The Alhambra's King a I gets a hand from a Ponte Vedra prince
By mark Pettus | Oct. 22, 2010 | 0 comments
Zach Goodall doesn't play the prince in The Alhambra's version of The King & I, but his performance as Louis, the son of an English teacher imported to Thailand to teach the king's children the ways of the west, portends a princely future for the young actor.
Goodall, who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach with his mom and dad, Rhonda and Doug Goodall, his brothers Julian and Sage and his grandmother, Dot McCreery, is a sixth grader at Landrum Middle School. his mother says he's a natural performer, who first talked his way onto the stage at a street fair in Pittsburg, Penn. and has since (literally) talked his way onto the stage at several local venues, including the old McKenzies Piano Bar and the Cabana Club.
Zach first came to the attention of Alhambra Director Tod Booth when he auditioned for High School Musical earlier this year. Booth didn't select him for that show, but asked Goodall to return for The King & I.
Goodall's is not the only great performance on the stage. Alhambra veteran Kelly Atkins turns in a solid performance as the mislead and mis-used English teacher. her strong voice and commanding stage presence serve her character well. Anna Leonowens is a single mother thousands of miles from home, yet even as she sets foot ashore she has the courage to stand up the King of Siam's Prime Minister, Kralahome, and soon is trading barbs with the King himself.
James Berkley as Kralahome is the hidden pearl on The Alhambra's cast. he masters the praetorian prime minister's over-lording attitude toward everyone in the play — except The King, whom he worships. his amazing physical presence also adds a credible menace to his charatcter, which is needed to truly highlight Anna's courage.
The rest of the supporting cast are as good as any The Alhambra has presented in recent years.
But, The King & I is first and foremost a star vehicle for the actor who plays The King, and with a history that includes an Oscar for Yul Brynner's performance in the movie adaptation of the film following his amazing performance in the same role on Broadway, this is a role that brings in audiences with high expectations.
Tony Romero is up to the challenge. his King is both kingly and comedic — two very different things that require an actor to shift gears without appearing to do so, and Romero makes it appear effortless. from the depths of despair to haughty anger, to the slapstick humor he displays with his children, Romero's King is thoroughly human and emminently watchable.
He alone would make The Alhambra's The King & I worth watching.
This show is well worth the price of admission, and the special Asian menu Mathew Medure created just for The King makes it an even greater value.
markpettus@pontevedrarecorder.com
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