Sometimes hes difficult, sometimes hes thoughtless, sometimes hes even mean. Ruthie ann miles to share the role of lady thiang in. Something wonderful song news newspapers books scholar. The king and i is a 1956 american musical film made by 20th centuryfox, directed by walter lang and produced by charles brackett and darryl f. Lady thiang, the kings first wife understands this and counsels patience, for she. Cast ensemble numbers include getting to know you, the royal bangkok academy, the kings study, western people funny and the small house of uncle thomas. Something wonderful he has a thousand dreams that wont come true you know that he believes in them and thats enough for you. In something wonderful, lady thiang says that the king is a man who. Photo by matthew murphy 1 201718 season broadway something rotten. The song was introduced in the broadway production by dorothy sarnoff in the role of lady thiang, the kings.
Rodgers and hammerstein the king and i 1958, vinyl. The king and i the musical on stage in london through to 8. Her performance is subtle and powerful at the same time. Something wonderful is a show tune from the 1951 rodgers and hammerstein musical the king and i. Multiple academy awardwinner the sound of music 1965 is the most recent of the productions included here, and it bookends the sets twodecade.
Taewon kim goes solo at merkin concert hall june 9 playbill. Inside the king and i, an analysis by scott miller new line theatre. Something wonderful broadway something wonderful a concert celebrating oscar hammerstein ii on his 100th birthday. Lady thiang, the kings first wife understands this and counsels patience, for she sees how much the king and anna need each other. Something wonderful song wikimili, the free encyclopedia. The king and i shows the relationships of the king and anna often tumultuous, yet funny at times as they try to understand each others viewpoints. And the kings primary wife, lady thiang, contributes a touching song in something wonderful.
Set in 1860s bangkok, the musical tells the story of the. In the opening song of something wonderful, welsh bassbaritone bryn terfel sings, all the sounds of the earth are like music. Since 20thcenturyfox had made a film version of the landon book in 1946, that studio had first dibs on the movie adaptation of the king and i. Lady thiang tell anna that people are calling the king a barbarian, so she wants anna to go to him and advise him on the matter. Later, in the film adaptation starring deborah kerr and yul brynner it was sung by terry. Something wonderful by richard rodgers and oscar hammerstein, ii comes from the 1951 broadway musical, the king and i, which actually became more popular as a film when it was released in 1956. The songs express the sentiments of one or more characters and may be addressed directly to other characters in the play. Music by richard rodgers book and lyrics by oscar hammerstein ii based on. The king and i original, musical, comedy, drama, broadway opened in new york city mar 29, 1951 and played through mar 20, 1954. Deborah kerr plays english widow anna leonowens, who comes to siam in the 1860s to tutor the many wives.
Anna is shocked by the accusations the king is a polygamist, but he is no barbarian but. Romance, politics and changing hearts the king and i. The king and i with the king and i, broadway has a wonderful old musical and a major new star. A widow accepts a job as a livein governess to the king of siams children. However, the kings senior wife, lady thiang terry saunders, comes to annas room and beseeches her in a beautiful song, something wonderful, to stay. It is based on margaret landons novel, anna and the king of siam 1944, which is in turn derived from the memoirs of anna leonowens, governess to the children of king mongkut of siam in the early 1860s. Lady thiang doesnt talk that much, but sometimes i wonder. A show tune is a song originally written as part of the score of a work of musical theatre, especially if the piece in question has become a standard, more or less detached in. Shucheen yu as lady thiang singing something wonderful. Something wonderful she is, if not quite wonderful enough to fill this yawning cavern.
The king and i, richard rodgers and oscar hammersteins 1951 broadway musical hit, was based on margaret landons book anna and the king of siam. The king and i is the fifth musical by the team of composer richard rodgers and dramatist oscar hammerstein ii. The song was introduced in the broadway production by dorothy sarnoff in the role of lady thiang, the kings head wife. He needs annas advice, but tradition and pride forbid him to ask for it. It is softergrained than dorothy sarnoff or patricia neway on the 1964 recording, and closer to taewon yi kim in the 2000 london palladium revival. Something wonderful lady thiang, butri, thara, samorn small house of uncle thomas introduction chorus. No one knows the king better than lady thiang, and her song something wonderful, is an important peek into his personality. Broadway heartthrob gavin creel puts gay spin on the king. Something wonderful 1995 broadway tickets, news, info. The king and i by walter lang deborah kerr, yul brynner.
