“The King and I,” 1956, won Yul Brynner an Oscar, and before that was a Rodgers and Hammerstein B’way musical. Returning oftener than Streisand’s farewell tours, it’s coming again 2015. Kelli O’Hara has Gertrude Lawrence’s role as Anna, the royal Thai children’s schoolmarm. Ken Watanabe is His Majesty.
I’ve actually played the Palace. I know Thailand’s Queen Sirikit forever. Often visited her in Bangkok, Chiengmai, Hua Hin. Have gifts from her. Arranged handicraft exhibits for her. Interviewed her, partied with her and family. Stupidly wore her almost identical white Thai silk suit for one TV sit-down.
Losing a friend in her country’s horrendous 2004 tsunami, I flew to ask for help. Her Majesty gave me planes and officers to aid my search.
The King and I are not exactly buddies, but cool Yul told me: “Who else can play Mongolian folk songs on a guitar? I arrived first day to be the King of Siam in black leather jacket, boots, a monogrammed Cadillac with black upholstery leading two German shepherds and carrying a whip.”
In 1985, another reprise: “I’ve done this show 33 years. I’m exhausted,” and royally decreed January’s long line of freezing ticket buyers be served hot black tea.
Kelli O’Hara: “I never saw the movie. I plan to. And never seen Thailand. I was Tony-nominated for ‘South Pacific,’ but hadn’t seen that show either. You can’t reinterpret material. You must bring something new to it. I’m now reading the original book ‘Anna and the King of Siam.’
“In ‘Jekyll and Hyde,’ I wore hoops and petticoats, but this period piece’s huge costumes are a problem. Movement, the physicality, is hard.
“Wonderful is it’s at Lincoln Center. To me, that’s home. Where I nursed my first big job, ‘The Light in the Piazza.’ I even have the same dressing room.”
Back to Queen Sirikit. Early on in Chitralada Palace, her son Prince Vajiralongkorn came within six feet, fell to his knees, crawled to his mother’s feet, then lay prostrate, his forehead touching the ground.
Bangkok was so hot, I kept blotting my face with the zeal of an engineer filling in a sinking beach. Never reaching for a hanky, Kleenex, nothing, the queen said: “I have made up my mind I won’t perspire, and I don’t.”
Lots of luck to O’Hara and Watanabe.
New hot spot on the park
Excellent CPS restaurant Villagio on the Park, 4 months old, is jammed in front, back, private room, the bar, outside. One diner was actually reading Janet Evanovich’s “Top Secret Twenty-One” . . . AFTER schlepping the Nets to Brooklyn, this holiday season Bruce Ratner brings “Shrek” to Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers . . . OCT. 10, the Pierre, a military ball honoring our US Air Force. Buy a ticket.
Here’s to NYC bliss
New Yorkers’ idea of happiness: Patient whose dentist cancels root canal with, “You really don’t need it.”
Broker getting an IRS refund “When I didn’t even cheat.”
Manufacturer: “Seven days with a hooker and the wife not saying a word.”
Stylist: “Something on sale.”
Wife: “A brother-in-law who doesn’t try to borrow money.”
Lawyer: “One week of golf.”
Spinster: “A guy — even one whose achievement is an Edsel dealership.”
Designer on HSN: “You kidding? Selling out my whole line of designer linens.”
Driver Reggie: “Katz’s thick, juicy, fresh, hand-cut pastrami sandwich. With Russian dressing. And a pickle.” He’s been with me 35 years. His happiness I know.
Neighbor at a street fruit stand: “Three tangerines for a dollar. Sometimes he offers an unsold soft, old, drippy leftover fourth.” Her happiness? “A fresh new just-born tangerine free.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.