Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘The King and I’ Gets the Royal Treatment at Hollywood Pantages

Lindsey Styrwoll

L.A. audiences will be getting to know Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” as it opens this month at the Hollywood Pantages for a six-week run that spans the holiday season. The tale of East-meets-West that has enchanted theatergoers for nearly seven decades again proves its staying power as it reaches a new generation that may be surprised to learn that it’s the source of whistle-worthy tunes they’ve heard before. The show’s 1951 Broadway debut made a star of Yul Brynner and the show has since become an enduring favorite, winning a Tony for Best Revival in 1996.

The show is based on the story of British schoolteacher Anna Leonowens and King Mongkut of Siam as originally told in Leonowens’ own memoirs, a 1944 novel, “Anna and the King of Siam,” and a film version of the same name starring Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne. It was originally proposed as a star vehicle for an actress-of-a-certain-age, Gertrude Lawrence, and the project was initially turned down by Cole Porter. But spurred on by their respective wives, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein picked up the challenge, and dug deeper to find the core narrative that they felt the novel lacked.

In the musical production, Anna, a widower and mother, is summoned to the country with the task of educating the king’s court in the ways of the ever-encroaching West. Though the king is aware of changing times, an attitude evident by his recruitment of Anna’s, he proves resistant to any change that may threaten his all-powerful status or iron-clad beliefs. The two establish a tender yet tumultuous relationship as they bicker and test one another, ultimately settling into a mutual respect that runs soul deep.

Sure, times have changed since the musical’s debut, and even more since two original characters met in 1860s Bangkok. Both societal norms and sexual mores have bended immeasurably: issues of slavery and women’s rights have been settled by consensus in the civilized world. And little controversy is stirred by the undercurrents of forbidden romantic love that fuel clashes between Anna and the King.

So while there’s no question that a 1950s take on race and sex cannot exist without a few clanky moments, at its heart, the story celebrates love – of country, of tradition, and of two strong-willed adults fighting for all they hold dear. It’s that kind of outsized love that befits soaring a Broadway musical. With its timeless tunes – including “Getting to Know You” and “Shall We Dance” – and opulent sets, this production, rich in spectacle, is a must-see for the holiday season.

“The King and I“ is at the Hollywood Pantages Dec. 13 through Jan. 21. Tickets are here.