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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 22, 2018 20:41:54 GMT
I don't know King and I that well other than the Shall We Dance sequence (although I'm sure I'll know more parts of it when I see it), but are either of the lead roles that vocally or physically demanding? I mean, I'm sure those dresses are heavy on the actresses of course, but otherwise? The roles will not be an issue for musical theatre trained performers and barring illness I would have thought the leads will do 8 shows a week. Anna is rarely off stage throughout the long show and then it really is a two person affair as the title would suggest. Other roles having little stage time and underwritten. The show is about Anna and her relationship with the King and they have to do all the heavy lifting. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Apr 22, 2018 23:43:44 GMT
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Post by Mr Snow on May 3, 2018 19:14:54 GMT
So I have to admitt I'd never heard of Ms. O'Hara until this was annouced. We had the Met Saturday Matinee on R3 a few weeks ago as background and I was amazed to hear the announcer at the end say she'd sung Despina. www.newcriterion.com/issues/...chronicle-9785“The great surprise of this production—even more than the bearded lady or snake-handler—was Kelli O’Hara in the role of Despina. O’Hara is maybe the greatest Broadway star of her age. And here she was in an opera, singing a role that is heavy on recitatives. In fact, Despina does relatively little singing—real singing, apart from recitative. When O’Hara had a chance to sing, I was delighted. Yet she handled her recitatives well too—with accurate pitch, for example. And her Italian was genuine Italian. She was perhaps a bit small of voice, but not too small, and I had this thought: if she has no need of being miked in this vast opera house, why does she have to be miked in the comparatively small theaters in which she spends her career? The overamplification of Broadway is one of the scandals and outrages of our age. In any event, Kelli O’Hara was fearless in her Mozart—and fearless in Mozart is a very hard and good thing to be. May I say that few Despinas have ever been so beautiful? Also, I doubt the role was ever better acted. Finally, here is the big question: If you had no idea—if you knew nothing about Kelli O’Hara, this great, world-famous star of the musical theater—would you think she was an opera singer? A real, full-time opera singer? I think the answer is yes.” I note todaytix say no seats currently available, but after watching these two, I'll confess. I'm prepared to kill for a ticket. |
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Post by bimse on May 4, 2018 14:56:17 GMT
Thanks for posting these Mr Snow, I was aware of Ms O’Hara but hadn’t heard her sing, and certainly wasn’t aware she sings at the Met and she’s such a good actor. Very impressive voice , good to listen to , and Ms O’Hara seems to have a very engaging sense of humour too. While looking at the YouTube videos Mr Snow posted, I found one of her singing a very funny spoof song as a country singer trying to get to sing at the opera . I’d post it but I’m not sure how . I’m looking forward to seeing The King and I at the Palladium, my partner saw it in New York and was very impressed . |
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Post by harrietcraig on May 4, 2018 19:25:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 0:44:50 GMT
It's infuriating reading that some of you are only discovering anything about Kelli O'Hara just now.
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Post by Mr Snow on May 5, 2018 4:29:19 GMT
It's infuriating reading that some of you are only discovering anything about Kelli O'Hara just now. “Infuriating”? Why? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 5, 2018 5:32:38 GMT
While looking at the YouTube videos Mr Snow posted, I found one of her singing a very funny spoof song as a country singer trying to get to sing at the opera . I’d post it but I’m not sure how . |
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Post by bimse on May 5, 2018 7:59:23 GMT
Thank you for posting the above @burlybear
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Post by danb on May 5, 2018 8:40:55 GMT
So I have to admitt I'd never heard of Ms. O'Hara until this was annouced. We had the Met Saturday Matinee on R3 a few weeks ago as background and I was amazed to hear the announcer at the end say she'd sung Despina. www.newcriterion.com/issues/...chronicle-9785“The great surprise of this production—even more than the bearded lady or snake-handler—was Kelli O’Hara in the role of Despina. O’Hara is maybe the greatest Broadway star of her age. And here she was in an opera, singing a role that is heavy on recitatives. In fact, Despina does relatively little singing—real singing, apart from recitative. When O’Hara had a chance to sing, I was delighted. Yet she handled her recitatives well too—with accurate pitch, for example. And her Italian was genuine Italian. She was perhaps a bit small of voice, but not too small, and I had this thought: if she has no need of being miked in this vast opera house, why does she have to be miked in the comparatively small theaters in which she spends her career? The overamplification of Broadway is one of the scandals and outrages of our