sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anna and the King, Anna Leonowens, I Whistle a Happy Tune, Margaret Landon

THE KING AND I Educational Guide

Performance Dates September 5-11, 2012

A little bit of background about In 1862, a 28-year old Englishwoman named was employed by King of Siam to serve as governess and teacher to his 67 children. Mrs. Leonowens had first come to Asia after marrying a British Major in the Indian Army. Following her husband’s death in 1858, she remained in Siam for ten years. She wrote of her experiences in two books: The English Govrness at the Siamese Court and The Romance of the Harlem. Published in the 1870’s, both books were immediately and immensely popular, providing those in the western part of the world with significant new insights into Siam and its culture. In 1927, another woman from western world, American , arrived in Siam. She was the wife of an American Presbyterian missionary and, like Mrs. Leonowens, was also an educator. She had taught English and Latin in Bear Lake, Michigan and for five years served as head mistress (or principal) of the Trang Girls School in Siam’s capitol city of . It was during this time that she learned of Anna’s position in King Mongkut’s court and became fascinated with her books. The Landons returned to America in 1937 and two years later, Mrs. Landon began writing a novel based on the unusual relationship between Anna Leonowens and King Mongkut. It was a chance meeting, however, that really set Landon’s book on course. Her Husband was asked to speak at a luncheon for ministers in Evanston, Illinois where he met the Very Reverend Gerald G. Moore, whose mother happened to be a cousin of Anna Leonowens. When Mr. Landon told the gentleman that his wife is working on a book based on Anna’s experiences in Siam, the Rev. Moore immediately took him to meet his mother. She was then in her nineties but still remembered the day in 1867 when Anna Leonowens had visited her home in Ireland. Though the Moores, Mrs. Landon met Avia Fyshe, Anna’s granddaughter and the only one of her descendants interested in having Anna’s story told. Miss Fyshe supplied Mrs. Landon with family history, authorizing her to use the materials as pleased. Armed with this invaluable information, Margaret Landon was well on her way to capturing a wonderful and enduring story. Her biographical novel, of Siam, was published in 1944 and instantly became a worldwide best-seller. Seven years later, on March 29, 1951, ’s classic musical The King and I, based upon the book, opened Broadway and became the hit of the season. The musical won five Tony Awards – Broadway’s highest honor – including Best Musical. It went on to run 1,246 performances, closing on May 6, 1956 as the 3rd longest running Broadway musical of all time. (At that time, two other musicals by Rodgers & Hammerstein – Oklahoma! and – were, respectively, the longest and 2nd longest running Broadway musicals of all time.) Less than two months after closing on Broadway, the motion picture version of The King and I was released and proved a great success as well, receiving six Academy Awards©. Since then, The King and I has been produced of times throughout the world. It is important to remember that both Margaret Landon’s novel and the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical are works of fiction that are based upon real people and actual historical events. *Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

