Our very own Lisa Burns gives her verdict on a classic musical which dazzled the Palace Theatre in Manchester...

Theatre audiences are currently being dazzled by a revival of the old classics.

Recently we have been treated to Anything Goes, My Fair Lady and now the The King and I.

This sumptuous show, starring Annalene Beechey as Anna Leonowens, wowed the Palace Theatre in Manchester following its critically acclaimed West End run.

The story revolves around Anna who is trying to make a living as an English teacher in Victorian times following the death of her husband.

She moves to the Far East with her young son Louis after she is appointed by the King of Siam as the teacher of his many children and his wives.

The King, played by Broadway’s Darren Lee, also wants Anna to help him modernise his country and he encourages her to show him her Western ways so he can win over the West and foreign visitors to his country.

The King and Anna are constantly in conflict with one another as the two cultures clash, but they also have a growing respect and love for each other, which neither of them will admit to.

Alongside this is the blossoming love of Tuptim, who has been given to the King as a gift (played by Marienella Phillips) and Lun Tha, played by Dean John-Wilson.

The King is angered by the romance, especially as Anna is seen to condone it.

Surrounding all this is Anna’s attempts to befriend the wives and the chaos which ensues as the King wants them to dress in Western clothes - especially as they struggle with the huge Victorian dresses and shoes worn by Anna.

The whole show is a feast for the eyes and ears, especially the exquisite costumes - from Anna’s lavish Victorian dresses in shiny silks, to the sparkling clothes of the King and his wives.

The songs are also a joy, with one of the finest scores ever written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance.

Annalene Beechey has an outstanding voice and her lilting tone was perfectly suited for the prim Anna. Every word could be heard clearly and she quite rightly earned a standing ovation at the end.

Darren Lee was also perfect as the King who is intent on bringing his kingdom into the modern world. Most of the comedy in the show also comes from him as he is infuriated by Anna’s ways as she constantly stands her ground against him.

The rest of the cast, including Cezarah Bonner as Lady Thiang and Caleb Lagayan as Prince Chulalongkorn, also complement the show with their singing and dancing.

The many children of the King also shine and add a touch of comedic cuteness to the musical.

The show, though quite long at nearly three hours, including the interval, is a joy from start to finish.

One quibble I would have, though, is that the sets were a little bland. The boat scene at the beginning promised so much, but the rest of the scenes were played out against a plain backdrop, some with just a curtain. But that aside, the songs, choreography, acting, singing and the all-round feel of the show more than made up for it.

If you missed it, The King and I is returning to Manchester in January 2024 at the Lowry Theatre.