Nehal Patel

Arts Event: The King and I

            As I entered the Saratoga Civic Center to see the Musical: “The King and I,” with Adrian Yee and Jason Hong, I was shocked to see many old people. We were the youngest in the whole building apart from the cast of the musical. Most of the audience was senior citizens. We got second row seats, because the person who sat there had to go to the hospital. I liked our seats because we could clearly see the stage except for the person’s head in front of me.  I also saw that there were many different instruments in front of the first row. An old lady who sat two seats away from me started talking to us. She was boasting about how her niece was in the play as one of the king’s many children.

 The musicians got in their chairs and the lights dimmed. The conductor played the gong and the music started. It was very dramatic and upbeat. The story started out where Anna, a schoolteacher, was sent to Thailand to teach the king’s many children. It was a very exciting atmosphere, the captain with the English accent, Anna’s son being happy, Anna having a huge smile on her face. As they reached Thailand the servant of the king was very odd, because he was bending 90 degrees the whole time. The king was very humorous and odd. He loved to say “etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...” which Anna had taught him. He spoke English quite well but this was probably just so everyone could understand him. The clothes everyone wore were very luxurious, bright, colorful, and expensive looking.

The children came in one by one bowing to the king, They were very young and innocent looking, except one: the king’s oldest son. He did not believe some of the teachings of Anna while everyone else did. The small children were very obedient and loved Anna. The king was very confident in his singing and quite good. Some of the songs were very emotional while others were happy.   Some songs they danced around the stages, others they stayed in one place.

The problem arises when Anna is offended and disturbed by the way the King behaves and thinks. Another problem in the story is that the King does not want one of his “present” to fall in love with another man. This is really cruel for a girl to be treated as a present.

After these problems had been brought up there was an intermission. I was shocked to see they sold candy and food outside the auditorium. We bought some candy and returned to our seats. We conversed of the play and how in some ways it was funny. The atmosphere was very happy and joyful. Some of the cast were talking to the audience and the musicians were speaking among themselves.

Then Act 2 started, and once again the lights dimmed and the musical started. Tuptim, the “present” to the king decided to run away. There was a very long song while she was running away. It was a very tense and upbeat song, showing the troubles that were brought while she was running away. The other wives were on the side of the stage chanting, “Run Eliza run! Run from Simon”. Simon, who looked like a demon was chasing her. I couldn’t not help to laugh since the way they said “Run Eliza run!” was hilarious. Tuptim was caught and the king was about to whip her in front of Anna but he couldn’t. You could se the frustration and sadness in the king’s face. The acting was very good and realistic. Later on the King and Anna resolved there problems and danced with each other. Tuptim and her lover were reunited once again.

The ending seemed to affect most of the audience.  This was a very classic ending to a story, though I was not disappointed. It was a very happy atmosphere when it ended; the cast were out talking to the audience taking pictures, especially the king.

Analysis

            This was a musical that I will remember forever. The story was original, but great, and the music sounded good. It was mixed with humor and emotion even though some parts were not to laugh about. The thing I liked most about the musical was that I didn’t lose interest in any of the parts and it was humorous. I thought the royal children would mess up on some of the parts, but they didn’t; it was a very well rehearsed musical. The thing that will stay in my mind most about this play is when the king said “Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...” I would go to something like this again, because it is very memorable and over just a great musical. I learned that live plays and musical can be a very rewarding experience. I also learned that musicals aren’t as boring as I thought they were and I underestimated them. I would definitely recommend for someone to go see the King and I or any other musical like it.