Want to go back in time and travel halfway across the world?
Dozens of students from Eastern Regional High School are ready to embark on a journey that takes the audience to Bangkok, Siam, in 1862.
That’s because they’re putting on a production of the infamous Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” a story of romance and new ideas, along with the arrival of Western culture to the Eastern world.
In the play, the King of Siam invites English governess Anna Leonowens to come and teach his children, who were born of his many wives.
Throughout the play, the King resists changing his traditional views of the world. But Anna wins his heart.
When Anna learns of the king’s imminent death, she returns to Siam to watch one of his son’s take the throne. The new ruler changes his country for the better and helps Siam gain its independence from archaic ideology.
For seniors performing in “The King and I,” this is the fourth and final musical, capping off a career that included performances in “CATS,” “Chicago” and “Grease,” wildly different productions from the traditional performance they are about to give, said senior Sara Cheatham, who will play Anna Leonowens.
To embrace her leading lady role, Cheatham said she’s watched movies from the time period and read some literature as well, including “Anna and the King,” a novel by Margaret Landon, on which the play was based.
“Every role is different. They say there’s two ways of approaching how to get into character. There is outside in and inside out,” Cheatham said. “I’m outside in. If I get into a certain costume, I feel differently.”
For sophomore Jon Harris, this is the biggest role he’s ever had. Taking on his persona as King Mongkut of Siam has been enjoyable, he said.
“I walk around thinking, ‘I’m in charge.’ In the play, people bow down to me on stage,” Harris said. “This is who I am now.”
And for senior Audrey Williams, she said she expects her second time around in “The King and I” to be her best yet.
Nine years ago, she was cast in a performance at Eastern. Each year, director Gregg Molotsky casts a handful of second- to fifth-grade students from Eastern’s sending districts to participate in the plays.
This time around, Williams will play the part of Eliza, a role that combines her dancing abilities and passion for performing, she said.
Many of the students in the production began performing well before they walked through the doors at Eastern. Some students even say they owe everything to the performing arts department that has given them so much.
“It gave me my career,” said Cheatham, who plans to pursue theater in college this fall. “Sophomore year, we did ‘Chicago.’ That solidified that this isn’t just what I want to do on the side.”
“We’ve all come together through theater,” said Williams, who plans to study biology at the collegiate level while still embracing her passion to perform.
And even though Harris has two more years before making a decision about what to do post-graduation, he said he knows he’s come a long way from when he only participated in sports.
“It pretty much gave me everything I have. And I’ve really gotten a family out of it,” Harris said.
Even though the students practice day after day with a vocal coach and choreographer, they said they know it will pay off when it comes to the big day.
But to some, dancing doesn’t quite come as second nature.
“I was trying to teach him (Harris) how to polka,” Cheatham said. “At one point, we were really close to the edge of the stage. It was funny.”
The students preparing for the production aren’t the only ones excited. Their director, Molotsky, is beaming with pride.
Even with 16 years of theater direction at Eastern under his belt, he still gets excited watching his students succeed in the arts.
“I’m very proud of the success we’ve had. They’re incredibly talented kids — from the leads to the chorus members with limited stage time,” Molotsky said.
He realizes it’s not everyday teenagers would embrace a traditional Rodgers and Hammerstein piece, but he’ll take any enthusiasm he can get from his students.
“I thought they’d hem and haw about seeing it,” Molotsky said. “I try over their four years to expose them to something different. It’s a traditional show with beautiful music and a rich, lavish score. ‘The King and I’ is actually my favorite, so I chose to repeat it.”
“For two years, we’ve done out-of-the-ordinary shows,” Cheatham said. “We’re going back to traditional. I’m glad we can show that we can do that, too.”
The performances will be held March 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. at Eastern’s Center for the Performing Arts. There will also be a 2 p.m. show on March 24.
For ticket information, call 784–4441 ext. 6000. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information, visit www.eastern.k12.nj.us.
