The musical is rooted in the real-life experiences of , a Welsh widow who traveled to Siam (now Thailand) in 1862 to tutor the children of King Mongkut . While Leonowens' published memoirs provided the initial spark, they were heavily dramatized in Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel, Anna and the King of Siam .
From the moment she arrives, Anna is confronted with a culture she finds baffling and, at times, objectionable. She battles the King’s autocratic nature, his refusal to keep his promises regarding her living arrangements, and the complex etiquette of the court. Yet, the musical avoids painting either character as entirely right or wrong. The King And I
However, it was the relatively unknown Yul Brynner who stole the show. Born in Russia, Brynner’s exotic looks and commanding presence were perfect for the King. He shaved his head for the part—a look that would become his signature for life. Brynner’s King was not a villain, but a man desperate to drag his country into the modern age while clinging to the absolute power of his ancestors. His performance was magnetic, earning him a Tony Award, and later, an Academy Award for the film adaptation. The musical is rooted in the real-life experiences
Modern productions have rectified this. The Lincoln Center production (2015) starring Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe was a watershed moment, casting a full Asian-led ensemble. Yet the problem of the Western gaze remains. The musical was written by two white men for a white Broadway audience. It is, inescapably, a story about the East told by the West. She battles the King’s autocratic nature, his refusal
