was also a movie star, doing The Ten Commandments the same year the musical opened. That star power amplified the King's monolithic presence in the play.
Today, there ARE no major Asian movie stars in America who aren't best known as martial artists first. There is more diversity on TV, but no clear candidates for The King- Daniel Dae Kim played the role already but got rather bad reviews, and Dexter's C. S. Lee doesn't have the right gravitas for the role- the King may be often puckish, but he isn't ALL puckish. If actually being Asian was not an issue, Bryan Cranston would not jump out to me, but his co-star Giancarlo Esposito would.
#41The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:46pmGreat timing... there's an event tonight at The New School, called "Asian American Actors on the Stage," and it's free. http://sagfoundation.org/userhome/eventdetails/10716
NewSynchopation
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/13
#42The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 2:50pmI am extremely excited about this. King and I is my favorite R&H show by far and I welcome any revival of the show they can give me, but I think the Palace once Holler closes would be a better venue.
#43The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:01pm
We are never gonna have an Asian star if they don't give them the roles! I trust Sher, he cast Loretta Ables Sayre in SOUTH PACIFIC without batting an eye. Hopefully, he'll go the same route with the King and Lady Thian.
And I don't think the complaints about O'Hara are related to doubts about whether she can do the part justice or not, it's the fact that no one else gets cast in these roles. Benanti would be sublime as Anna, it's a shame she won't get to play it.
#44The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:06pm
Well, apparently it's been confirmed that O'Hara will star.
Broadway.com story
#45The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:48pm
"He was also a movie star, doing The Ten Commandments the same year the musical opened. That star power amplified the King's monolithic presence in the play."
The play opened in 1951; his film career didn't really begin until 1956, with the film version, along with "Anastasia" and "The Ten Commandments."
#46The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:56pmI don't see why it matters that the King be someone well known- if it's being staged by Lincoln Center, it's not for profit, so it doesn't matter if the production isn't a blockbuster. And personally, though I don't know the show well, I would rather see the role go to a talented and unknown actor who is actually Asian rather than a famous white actor trying to pass for Asian. Honestly, it's astounding that to think otherwise is still even a conversation today.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#47The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 3:57pm
Should anyone be interested, Anna Leonowens arrived in Siam at the age of 32 and left at the age of 37.
Beyond that, I don't see anything in the show that suggests that Anna is older.
#48The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 4:06pm
We are never gonna have an Asian star if they don't give them the roles!
Best thing said so far in this thread.
#49The King and I - Lincoln Center
Posted: 4/7/14 at 4:47pmDoes B.D. Wong have the gravitas for the King?
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