age. In any event, Kelli O’Hara was fearless in her Mozart—and fearless in Mozart is a very hard and good thing to be. May I say that few Despinas have ever been so beautiful? Also, I doubt the role was ever better acted. Finally, here is the big question: If you had no idea—if you knew nothing about Kelli O’Hara, this great, world-famous star of the musical theater—would you think she was an opera singer? A real, full-time opera singer? I think the answer is yes.” I note todaytix say no seats currently available, but after watching these two, I'll confess. I'm prepared to kill for a ticket. Oh god, I had zero interest in this and now I want to see it. It looks like it would give you a great big Sunday afternoon movie of a hug and leave you feeling all fuzzy. Plus the depth of the set with the pillars etc also got me excited! |
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Post by 49thand8th on May 6, 2018 1:02:56 GMT
It's infuriating reading that some of you are only discovering anything about Kelli O'Hara just now. “Infuriating”? Why? How dare anyone find out about something later than another person! |
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Post by undeuxtrois on May 6, 2018 20:25:31 GMT
Is there any way to get a cheap ticket for this and be able to see the stage? It is one of my favourite musicals and the train to London costs so much
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Post by Mark on May 6, 2018 20:32:05 GMT
Is there any way to get a cheap ticket for this and be able to see the stage? It is one of my favourite musicals and the train to London costs so much Todaytix have already announced they will be doing rush so that's probably your best option. |
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Post by undeuxtrois on May 6, 2018 20:37:23 GMT
Is there any way to get a cheap ticket for this and be able to see the stage? It is one of my favourite musicals and the train to London costs so much Todaytix have already announced they will be doing rush so that's probably your best option. What is rush? |
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Post by Mark on May 6, 2018 20:42:06 GMT
On the day tickets, bought through the app at 10am
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on May 6, 2018 21:01:47 GMT
How much would that usually cost and is it easy to buy?
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Post by Mark on May 6, 2018 21:36:20 GMT
They are usually £25.
Difficult to say what availability will be like for King and I since it isn’t yet open but I usually find it ok
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Post by undeuxtrois on May 6, 2018 22:19:38 GMT
What are the chances of this doing a UK tour in the future?
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2018 1:38:45 GMT
What are the chances of this doing a UK tour in the future? With Kelli O'Hara? Probably nil. |
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Post by jgblunners on May 8, 2018 18:33:09 GMT
From twitter I gather it was the first day of rehearsals today. I saw one tweet that included a photo in which you could see a corner of the cast list - unfortunately I now can't find it again, but it had both Ruthie Ann Miles and Naoko Mori listed as Lady Thiang. I wonder if Ruthie has decided to have an alternate / only do part of the run after what she's been through. It's certainly understandable.
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Post by couldileaveyou on May 8, 2018 18:34:17 GMT
Beside, she should be very pregnant by then and I imagine someone will take over before the end of the run.
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Post by jgblunners on May 8, 2018 18:37:35 GMT
Managed to track down the tweet - doesn't contain any other casting info that we didn't already know:
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2018 19:10:29 GMT
Naoko Mori? Of Absolutely Fabulous fame? How exciting! |
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Post by dontdreamit on May 8, 2018 19:13:43 GMT
Naoko Mori? Of Absolutely Fabulous fame? How exciting! Or Torchwood  |
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on May 8, 2018 22:53:22 GMT
Full cast according to Steven Hardcastle's instagram:
Kelli O'Hara - Anna
Ken Watanabe - King
Takao Okawa - Kralahome
Ruthie Ann Miles - Lady Thiang
Naoko Mori - Lady Thiang
Na-Young Jeon - Tuptim
Dean John-Wilson - Lun Tha
Jon Chew - Prince Chulalungkorn
Edward Baker-Duly - Orton/Ramsey
Annalene Beechey - standby Anna
Kok-Hwa Lie - standby King/Kralahome
Kamm Kunaree - Singer/cover Tuptim
Jacqui Sanchez - Singer/cover Lady Thiang
Miiya Alexander - Singer
Ena Yamaguchi - Dancer/Eliza (ballet)
Ela Lisondra - Dancer/Eva(ballet)
Aiko Kato - Dancer/Topsy (ballet)
Lily Wang - Dancer/Dog (ballet)
Yuki Abe - Dancer/Dog (ballet)
Saori Oda - Dancer/vocal swing/Dog (ballet)
Misa Koide - Dancer/Tom (ballet)
William Mychael Lee - Singer/Phra Alack
Alistair So - Singer/cover Lun Tha
Arthur Lee - Singer/cover Kralahome & Orton/Ramsay
Jorge Antonio Sprangers - Dancer/Simon (ballet)
Jonathan Caguioa - Dancer/Angel & George (ballet)
Cletus Chan - Dancer/Guard (ballet)
Jesse Mulligan - Dancer/Guard (ballet)
Nick Len - Dancer/Guard (ballet)
Simon Hardcastle - onstage swing/cover Prince
Nicholas Lee - onstage swing
Rachel Jayne Picar - onstage swing
Jasmine Leung - onstage swing
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