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'King And I' To Be Staged In Tarpon
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Published: July 5, 2008
A much loved classic will bring the story of both the clash and fusion of cultures to Tarpon Springs audiences in July.
"The King and I" will open at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center on Thursday, July 10.
The musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein is the story of Anna, an English school teacher who became the tutor of the children of King Mongkut, king of Siam, which is present-day Thailand. The bittersweet plot concerns the clash of the English and Siamese cultures.
The play opened on Broadway in 1951 and won a Tony Award for best musical. The play spawned such musical favorites as "Getting to Know You," "Shall We Dance?" and "Whistle a Happy Tune."
Although the musical is popular with community theater groups, it has not been done in the Tarpon Springs area recently, according to Jamie Bierchen, who is directing this production. It is marked by strong acting, noted Bierchen in a telephone interview from Valencia, Spain, where he was on business.
"He's every bit a king," he said of Jim Demetrius, who plays the part of King Mongkut, the role made famous on film by actor Yul Brynner.
Anna is played by Kathleen Goelz. "When she puts on that dress and starts doing those lines, she's perfect for the part," Bierchen observed.
Bierchen, a veteran director of community theater, noted outstanding actresses with whom he had worked in other plays had auditioned for the Anna role, but he had still chosen Goelz because he felt she was the perfect Anna.
The production is distinguished by its "visually stunning" costumes, said Bierchen. They were designed and created by Helen Campbell.
The lowdown
The production of "The King and I" at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, and will run 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from Friday, July 11, through Sunday, July 27. The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center is at 324 Pine St., inside City Hall. Tickets are $18 general and $16 for members. For more information call 727-942-5605, or visit www.tarponarts.org>.
Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 cbentley@suncoastnews.com.
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