BWW Reviews: OSTC Stages Terrific THE KING AND I

Ocean State Theatre Company closes the inaugural season at its new Warwick location on a high note with a winning production of The King and I.

The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is based on the true story of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens, a nineteenth-century widow employed as schoolmistress to the household of the king of Siam. The King and I follows Anna (played by Alison Mahoney) and her young son Louis (Connor Buonaccorsi) as they embark on a new life in the royal court and adapt to a culture decidedly different from their familiar western world.

OSTC has a knack for assembling top-notch casts and the company is true to form here again. The King and I boasts a solid group of musical performers - including several rising stars in the children's cast - and an especially impressive set of principal actors.

Christopher Swan plays the king, and he is unquestionably the heart and soul of this production. Swan is engaging and charismatic, embodying the king's royal bluster, his enthusiastic inquisitiveness, and his far-reaching vision. He also well portrays the king's inner conflict as he strives to maintain the culture and heritage of Siam while also reaching out to scientific studies and western societies. Swan effortlessly conveys both stern strength and gentle humor with the simplest of looks and the smallest of gestures.

Mahoney establishes all the feistiness and fire of the strong-minded Anna, standing her ground unflinchingly before the Siamese king and court, yet still retains her character's romantic playfulness of spirit. She has an easy rapport with the children (especially Buonaccorsi) and with the king's many wives, but her scenes with the king shine the brightest. Swan and Mahoney allow the relationship between Anna and the king to develop naturally, taking the time to build their understanding by moving gradually from an antagonistic start to an unlikely friendship and affection.

Shawna Haeji Shin and Hyemi Kim are outstanding as reluctant junior wife Tuptim and first wife Lady Thiang, respectively. Shin brings great charm and poise to her portrayal of Tuptim, breathing life into her character's hopes and fears. Kim, who has a lovely singing voice, likewise layers her performance of Lady Thiang with an undercurrent of intensity, giving notable depth and passion to her role.

Sam Simahk plays Tuptim's ill-fated lover, Lun Tha, and he showcases his vocal talents to particularly strong effect in the second act song "I Have Dreamed." Buonaccorsi and Andrew Faria (as Crown Prince Chululongkorn) work well together as scene partners and develop an endearing camaraderie as their characters grow up side by side in the palace schoolroom.

Director Amiee Turner makes full use of OSTC's stage and scenery. Anna's dance with the king sweeps over the boards with abandon, and the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet is an impressively precise and captivating piece of theater. OSTC also scores high marks for the quality of the set design (by Bert Scott), which provides an illusion of great depth to the performance space. The production's sumptuous costumes (by David Costa-Cabral) are a visual delight, ranging from Anna's graceful hoop skirts to the rich and colorful array of the royal wardrobes to the dazzling, bejeweled pieces used in the "Uncle Thomas" ballet.

Performances of The King and I run through May 19, 2013 at the Ocean State Theatre Company. Tickets range from $39-54 and can be purchased online at www.OceanStateTheatre.org, by phone (401) 921-6800, or at the OSTC box office, 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI. Rush tickets are available. Call (401) 921-1777 x112 for information on group discounts.

Photo by Mark Turek.

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