Synopsis of THE KING AND I Anna Leonowens and her young son, Louis, have sailed from England and are just arriving in Siam’s capital city of Bangkok in 1862. They overcome their nervousness by whistling bravely (“”). The king’s executive officer, the Kralahome, arrives to escort them to their quarters in the Royal Palace. Anna insists that the king has promised her a house of her own but the Kralahome doubts the king will remember such a promise. Still, Anna is determined to get what she was promised. At the palace, a messenger from Burma, Lun Tha, has arrived with a gift from his prince to the King of Siam – a young slave girl, Tuptim. When Anna is presented to the king, she reminds him that he promised to provide her with a house. He avoids the confrontation by insisting that she meet his many children (The March of the Siamese Children”). A few weeks later, the king asks his son, Prince , about his studies. Chulalongkorn scoffs at Anna’s comparison of the world to a large ball because the Siamese believe the world rides on the back of a great turtle, When asked which is true, the king realizes there are many things of which hi is not sure (“A Puzzlement”). Ying recalls the school song Anna wrote for her students (“The Royal Bangkok Academy”). Anna tells her students – which now include many of the king’s wives – how much she is enjoying learning about them and their customs (“Getting to Know You”). During a geography lesson, she describes snow. Because Siam is a tropical climate and they have never seen snow, the students refuse to believe her until the king arrives and restores order. Anna again reminds him of the house she was promised and again he denies ever having made such a promise. Anna declares that she cannot stay in a country where a promise has no meaning, infuriating the king. That night, the king’s head wife, Lady Thiang, apologizes to Anna for the king’s behavior. He has learned that the British believe him to be a barbarian and he fears they will try to take Siam away from him. Lady Thiang convinces Anna that the king needs her help and that despite some of his old-fashioned ideas, he is a good-hearted man (“Something Wonderful”). Anna agrees to go to him. The king has learned that a British diplomat is on his way to Siam. Anna gently suggests that they entertain the diplomat in an especially gracious manner so as to prove he is not a barbarian. The king enthusiastically agrees, leading a prayer for Buddha’s blessing, the king agrees to give Anna a house of her own. On the evening they entertain the British diplomat, Anna discovers Lun Tha and Tuptim together. They are in love and planning to escape from Siam later that night. As part of the festivities planned for the diplomat, Tuptim has written a play based on Uncle Tom’s Cabin which she and the children perform (“The Small House of Uncle Thomas”). The evening is a great success and the diplomat returns to England, certain to give a favorable report of the king. When the king is informed that Lun Tha and Tuptim have run away, he is determined to punish them severely. Anna hopes the king won’t be too harsh on them and tries to explain what it’s like to be young and in love (“Shall We Dance?”). But when Tuptim is captured, the king prepares to whip her. Anna is horrified, accusing the king of being a barbarian after all and vowing to return to England immediately. Her words hurt the king deeply and in a tense moment, he throws down the whip, defeated. Anna and Louis are ready to board the ship for England when Lady Thiang arrives with a letter from the king. He is dying. They return for a final goodbye and the children plead with Anna not to leave. She realizes she must stay to continue the work she has begun. The increasingly weak king encourages Chulalongkorn to consider how he will rule when he is a king. Anna looks on with great pride as Chulalongkorn proposes changing certain outdated customs. The king dies silently and everyone bows to the next King of Siam.

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

The King and I Study Guide

By Amy Simpson

“Our story begins in 1862.” A Timeline of World Events

In The King and I… In the U.S. and Around the World…

1851 1852 publishes Uncle Tom’s Cabin Mongkut becomes Second Anglo-Burmese War King Rama IV 1853 Napolean III Rules France Pierce elected U.S. President Crimean War begins 1854 Commodore Perry signs U.S. treaty with Japan U.S. Republican Party formed 1856 Buchanan elected U.S. President Crimean War ends 1857 Indian mutiny against British 1858 British monarch takes direct rule of India 1860 Lincoln elected U.S. President South Carolina secedes from Union 1861 Confederate States of America formed Civil War begins First Battle of Bull Run Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria, dies 1862 1862 Second Battle of Bull Run Anna Leonowens 1863 Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation arrives in Siam Confederates defeated at Gettysburg Lincoln gives Gettysburg Address 1864 Lincoln re-elected U.S. President General Sherman marches through Georgia 1865 Confederate States surrender at Appomatox Lincoln assassinated, Andrew Johnson becomes U.S. President Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery 1868 1868 Grant elected U.S. President King Mongkut dies of malaria, Prince Chulalongkorn becomes King Rama V

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

The King and I As Musical

The King and I was first produced on It was written by the famous Broadway in 1952. musical writing team and Oscar Hammerstein:

3

2

In 1952, The King and I won the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Featured Actor, Best Scenic and Costume Design.

The King and I As Film

4

You may be most familiar with the 1956 film starring and .

That film was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, and won 5 of them.

