26th April 2025
Everybody's Talking About Jame
Whitehaven Theatre Group Trust Ltd, The Solway Hall
The King And I
Author: Jackie Kay
Information
- Date
- 8th April 2016
- Society
- St Philips Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society Bolton
- Venue
- Commerce House Bolton
- Type of Production
- Musical Review
- Director
- Wallace Wareham
- Musical Director
- Philip Harper
- Choreographer
- Barbara Grant
After 90 years of performing shows at the same church hall, the society have moved to a new venue.. A great show was chosen for their 90th Anniversary ` The King and I.` With super staging and wonderful coloured costumes, a brilliant orchestra, and great cast, the audience were treated to a night to remember.
Terri Harper was excellent as Anna Leonowens, the governess brought to Siam to teach the children of the King. She sang and acted beautifully. Playing the King of Siam was Dean Richardson who certainly had the Yul Brynner look. This part was well played.
I enjoyed the performance of the two young lovers Tuptin and Lun Tha (Louise Davenport and Zack Thornley). Their duet `We Kiss In The Shadows` was stunning.
Heather Ogden was wonderful as Lady Thiang the King`s first wife. Her rendition of` Something wonderful` was so well sung. Anyone wanting to study stage makeup should see the transformation of the` Heather` into `Lady Thiang`. She was almost unrecognisable.
The two young men in the show were brilliant. Quin Tappenden and Joseph Dickman shone with very different characters. Quin played Louis Leonowens (Anna`s Son), and Joseph was Prince Chulalongkorn (the King`s first son and future King) Both were well cast. They sang and acted really very well.
All the smaller roles were well cast and all played faultlessly. I am a real fan of children in shows and the Siamese Children did not disappoint. You were fabulous.
There were a number of beautiful scenes and I must mention some of the ones I loved. The `Uncle Tom`s cabin` scene was brilliant. The story was told by Tuptin and acted by cast members with fantastic costumes.
The well known `Shall we Dance` number was superb, performed by Anna and the King, One of the most emotional scenes was the finale as the king dies. This brought many a tear with the audience, I certainly had out the hankies. Brilliant.
At the end of the show I was so pleased to present NODA medals to society members. Thank you for a lovely evening`s entertainment ,as always, I look forward to your shows .
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