It by Stephen King is a novel about friendship and the magic of childhood.
THE KING AND I background and analysis by Scott Miller Today, at the end of the millennium, many of the leaders and intellectuals of mainland China are wondering how their country can continue to modernize, to compete with the western nations, while still maintaining their cultural identity and traditions.
Many wonder if it is even possible. Shanghai, for instance, is a city split between the cultural pride and traditions of China and the developments and economic pressures of the west. All of China faces difficulties in this area, as young Chinese covet designer consumer goods from the west and the yuppie lifestyle they see portrayed on American television, while the older generation worries about the decay of traditional morality and ethics.
This friction between east and west has resulted in a generation and culture gap in China far wider than anything America has ever faced. But this is not a new problem in Asia. In fact, this is exactly the problem King Mongkut of Siam faced in the s -- how could he join the company of civilized nations, become respected and competitive among them, without losing the rich history and culture of his beloved Siam, without alienating his people who were not prepared to discard their simple but treasured way of life.
In the s, Anna Leonowens, a widowed British schoolteacher was hired by King Mongkut to come to his country and teach his wives and children the English language and western culture. She wrote of her experiences in a two-volume memoir. British stage star Gertrude Lawrence saw the film and decided the story would make a great musical, with her as Anna.
Rodgers and Hammerstein, after some initial objections, agreed to write the show, now called The King and I. Though Lawrence was supposed to be the lead, Yul Brynner became an immediate star playing the King when the show opened on Broadway in The film won six Oscars, including Best Actor for Brynner.
By the time Brynner died of lung cancer he made the film with only one lunghe had played the role of the King on stage 4, times. There was even, very briefly a few months ina television series based on the story, called Anna and the King, starring Yul Brynner, Samantha Eggar, and Keye Luke.
The revival, directed by Australian Christopher Renshaw and starring Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips, was a radical re-examination of this show that was intelligent, sexy, and for many people, a genuine revelation.
Like other Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, The King and I, is a classic and that had become its greatest handicap. When Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote and produced the show intheir writing was too far ahead of the moralistic and artistic limitations of contemporary musical theatre.
Songs still needed choreography even when there might be nothing to dance about "Getting to Know You," for example.
As we must with Show Boat, Carousel, and other older, serious musicals, we have to approach The King and I as if it were a brand new show, forgetting all preconceived notions we may have. The Siamese were laughed at throughout the show, with no acknowledgement of the racism, arrogance, and dismissal of Siamese traditions by the intrusive westerners.
Forty years later, director Christopher Renshaw came at the story from a different perspective. He had actually lived in Thailand for a while and genuinely understood and respected the Thai traditions and culture.
He insisted that the costumes, set decorations, and other visual elements were as close to authentic as possible. He also began the show with a Thai prayer ceremony to establish for the audience the seriousness with which this culture would be treated. He even cut one song that seemed condescending, "Western People Funny.Stephen King is best known for his horror novels, which he is known for publishing at the rate of approximately one per year, several under the name Richard Bachman.
Stephen King’s Life, Times, and Influences Stephen King was born on September 21, , in Portland, Maine. At the age of two, King's father left the family without a . inside. THE KING AND I. background and analysis by Scott Miller Today, at the end of the millennium, many of the leaders and intellectuals of mainland China are wondering how their country can continue to modernize, to compete with the western nations, while still .
King Faisal Prize. Launched by the King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and granted for the first time in , the King Faisal Prize (KFP) recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five major categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and lausannecongress2018.com aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to.
Sep 06, · Stephen King’s work has been adapted so many times — sometimes by King himself — that it’s impossible to find a single unifying thread in all of the film adaptations.
Sure, a lot of them. Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, ) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction and lausannecongress2018.com books have sold more than million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books.
King has published 58 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and six non-fiction books.