King's Achievements Center Stage In Lyric Production Of "The King And I"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- They are whistling a happy tune and then some at the Lyric Opera of Chicago these days.
Rogers and Hammerstein's "The King and I" will be center stage later this month. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole has a look at how history has been woven into an American theatre classic.
You may have gotten to know the story of the British woman bringing Western values to the royalty of what is now Thailand, but "The King and I" is rooted in history, based on the writing of teacher Anna Leonowens about her time in the court of King Mongkut in the mid-19th century.
"Anna's narrative itself we know now is an unreliable narrative," said director Lee Blakely.
As the Lyric Opera of Chicago mounts a lavish production of the tale, Blakely admits Leonowens may have exaggerated her credentials at the court and not given full credit to the king.
"That's one of the big influences in this production is who he was as a man and what he was trying to achieve," said Blakely.
Yes, Mongkut has 32 wives and 82 children but unlike neighboring rulers, he avoided European takeover by embracing Western innovations in science and technology.
That's influencing Paolo Montalban's portrayal of the monarch.
"Mongkut was one of the most influential Asians of the 19th century," Montalban said.
King Mongkut was multilingual and successfully negotiated with Western powers encouraging trade with other nations while still protecting his own country's customs and sovereignty.
"He thought ahead and he modernized his country before the other people could do it for him," Montalban said.
There will still be a sweeping polka on stage at the Lyric in a production that's not stepping around the achievements of the king.
"He was an incredible leader," said Blakely.
The "King and I" runs from April 29 to May 22 at the Lyric Opera. Tickets range from $30 to $200.
