'King and I' gets royal treatment at Lyric Opera
Aural and visual delights abound in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of “The King and I,” the majestic 1951 musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein about a British widow and the 19th-century Siamese monarch who employs her to teach his many children.
The musical is based on Margaret Landon's 1944 book “Anna and the King of Siam,” which was inspired by the memoirs of the real-life Anna Leonowens, who served as governess to the children and wives of King Mongut during the 1860s.
The fourth in Lyric's ongoing American Musical Initiative, this sumptuous production - initially staged by British director Lee Blakeley at Paris' Theatre du Chalet in 2014 - sounds as lovely as it looks.
Part of the credit belongs to conductor David Chase's stellar, 37-piece orchestra, an anomaly for musical theater where pit orchestras are typically half that size or smaller. Hearing Rodgers' score played by a large ensemble with a full complement of strings, brass and woodwinds is a real pleasure.
So is Kate Baldwin. A Broadway veteran with a crystalline voice, Baldwin's wistful “Hello, Young Lovers” reveals a woman who not only recalls youthful desire but welcomes its return. Not only does Baldwin sing superbly, her performance suggests a complex Anna Leonowens, who embodies the moral certitude of a nascent human rights activist and the residual imperialism of a colonialist. The canny Blakeley suggests the latter by having Anna command her servants by clapping her hands like the King, behavior that suggests she still enjoys the perks that accompany her privileged class.
Also impressive are Ali Ewoldt and Sam Simahk as the Burmese princess Tuptim and her beloved Lun Tha. Ewoldt's soaring soprano and Simahk's heroic tenor perfectly suit the young lovers, whose secret romance is a casualty of social class and cultural traditions. Blakeley drives home that point in his staging of their second act duet, where they cling to each other through a partition.
Blakeley's production glitters and sparkles. Designer Sue Blane embellishes her stunning, brightly hued costumes with gold and silver. The opulence extends to Jean-Marc Puissant's set. Dominated by sliding panels and towering backdrops, it includes a gleaming throne for Paolo Montalban's forward-thinking King, a monarch who values education and scientific inquiry but remains bound by tradition.
But gorgeous as it is, and Lyric's production is gorgeous, this “King and I” feels rather safe. In a musical where gender and cultural conflicts divide these potential soul mates, we never really sense the kind of tension that suggests the feelings developing between Anna and the King. Case in point: the iconic “Shall We Dance.” which seemed animated not so much by a growing, unspoken passion but by a kind of jolly kinship.
Still, the number earned enthusiastic applause opening night, as did choreographer Peggy Hickey's electrifying “The Small House of Uncle Thomas,” the showstopping ballet retelling of Harriet Beecher Stowe's “Uncle Tom's Cabin.”
Kudos to featured dancers Lisa Gillespie, David Tai Kim and Jason Garcia Ignacio, who play Eliza, her angel George and the murderous Simon of Legree.
While Montalban has charm, his vocal abilities pale in comparison to Baldwin and he lacks the kind of authority or heft that would make him credible as Anna's adversary or ally.
Alan Ariano is commanding as The Kralahome, the King's unwaveringly loyal prime minister. Rona Figueroa is both imposing and empathetic as the perceptive Lady Thiang, the King's first wife and mother of his heir, Prince Chulalongkorn, played with spirit and confidence by West Suburban native Matthew Uzarraga, who played the same role in Marriott Theatre's 2014 production.
“The King and I”
★ ★ ★
Location: Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, (312) 827-5600 or
Showtimes: Various times and dates through May 22
Running time: About three hours, with intermission
Tickets: Start at $29
Parking: Nearby parking garages and limited metered street parking
Rating: For most audiences