5 The King and I As Fact

You may not know that the musical is based on the

True Story

of a woman named

Anna Leonowens

who spent time as the Royal Governess at

King Mongkut’s

Siamese Court.

The King and I (and any other “Anna” story) is based upon her memoirs of her time in Siam.

6 7

When Anna arrived in Siam…

She found it to be a beautiful, exotic place.

8

The economy was good, the government powerful and there was a very clear social class system with the king at the very top.

There were those who had money and talent and those who did not. Both were important to Siamese society and both were caused, the Siamese Buddhists believe, by Karma.

“Siam is a beautiful country, alive with many colors.” An Overview of In 1939, Siam changed its name to Thailand. Located in the center of Southeast Asia, Thailand covers an area of 198,000 square miles (about twice the size of Wyoming). Thailand borders the Andaman Sea, Myanmar (known as Burma until 1989), Laos, Cambodia, , and the Gulf of Thailand.

Climate Thailand’s climate is governed by monsoon’s seasonal winds that bring moist air from one direction and dry air from the other. Thailand’s rainy season lasts from June through September, when the southwest monsoon blows from the Indian Ocean. 90% of Thailand’s rainfall occurs during this season from 40 to 80 inches annually. The dry season is October through February, when the northeast monsoon brings cooler, drier air from . Thailand’s summer, hot with sunny days, is from March through May.

The average temperature falls between 80 and 95 degrees F, with an average of 78% humidity. This means that for most of the year, Thailand feels like Florida in summertime—hot and muggy.

People About 2,000 years ago, people migrated to Southeast Asia, from central China, settling in the river valleys, and uniting in the first Thai kingdom, called Sukhothai. Sukhothai was followed by the kingdom of Ayuthaya, established in 1350 (in Thai tradition, the nation took the name of the capital city). Ayuthaya has many conflicts with the neighboring Bermese, who finally destroyed the city in 1767. The Thais built a new city (a copy of the destroyed capital) on the other side of the Chao Phraya River, and called it Krung Thep, which means “city of angels.” It was also known as Bangkok, “village of the wild plum.” Europeans nicknamed Bangkok the “Venice of the East” because of the many canals which ran throughout the city.

Europeans called the country Siam, which meant “dark brown” in the Thai language, but the name Siam was not officially adopted until 1856. In 2939, the nation changed its name to Prades Thai, or Thailand, which means “land of the free.”

Thailand is a monarchy, a form of government in which one individual rules for life. For 700 years, the Siamese king was an absolute monarch with unlimited power. In 1932, Siam became a constitutional monarchy, a system in which the king is the head of state, but whose powers are limited by the government. Other constitutional monarchies include Great Britain, Japan, and Sweden.

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

9

Most of those living in Siam were Buddhists who believe that human beings can live many different lives, being born over and over again as different people or creatures.

If they help others and remove desire in their hearts, they achieve good Karma and will have less suffering and more success and peace in their next life.

An important aspect of the Buddhist religion is the Reverence due to

White Animals…

10

White animals like the dove, swan, stork or monkey are said to house the Souls of Noble, Pure and Good Humans.

11

The White Elephant is the Greatest, said to carry the Soul of a King or Hero. Since he has the wisdom of a great man, the white elephant can signal national good fortune, success and peace.

12 13 Whenever one is found, a huge Celebration is declared throughout the land to honor the elephant and offer Thanksgiving for the Blessings such a creatures is said to bring.

When Anna arrived in Siam, she knew some things about Southeast Asian culture and language. She lived in numerous Southeast Asian and Indian cities including where she learned to speak Malay – a language she was able to use even in Siam.

Siam

Singapore

14

Imperialism…

Anna also knew a lot about Southeast Asia because her home country England and many other European countries had Imperialistic Tendencies, which lead them to believe that they could Capture and Rule other countries as their own.

Imperialism…

The British Empire colonized India, and then they took cities the Spanish had claimed in the Philippines, and the French colonized Vietnam and Cambodia.

