The King of Siam hasn’t been married very long, he points out – only 66 children so far.

Wednesday, October 06, 1999

The King of Siam hasn’t been married very long, he points out – only 66 children so far.

That’s not the only cultural difference between Siam and England, but it’s the one British tutor Anna Leonowens has to deal with on a daily basis. Lucky for her, the British widow only tutors the King’s 19 favorite princes and princesses.

And she does it tunefully in the well-known Rodgers and Hammerstein show "The King & I." Starting Friday for the general public, Austin is in for a treat with Riverland Community College’s latest musical and first show of the season.

The story, made famous by Yule Brenner on stage and film, is a well-known tale of two very different cultures and people.

It is 1862 when Anna and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the king to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be barbarian by those in the West and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways exactly. Respective traditions and values aside, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another in a unique love story.

Their difficulties are illustrated when the King’s oldest son comes to him, reporting that Anna taught them the world is a ball that rotates on a stick.

"Everyone knows the world is carried on the back of a turtle," the future king scoffs.

"The world rotates on a stick, at least I believe it does," his father says, taking a step into the modern world with bare chest in open jacket and exotic genii trousers to match, a far cry from any Victorian gentleman.

His son doesn’t react well to his father’s uncertainty, being of the age when one knows absolutely everything without a doubt.

Other than the well-known score – which includes such classics as "Getting to know you", "Hello, young lovers" and "Shall we dance" – director Jerry Girton is counting on the strength of his leading characters to make this one a show to remember.

"I am very very impressed with the leading characters," Girton said. "They’re doing an excellent job. They’ve got the experience and it shows in both their singing and their acting."

In addition to the older, more experienced actors and actresses, the cast of "The King & I" has a plethora of new and younger faces. Girton said the bulk of his princes and princesses are elementary and middle school students in their first or second production. Lucky for him he only needed to cast 19, rather than the full 66 royal offspring.

"The King & I" will play nightly at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 and at 2 p.m. on Oct. 10 at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College, East Campus. Tickets are $8 and may be purchased at the theatre door or by calling 433-0595 between 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.