The King and I - London Palladium / Tour / Dominion

Chicago with Todrick, West Side Story, Spice Girls, Jesus Christ Superstar, and now this? Crumbs, everyone in my family are getting hugs for Christmas this year.

who are the two in this picture?

^

This is Louise Dearman role right?! I mean, surely this is her gig. That's dream casting right there and it's the reason I'd go back to see a production of The King and I.

I don't think there was a suitable role for John Barrowman.

Kelli O'Hara Interview

In UK cinemas this Thursday and Tuesday 4th Dec

Louise has a history of touring to be fair, with Evita and Guys & Dolls to name her more well-known touring credits.

The screening tonight was superb. Kind of sorry I missed it live but hopefully I’ll catch the tour. The female leads were my highlight- Kelli O’Hara (obviously), Ruthie Ann Miles and Na-Young Jeon. The costumes and sets were gorgeous. I found the King hard to sympathize with until close to the end of the show.
The story is a little jarring in 2018- white woman goes to Siam to teach the locals about feminism and manners, but I guess many classic shows would fail the test if we scrutinized their book.
I loved the scene where the play was being acted out.
Arguably dodgy premise aside, it was a wonderful evening’s entertainment.

The sound was indeed really bad and I enjoyed it less than I did "live" in the Theatre where Kelli seemed so much warmer and better. Ken remained incredibly charismatic and Ruthie Ann's acting was superb even if her voice is not the greatest. I could not help but be distracted by the very obvious wig joins and thought a little more care with make up and lighting would have solved the problem.

The cinema broadcast of this on Thursday was absolutely magnificent! I was completely bold over when I saw it in person in June and the filmed version didn't disappoint. Everyone really brought their "A" game here and were brilliant.

I'm still in awe of Kelli O'Hara voice. When I saw her in the show in London, that's the only time to date that I've been so overwhelmed by a persons vocal ability alone that it has actually made me cry. Every other time that I've cried seeing someone sing on stage, it's always been because I've been emotionally invested in what they're singing about. Kelli O'Hara's version of "Hello Young Lovers" was just something else though! I went right passed chills onto tears. That's something I won't forget in a long time and although I didn't quite have that reaction watching it in the cinema, her voice still soared!

It was fantastic being able to see Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang as well. I saw Naoko Mori last time who I thought was great but I thought Ruthie was Extraordinary!! She acted it so well. She deserves major props too for being able to do the London run, particularly that role as well after the awful year she's had. I don't think I would have been able to do that had I been in her situation.

A brilliant night and should add that the sound in our screening was really good too.

Also, off topic but re my last post here (since I'm shockingly bad at actually posting my thoughts here at the time ) about seeing The Birthday Party and Julius Caesar. In short, saw both. I really enjoyed Shakespeare. Pinter, not so much..

That’s a shame; it’s a production that deserves rewatching time and time again.