Siam

Philippines

Vietnam

14 India Cambodia

Many Europeans in Siam were interested only in money. They were there because it was profitable to be there.

The state of affairs [in England], however, was complex and far from stable. The old mercantile Empire was weakened during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries by a number of factors: by the abolition in 1807 of slavery in Britain itself, a movement led by the Evangelicals ; by the freeing in 1833 of slaves held elsewhere in the Empire; by the adoption, after a radical change in economic perspective (due in large part to the influence of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations), of Free Trade, which minimized the influence of the old oligarchical and monopolistic trading corporations; and by various colonial movements for greater political and commercial independence.15

Imperialism…

Victorians justified their imperialistic actions with the thoughts of British Prime Minister

Benjamin Disraeli and of Charles Darwin.

16 17

Disraeli said those in the East loved being a small part of the great British Empire -- that it was a privilege for them. Social Darwinism used the idea of The Survival of the Fittest to claim that there were certain people who were

innately meant to rule over others and certain people who were

innately meant to serve and do manual labor.

Obviously, in the eyes of the Europeans, they were meant to rule and the Asians were meant to serve.

King Mongkut did not want to be seen as a barbarian who was meant to serve. He believed it was very important to Engage these Western countries on their own terms. In 1855 (just 7 years before Anna came to his court) King Mongkut signed the , which opened Siam up to trading both goods and ideas with 12 European countries including England.

18

The repercussions of the treaty Changed rules and context for a lot of Siamese Business and Cultural Traditions: exports grew, making Ports Busier, Property Rights became more defined, Capitalist Ideas grew while the Power of the Nobles Waned. Not everyone was happy with King Mongkut for signing the Bowring Treaty. But he was a thoughtful man and did what he believed was best for his country.

“When two people are as different as we are…” King Mongkut, Prince Chulalongkorn, and Anna Leonowens The King of Siam depicted in The King and I, Chao Fah Mongkut (which means “High prince of the crown”), was born October 18, 1804. Mongkut’s father became King Rama II when Mongkut was five years old. (In the royal family, each ruler took the name “Rama” when he was crowned king.)

At 20, Mongkut entered a Buddhist monastery. Shortly afterward, his father died, and Mongkut’s older half-brother, Prince Jetta, became King Rama III. Mongkut lived as a Buddhist monk for 27 years, traveling barefoot through Siam while studying science, history, mathematics and languages. He got to know the problems of the people throughout the kingdom and learned about modern political systems throughout the world.

In 1851 Rama III died, and Mongkut became King Rama IV at age 47. As was Siamese custom, King Monkut had many wives, fathering 82 children. He imported tutors (including Anna Leonowens) to teach his children English and other subjects, since his travels had convinced him that modern education was needed in Siam.

When Mongkut became king, he knew Siam was in a dangerous position: European nation were invading the surrounding countries to establish colonies. Through his skillful political maneuvering, King Mongkut preserved his nation’s independence. Siam was the only country in Southeast Asia which escaped becoming a European colony.

King Mongkut had a lifelong interest in astronomy. In 1868, he correctly predicted a solar eclipse, and led a royal expedition to observe it. While traveling, both the king and his son, Prince Chulalongkorn, contracted malaria. The king died at age 64, after a reign of only 17 years.

Prince Chulalongkron recovered from his illness and became King Rama V at the age of 15. Because he was so young, Chulalongkorn had a regent, or royal supervisor, until he was 20 and old enough to rule on his own. During those five years, Chulalongkorn continues his studies, becoming the first Siamese king to leave the country: traveling to India, Java, and Singapore. Chulalongkorn continues his father’s mission of modernizing Siam, building hospitals and schools, and abolishing slavery.

Chulalongkorn reigned for 42 years, until his death in 1910 at age 57. In Thailand, he is known as Chulalongkorn the Great, and his life is celebrated on King Chulalongkorn Day, October 23rd. His grandson, King , has ruled Thailand from 1946 to the present day (2012).

