Based on the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon
Directed by John Van Druten
Choreographed by Jerome Robbins
Opened March 29, 1951 at St James theater on Broadway and ran
1246 performances
Pictured
are:Front row (l. to r.): Jessica
Schwartz (Brookfield), Bing Gaumer Klein (Norwalk), Olivia
Minor (Danbury), Brooke Morris (Danbury) and Seamus Oeser
(Brookfield). Middle row, l. to r.: Molly Gaumer Klein
(Norwalk), Patty Kohn (Weston) and Priscilla Squiers (Danbury). Back row (l. to r.): Anna Oeser (Brookfield),
Zachary Jackson (Danbury), Fallon Oeser (Brookfield), Johann
George (Brookfield), Allie Bukowski (Danbury) and Deanna
Lasco (New Fairfield).
Missing from photo is Kayla Paige Fuhst of Carmel, NY.
photo by Kerry Long KerryLongPhoto@gmail.com
Synopsis:
ACT 1
The musical opens on a sailing vessel carrying a widow, Mrs Anna
Leonowens and her son Louis towards Bangkok. The time is the early
1860's. Anna, who has been appointed governess to the children
of the King of Siam, is greeted by the Prime Minister. He has
been assigned to show Anna to her rooms in the Palace. Anna is
not pleased: she had been promised a monthly salary and a house
of her own; but she agrees to go to the Palace to speak with the
King.
A courtier, Lun Tha arrives from Burma with Tuptim, a present
to the King. Sadly Lun Tha and Tuptim have fallen in love, but
cannot be together. Anna is introduced to the King who dismisses
her request for a house. Lady Thiang, the head wife, tries to
explain the situation to Anna, but she has already formed her
own opinion of the King's manner.
When the children are introduced to Anna, her apprehensions are
quelled as she falls in love with them. She begins teaching, enjoying
the new challenges, but meets difficulties explaining snow to
children who have never seen it, and explaining Burma's presence
on the World Map. The King is supportive and secretly seeking
to learn all he can himself, but angers Anna with his constant
dismissal of any promise of a house.
Lun Tha and Tuptim continue to meet secretly, chaperoned by Anna.
Lady Thiang begs Anna to go to the King who, having received a
letter from the British suggesting he is a barbarian, is in need
of advice but too proud to ask for it. Anna goes to the King and
plans are made that a visit by the British diplomat Sir Edward
Ramsay will be an opportunity to put on a dinner, ball and play
to try to create a better impression. The Act closes with the
King ordering the court to pray for help in their cause, and making
a promise to Anna to give her the house she has pestered him for.
ACT 2
The dinner is a great success, despite the discomfort of the King
during Tuptim's presentation of "The Small House of Uncle
Thomas", and Sir Edward leaves persuaded that the King and
his regime are not barbaric. The King is pleased with Anna and
in their growing friendship is enforced by the King's insistence
that Anna teach him the "English dance".
The mood is broken with the news that Tuptim and Lun Tha have
vanished together. On their discovery, Lun Tha is killed and Tuptim
returned to the Palace. The King is enraged and, about to whip
Tuptim, is reminded by Anna that the action is savage and barbaric
and that this is a trait he had strived so hard to reject. The
King turns away. Anna packs her bags, feeling unable to stay she
plans to embark the next boat leaving Bangkok.
Then she receives a note from the King, who is dying, expressing
his gratitude to her. Anna reaches the King just in time. He is
surrounded by his wives and children who beg her to stay. Anna
realizes how much she loves then and they need her, especially
Prince Chululongkorn, who will succeed his father. She agrees
to stay, whereupon the King dies.
Song
List
Overture
I Whistle A Happy Tune
My Lord And Master
Hello, Young Lovers
The March Of The Siamese Children
A Puzzlement
Getting To Know You
We Kiss In A Shadow
Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?
Something Wonderful
I Have Dreamed
Shall We Dance?
Distinctions
Winner of five Tony Awards in its original
1951 production and ten Tony Awards for the 1996 revival. Revived
on Broadway in 1977 and 1985 with Yul Brynner as the King, and
in 1996 with Lou Diamond Phillips as the King and Donna Murphy
as Anna.
Cast:
CHILD -
Allie Bukowski
KRALAHOME - Joseph Bukowski
WIFE - Kaitlyn Fay
WIFE - Charity Ferris
WIFE - Carrie Gallagher
WIFE - Erin McDonald
CHILD - Olivia Minor
CHILD - Kayla Paige Fuhst
CHILD - Shannon Gaffrey
CHILD - Molly Gaumer Klein
CHILD - Bing Gaumer Klein
CHILD - Johann George
CHILD - Zachary Jackson
CHILD - Patty Kohm
CHILD - Deanna Lasco
WIFE - Courtney Lepere
INTERPRETER,Phra Alack - Carl Lepere
LUN THA
KING OF SIAM - Damian Long
LOUIS - Kieran Minor
CHILD - Brooke Morris
CHILD - Fallon Oeser
CHILD - Seamus Oeser
CHILD - Anna Oeser
WIFE - Liz Ommundsen
PRINCE CHULULONGKORN - Sammy Panzarino
WIFE - Melanie Romano
CAPT ORTON, SIR RAMSAY - Ted Schwartz
CHILD - Jessica Schwartz
TUPTIM - Betsy Simpson
LUN THA- Robert Sniffin
ANNA - Priscilla Squiers
WIFE - Margo Virzera
LADY THIANG - Erin Volpintesta
WIFE - Amelia Wellers
