King and I, The

King and I, The (1951), a musical play by Oscar Hammerstein (book, lyrics), Richard Rodgers (music). [St. James Theatre, 1,246 perf.; Tony Award.] When the English tutor Anna Leonowens ( Gertrude Lawrence) arrives with her young son in Siam to teach the children of the King ( Yul Brynner), she finds the monarch something of a despot, but she is drawn to his many children (through many wives) and puts up with him to a point. But when the King goes to punish two young lovers who seek to elope, Anna can take no more and prepares to leave Siam. Only when the King is on his deathbed does he confess he has begun to see the wisdom of her more civilized ways, and he dies as his teenage son begins to rule Siam with a more modern approach. Notable songs: Hello, Young Lovers; We Kiss in a Shadow; Getting to Know You; I Whistle a Happy Tune; Something Wonderful; Shall We Dance? Based on Margaret Landon's novel, Anna and the King of Siam, it portrayed, as Richard Watts Jr. wrote in his Post review, “an East of frank and unashamed romance seen through the eyes of . . . theatrical artists of rare taste and power.” Although for many Lawrence's luminous performance was a high point of the show, after her death during the run Brynner's acting was thrown in the spotlight and he usually headed its many major revivals. Other notable Annas in New York include Constance Towers, Patricia Morrison, Angela Lansbury, Donna Murphy, and Faith Prince. Yul BRYNNER (1911?–85) gave varying birthplaces and birth dates throughout his life, but it is believed he was born on Sakhalin Island and his real name was Taidje Khano. The bald, muscular actor had made Broadway appearances, including a 1941 revival of Twelfth Night and Lute Song (1946), before this role catapulted him into the limelight. His subsequent career was largely in films, including the movie version of The King and I, except when he toured in several revivals of the musical, ultimately performing his part more than four thousand times. He also starred in a failed musical, Home Sweet Homer (1976). Biography: Yul: The Man Who Would Be King, Rock Brynner (his son), 1989.