With yul brynner, deborah kerr, rita moreno, martin benson. The screenplay by ernest lehman is based on the 1951 richard rodgers and oscar hammerstein ii musical the king and i, based in turn on the 1944 novel anna and the king of siam by margaret landon. Duets between anna and the king include shall we dance and song of the king. Theres just something about them that pulls on my heart strings with their one of a kind love stories. The king and i tempe tickets the king and i tempe tour. Anna to be tactful, to help the king manage international relationships without suggesting that he actually needs help. The king and i revival, musical, comedy, drama, broadway.
Something wonderful on display at gold coast little. Deanna choi as lady thiang, the dutiful first wife of the king, has always seemed dragged into productions to sing the beautiful something wonderful. Later, margaret landon turned annas story into a novel called anna and the king of. Music by richard rodgers, book and lyrics by oscar hammerstein ii based on anna. The musicals plot relates the experiences of anna, a british schoolteacher. The king and i transports audiences at the kennedy. Also returning to her tony award winning role as lady thiang is ruthie ann miles. Ruthie ann miles will reprise her tony awardwinning and critically acclaimed broadway role of lady thiang in the west end production of the king and i, which opens at the london palladium on 21 june 2018, with a press night on 3 july. Charming update of the king and i cant quite shed its. The role of lady thiang played by joan almedilla the kings head wife is tricky, and she subtly helps manipulate the relationship between anna and the king. Sometimes the song is simply an expression of a characters state of mind, as when the king sings a puzzlement.
They most definitely are when terfel surrounds them with his resonant baritone. Lady thiang is the kings head wife and mother of prince chulalongkorn. The song was first sung in the original broadway production by dorothy sarnoff, who played lady thiang. Something wonderful song news newspapers books scholar jstor november. Musical with music by richard rodgers, and book and lyrics by oscar. For example, anna sings whistle a happy tune in direct address to her son louis, and lady thiang sings something wonderful to anna. The king introduces anna to his head wife, lady thiang, who also speaks. A musical is a drama with singing, music, and spoken dialogue. Rodgers and hammerstein writing styles in the king and i. In fact, when you look at the king and i in its entirety, though it doesnt on the surface appear to be a romance as much as it is a historical drama, it really does explore love in. She is dignified, humble, dependable and efficient. Lady thiang, the kings head wife, tells anna that the king is troubled by his portrayal in the west as a barbarian, as the british are being urged to take over siam as a protectorate. Golden palm award winning actress rowena orcullo ryan, was cast in the role of lady thiang.
But he is a good man, and when his darker side comes out, lady thiang knows that he is trying, and she supports him. Anna is reluctant to help the king, but lady thiang convinces her to go something wonderful. The king and i, starring kelli ohara, to be streamed with. Something wonderful is above all a marvelous book about the arts and the artistic process. In the 1956 film adaptation something wonderful was sung by terry saunders in the role of lady thiang. Saunders was the understudy for sarnoff in the broadway production and in 1952 had taken over the role when sarnoff departed. Ruthie ann miles offers a touching, downtoearth portrayal of lady thiang in her rendition of something wonderful. The first live play i ever saw as a little girl was oklahoma at the oriental. For all his stubbornness, pride and occasional cruelty, lady thiang says, he can sometimes do something wonderful.
Music bt richard rodgers and book and lyrics by oscar hammerstein ii from their musical play based on anna and the king of siam by margaret landon barcode and other identifiers matrix runout side a. Something wonderful is sung by lady thiang to anna leonowens to. Taewon yi kim, who, as lady thiang, sings something wonderful in the current tony awardwinning broadway revival of the king and i, will take center stage for a solo concert at new yorks merkin. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Is a puzzlement king of siamafter the prince and king talk about how the king knows everything, because he is king. Lush and exotic the king and i is a treat for the eyes.
One particular touching moment was when, on his deathbed, he held lady thiangs hand the entire scene, only to let go at the moment of his passing. Recorded on april 25, 1956 and released on june 11, 1956. Lou diamond phillips may have a gem in his name, but his performance in a role heretofore. An announcement from the west end production states that actress naoko mori will share the role of lady thiang. I watch her every night and i learn something about ruthie and lady thiang. That novel in turn was based on memoirs written by. Something wonderful the fall and rise of the melody successfully mimics the fall and rise of a voice begging for more understanding from a listener.