Anna Leonowens was born to British parents in India in 1831 and was sent to school in England. At age 17, Anna eloped with Thomas Leonowens, an officer in the British military. They had two children, a son Lousi and a daughter Avis. When Major Leonowens died in Malaysia, Anna began a school in Singapore for the children of other British officers. In 1862, the 31-year-old Anna was invited by King Mongkut to come to Siam, where she taught in the royal palace for five years. She brought Louis with her, but sent Avis to stay in England. After her time in Siam, Anna moved to , and wrote several novels based on her experiences. Although her unfamiliarity with Siamese culture led to some inaccuracies in her description of traditional customs, her books captured her respect for the unique character of the Siamese people and their king. In a time when very few Westerners had ever been to Southeast Asia, Anna’s books became very popular, opening a door in the ancient, fascinating land of Siam.

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

King Mongkut was thoughtful in part because he spent over Twenty-Five Years in political exile as a Buddhist Monk in a monastery.

19

He spoke many different languages, including English; which he learned from English-speaking missionaries and he read all the time. However, he was a staunch Buddhists and was not afraid to express both his respect and distaste for .

In 1851, after his political enemy died, he was brought out of exile and declared King of Siam. As King, Anna Leonowens describes him as both a Caring, Enlightened, and Virtuous Ruler and as a Terrifying Tyrant, especially with his family: he expressed great Jealousy, Anger, and Favoritism 7 with his wives and their children. “No one’s head shall be higher than King’s.” Social Status in Siam Every individual in Siam had a unique social rank, from the king down to the humblest beggar. A person’s status was based on their age, wealth, education, and position. Westerners were often confused by the system, and even the Siamese found it complicated.

The king was at the top of the hierarchy: he was the father of his people, the upholder of justice, and the lord of the land. He was also believed to be an incarnation of a Hindu god, a combination of the earthly and the divine, and worthy of ultimate respect.

Important government positions carried titles with them and were controlled by noble families. The highest rank was chao phrya (for officials such as cabinet ministers and provincial governors). Two of the most influential officers were the Kralahome and the Phrakhlang, who governed major regions of the kingdom.

Siamese society was built of the idea of unequal relationships. Even brothers and sisters were of unequal status—the older sibling had a higher status than the younger. To build status, a person entered into a “leader and follower” relationship with a person of higher status (a mentor or wealthy older relative). In exchange for service and loyalty, the leader offered his followers protection and the benefit of his influence. When the leader rose in society, so did his followers. Both sides gained from the relationship, which was voluntary: a follower was free to leave a leader’s service at any time.

In Siam (and in Thailand today), person was expected to know his place in society and act accordingly. Proper behavior was extremely important. Some rules of Siamese etiquette are:  The head is considered sacred. This is why it is improper for anyone’s head to higher than the kings. You should never touch another person above the shoulders, such as patting them on the head or ruffling their hair (even a child).  The feet, on the other hand, are considered unclean. You should never reveal the soles of your shoes or feet, and never point your foot at another person (if you are sitting in a chair, for instance).  The proper greeting is the “wai,” touching fingertips at chest level and bending the head forward. The person of lower status bows more deeply to the person of higher status. A person of extremely high status, such as a member of royalty, would not bow at all.  Avoid conflict. Always speak quietly, with small polite gestures and a smile. It is unthinkable to shout or argue.

Even though they are acutely aware of social status, the modern-day Thai live by the relaxed philosophy of mai pen rai, which means “it’s cool” or “no worries.”

Discuss:  In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal.” Do you believe this is true in the ? Why or why not?  How do we determine a person’s status in our society? Can someone change his or her status?

Write:  Make a “status tree” of all the characters in The King and I. Choose a character and write a journal entry for that person, describing an encounter he or she had with someone of lower or higher status.

