Ya Han Chang 我的日記

In my book, "The King and I" is one of the best musicals ever written.
It's got beautiful music, a terrific story and strong, wonderfully developed characters.

The production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that opened Thursday night at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre proves just how good the show is in both the most positive and negative ways.Most of it is on the positive side.

The production itself, directed by Brian Enzman (who Dutch Apple veterans may remember as an especially wonderful King of Siam himself years ago), is gorgeous.The costumes, by John White, are exotic and sparkly and lavishly pitch-perfect.The set, designed by Kristian Perry, is bold and beautiful, and the four-piece orchestra, led by A. Scott Williams, sounds big and handles the beautiful music with gusto.

And most of the cast is terrific.Start first with Galloway Stevens, who plays the King of Siam.He gives the king the perfect temperament. He is dictatorial and befuddled, strong and vulnerable, sexy and foreboding.He knows how to play the character who is charismatic and charming, but also has to be brutal and aloof. And he is funny. The rich humor in "The King and I" still resonates 60 years after it was first produced.

Also offering terrific performances are Jose Sampedro and Yoon Jeong Seong, who play the doomed lovers Lun Tha and Tuptim. Both sing beautifully, and they get great songs to sing, including "We Kiss in the Shadows," "I Have Dreamed" and Tuptim's "My Lord and Master."Seong's especially good as she narrates "The Small House of Uncle Thomas," the famous ballet in the show. Tuptim, who is a concubine to the king, is trying to make a point about enslavement as she retells the story of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Originally choreographed by Jerome Robbins in the 1951 Broadway production, the ballet still packs a wallop. Choreographer Amy Marie McCleary (who is also the assistant director), brings some lovely ideas to the ballet and the dancing, led by Hsin-Yu Liao as Eliza, is stunning.

"The King and I" runs through Aug. 7 at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Road.