Review of The King & I at The Lowry by Natalie Anglesey

 

THE KING & I, is at THE LOWRY, SALFORD THIS WEEK STARRING HELEN GEORGE AS ANNA. Review by Natalie Anglesey

The smash-hit musical, The King & I, is at The Lowry, in Salford for one week only starring Helen George as Anna, ahead of its West End run at London’s Dominion Theatre where I guarantee you’ll be paying a great deal more for your tickets.

Helen George is already known and loved by millions as Trixie Franklin in the popular television series, Call The Midwife, which recently returned to BBC One for a Christmas special and a new 2024 series. But who knew she could not only command a huge stage production but that she could sing like a dream!

For those of us brave enough to admit as a child seeing the film starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner, this truly magical stage production, does not disappoint.  Helen George is reunited with her previous co-star, Broadway and film actor, Darren Lee, who played The King on Broadway. Helen returns to the stage to reprise the lead role she played earlier this year to sold out theatres across the UK. Both deserve the rave reviews they've already received for their performances.

Directed by Bartlett Sher (South Pacific / My Fair Lady / To Kill A Mockingbird), this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical masterpiece will play all this week at Salford’s Lowry Theatre until 13 January before heading to Eastbourne for a week and then London’s Dominion Theatre on 20 January for a strictly limited six-week season.

Helen admits: “I am so delighted to play the formidable Anna Leonowens in this incredible production of The King and I. I’m thrilled to bring the show to Eastbourne and Salford ahead of the West End season. I think it so important to bring big lavish West End productions to the regions – Salford and Eastbourne are in for a real treat!” Having seen it for myself I wholeheartedly agree.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, living in  an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

The King and I is a sumptuous romance from the golden age of musicals, adored by the public and critics alike – and boasting one of the finest scores ever written, including Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, and Shall We Dance.

Following the original Broadway smash-hit run at the Lincoln Center Theater, a sold-out season at the London Palladium (which resulted in the biggest live global event cinema release of 2018) and two record-breaking UK and International tours, including Japan. This lavish production will entertain audiences once again by an internationally renowned creative team under the direction of Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher. It features a world-class company of over 50 talented performers with a full-scale orchestra.

The critical acclaim for this production has been phenomenal. When the show opened at the London Palladium in 2018, West End critics heaped much praise with the general consensus being “it's simply spellbinding”. I urge you to fight for a ticket as it’s only here this week. Worth every penny!