Explore:  Research Thai customs and manners further on the Internet or in the library as though were planning a trip to Thailand. What behavior is expected of visitors? Do they speak English or will you have to learn certain Thai phrases? Share the information you find with the group.

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. The women in the palace had little say about what they did and when they did it.

Indeed, Anna describes the life of a wife or concubine as life in a Gilded Cage, where “light and darkness are monstrously mixed”19.

20

In all things – in all things -- they are bound to the will of the king. Anna tells one story of one woman who petitioned the king that a position “held by her late uncle…might be bestowed on her elder brother”. She did not know, however, that King Mongkut preferred another man for the position. When the king received her petition, he had her Captured, Flogged, Beaten, and Chained to the Wall in a Muddy, Rotting, Prison.

Once Anna brought the woman’s plight to the attention of the king’s court, his conscience returned and he released the woman to return to her only son. Yet, this example shows why the Women in the Palace were so Fearful and Careful.

“She is . . . a present?” Slavery in Siam When a resource is scarce, it becomes more valuable. In Siam, land was plentiful, but the population was small: wealth was measured in manpower. Each member of the phrai, or common people, was registered under a leader, who gave them protection. This was similar to the feudal system in , in which lords protected the serfs who worked on their land. The more phrai a leader had, the wealthier he was. A low ranking official would have 16 men in his service, while the high level ministers would have 400. A royal prince might have 800 or more.

Some of the common people served the nobility, while the others worked for the king. For three months a year, the king’s people would be put to work building roads, canals, temples, and palaces. This system of forced service was called corve e labor (pronounced cor-VAY). The work was very hard, and people would do whatever they could to avoid it. To escape the king’s service, a man might go to work for a noble, join a monastery, hide in the jungle, or else go into debt and let himself be taken into slavery.

Corvee labor was not considered slavery: many slaves were treated better than the king’s workers. Like an indentured servant, slavers were often working off their debts to regain their freedom. In the nineteenth century, one third of the Siam population was enslaved. (At the same time in the slaveholding United States, slaves made up nearly half of the population.)

When Chulalongkorn became king in 1868, he decreed that all Siamese subjects born during his reign would be free. He ended corvee labor and, as Abraham Lincoln had done five years earlier in America, he abolished slavery completely.

Explore:  Check to see if any of your local museums or historical societies has exhibits about slavery in the United States. If none do, check on the Internet or the library for sites or books about slavery in the U.S. or elsewhere in the world. Compare what you know about slavery in Siam with the history of slavery in the United States. Were slaves treated differently in the different countries? Could slaves regain their freedom? When did slavery end in various countries? Does it still exist today anywhere in the world?

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. “We work and work from week to week.” Daily Life in the Royal Palace Daily Life in the Royal Palace The Royal Palace in Bangkok is actually a walled complex of buildings built over the course of a century, beginning when Bangkok was founded by King in 1782.

The first building completed was the Amarindiraphisek Audience Hall, where the king held court. It caught on fire when it was struck by lightning in 1789. The king helped fight the fire, carrying his own throne out of the building. On the same site, the Dusit Mahaprasad was built, where the present King of Thailand holds audiences to this day.

Other buildings that were part of the Royal Palace: The Aphon Phimok pavilion, where the king would dismount from his elephant; the Amarinda Vinichai, where royal guests would tether their elephants; the Paisal Taksin, the royal throne hall; The Chakrabardibiman Hall, the royal sleeping pavilion.

The Inner Palace was where the king, his wives and their children, servants and slaves lived. This city-within-a-city was run completely by women officials, and any male older than age 11 was forbidden to enter.

It was considered a great honor for young Siamese women to work for the princesses in the Inner Palace. Here, a girl could receive an education and learn social graces.

