The King and I - London Palladium / Tour / Dominion

So I have to admitt I'd never heard of Ms. O'Hara until this was annouced. 
We had the Met Saturday Matinee on R3 a few weeks ago as background and I was amazed to hear the announcer at the end say she'd sung Despina.



www.newcriterion.com/issues/...chronicle-9785

“The great surprise of this production—even more than the bearded lady or snake-handler—was Kelli O’Hara in the role of Despina. O’Hara is maybe the greatest Broadway star of her age. And here she was in an opera, singing a role that is heavy on recitatives. In fact, Despina does relatively little singing—real singing, apart from recitative. When O’Hara had a chance to sing, I was delighted. Yet she handled her recitatives well too—with accurate pitch, for example. And her Italian was genuine Italian. She was perhaps a bit small of voice, but not too small, and I had this thought: if she has no need of being miked in this vast opera house, why does she have to be miked in the comparatively small theaters in which she spends her career? The overamplification of Broadway is one of the scandals and outrages of our age. In any event, Kelli O’Hara was fearless in her Mozart—and fearless in Mozart is a very hard and good thing to be.
May I say that few Despinas have ever been so beautiful? Also, I doubt the role was ever better acted. Finally, here is the big question: If you had no idea—if you knew nothing about Kelli O’Hara, this great, world-famous star of the musical theater—would you think she was an opera singer? A real, full-time opera singer? I think the answer is yes.”










I note todaytix say no seats currently available, but after watching these two, I'll confess. I'm prepared to kill for a ticket.

Interesting interview with Kelli O'Hara, including details on her training in opera and why she ended up focusing on musical theatre instead:

www.playbill.com/article/kelli-ohara-on-the-thrills-and-challenges-of-revisiting-opera-after-a-20-year-career-on-broadway

“Infuriating”? Why?

Thank you for posting the above @burlybear

How dare anyone find out about something later than another person!

Todaytix have already announced they will be doing rush so that's probably your best option.

On the day tickets, bought through the app at 10am

They are usually £25.
Difficult to say what availability will be like for King and I since it isn’t yet open but I usually find it ok

With Kelli O'Hara? Probably nil.

Beside, she should be very pregnant by then and I imagine someone will take over before the end of the run.

Naoko Mori? Of Absolutely Fabulous fame? How exciting!