King Mongkut did not want any of the royal women to feel as though they were imprisoned, and changed the law so that any who wished to leave were free to do so (very few left). The king himself was not free to decide how he spent his time. There were laws that spelled out his daily routine:

 7 a.m. Wake up  8 a.m. Light breakfast: rice gruel  9 a.m. Meet with Royal Guards  10 a.m. Full breakfast, and back to bed  11 a.m. Spend time with ladies of the palace  1 p.m. Stroll through the palace grounds  2 p.m. Spend time with Royal wives and children  3 p.m. Meet with ministers and high officials on matters of state  4 p.m. Afternoon stroll  5 p.m. Pray and meditate in Royal Chapel  6 p.m. Three hours of study on politics and news of the day  9 p.m. The evening meal  10 p.m. Discuss philosophy and religion with advisors  12 a.m. Listen to musicians and singers  1 a.m. Listen to royal storytellers  2 a.m. Bed

The king would often forgo the traditional entertainment of music and stories and instead spend his time on royal business, writing late into the night. Even though he had little free time, the king did his best to be a caring husband and father to his many wives and children. He loved his children and wanted to give them the best possible education, knowing that the future of the country lay in their hands.

Discuss:  Would you want to be a king if it meant you had to a follow a daily schedule that was set for you, like King Mongkut? Why or why not? How might you change your royal schedule? Write:  Imagine you are King Monkut and write a journal entry describing your day. Include descriptions of what you did, who you met with and talked to, and important decisions you faced.

*Information provided by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. Reflections on Culture…

Clearly nineteenth century Siam was an exciting place to be: on the brink between Western and Easter philosophies; enjoying Social Independence and Wealth, yet aware of possible takeover by Imperialistic Europeans; the citizens saw a movement towards Greater Democracy and a Balance of Power in the land yet still Feared for Their Lives if they spoke against the King; Women were often treated little better than Carnal Slaves, yet a woman was hired to the Respected Position of Teacher that other women might Learn and Grow.

Do you see any contradictions in our own society? What are they?

CAST LIST for THE KING AND Icast (in order of appearance) Captain Orton...... John Antony Louis Leonowens*...... Chase McGrath Anna Leonowens...... Victoria Mallory The Interpreter...... Andy Danh The Kralahome...... Raul Aranas The King of Siam...... Ronobir Lahiri Court Dancer...... Jessica Wu Lun Tha...... Josh Dela Cruz Tuptim...... Ali Ewoldt Lady Thiang...... Jee Hyun Lim Prince Chulalongkorn...... Raphael Aranas Fan Dancer...... Yuki Ozeki Sir Edward Ramsay...... John Antony

Royal Wives, Slaves, Courtiers, Guards, Monks, English Guests, and Market People Raphael Aranas, Stephanie Card, Andrew Cheng, Amy Chiang, Andy Danh, Thang Dao, Yuka Fukuda-Lahiri, Cassey K. Kivnick, Azumi Milligan, JP Moraga, Ariela Morgenstern, Manna Nichols, Rommel Pierre O’Choa, Rumi Oyama, Yuki Ozeki, Jessica Wu

“Small House of Uncle Thomas” Ballet: Eliza...... Jessica Wu Simon of Legree...... Andrew Cheng Angel George...... Rumi Oyama Uncle Thomas...... Cassey K. Kivnick Little Eva...... Azumi Milligan Topsy...... Yuki Ozeki

UNDERSTUDIES Understudies never substitute for the listed players unless a specific posting or announcement is made at the time of the performance. For The King: Raul Aranas, For Anna: Stephanie Card, For Lun Tha: JP Moraga, For Tuptim: Manna Nichols, For Lady Thiang: Ariela Morgenstern, For Louis Leonowens: Carl Kimbrough

THE ROYAL CHILDREN Kylie Blank, Courtney Clewell, Camden Croucher, Abby Goldberg, Sara Goldberg, Ana Laura Grullon, Benjamin Harding, Eli Hutchinson, Sarah Grace Hutchinson, Tayler LaNett Jackson, Thomas C.D. Jackson, Chosen Jacobs, Elise Jones, Marilee Karinshak, Camille Lamkin, Logan Patrick McHugh, Rosslyn Milne, Max River Roberts, Nicholas Sanders, Thomas Shoup, Lexi Skinner, Madison Stampfl, Emerson Steele, Conner Street, Jonah Verdon, Camille Warlick, Payten Williams

Touring Musicians Conductor...... Eugene Gwozdz Percussionist...... Louis B. Crocco

Stage Management Production Stage Manager...... John W. Calder, III Stage Manager...... Sarah Marshall Assistant Stage Manager...... Dan Zittel

Works Cited Page…

1. Cover Image: Provider: Luxotic World Website: http://luxoticworld.com/tag/thailand Date Obtained: 08/25/2011

2. Provider: applause online.com Website: http://www.applauseonline.com/images/King~I~OBP.jpg Date Obtained: 08/25/2011

3. Provider: TalkMoviesworld.com Website: http://movies.broadwayworld.com/article/Rodgers_Hammerstein_Organization_Launches_Podca st_Series_20090219 Date Obtained: Sept. 22, 2011

4. Provider: Moveedo Website: http://moveedo.com/movie/53657 Date Obtained: 08/25/2011

5. Website: http://pizzadominoes.com/oscar-night-pizza-time Date Obtained: Sept. 22, 2011

6. Website: http://www.hasekamp.net/anna.htm Date Obtained: 08/25/2011

7. Providor: Siamese Visions, blog Website: http://siamesevisions.blogspot.com/search/label/King%20Mongkut Date Obtained: 25 September 2011

8. Provider: Property World.com Website: http://www.propertyworld.com/Thailand Date Obtained: 8/25/2011

9. Provider: Esemplastic thermoplastic Website: http://drzubkov.com/cardinal-knowledge/philosophy/buddhist-philosophy/ Date Obtained: 08/28/2011

10. Website: http://gallery.craftech.com/linvilla/album_001/Animals_White+Dove.JPG.html Date Obtained: 23 September 2011

11. Provider: A LIE AND A TRUTH Website: http://alieandatruth.blogspot.com/2009/09/colour-me-white.html Date Obtained: 23 September 2011

12. Website: http://www.123rf.com/photo_2056857_tiny-white-elephant-statues.html Date Obtained: 08/08/2011

13. http://siamesevisions.blogspot.com/search/label/Elephants Date Obtained: 08/08/2011

14. Provider: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas Date created: 1892 Location: Asia License: This work is believed to be in the public domain. Users are advised to make their own copyright assessment and to understand their rights to fair use. Website: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/3280 Date Obtained: 08/08/2011

15. Cody, David. "The British Empire." Victorian Web . n. page. Web. 26 Sep. 2011. . Date Obtained: 23 September 2011

16. H Lenthall Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-1881) 19th Cen Painting Provider: Vangobot Website: http://popartmachine.com/item/pop_art/FASF-FASF.305201/H-LENTHALL-BENJAMIN- DISRAELI,-1ST-EARL-OF-BEACONSFIELD-(1804-1881)-19TH-CEN Date Obtained: 23 September 2011

17. © From the Richard Milner Archive Provider: GreatScience.com Website: http://www.glsc.org/darwin/darwin_press.php Date Obtained: 23 September 2011

18. Provider: dipity Website: http://www.dipity.com/jakehollin/US-History-Timeline-Pink/ Date Obtained: 25 September 2011

19. Leonowens, Anna nna. The English Governess At The Siamese Court . Kessinger Publishing, 2010. 74. Print.

20. Providor: Siamese Visions, blog Website: http://siamesevisions.blogspot.com/search/label/King%20Mongkut Date Obtained: 25 September 2011

Books: Englehart, Neil A. Culture and Power in Traditional Siamese Government . 1s t ed. 18. Ithaca: Cornell University, 2011. Print.

Leonowens, Anna. The English Governess At The Siamese Court . Kessinger Publishing, 2010. Print.