Review: Gelinas Cast Shines in 'The King and I'

As the lights of the theater dimmed and the orchestra began the Overture, I could tell this would not be your average junior high school musical production. The production, directed by Ms. Melissa Anderson, and the Orchestra, under the skillful direction of Mr. Philip Gelfer, instantly transported the audience out of Setauket and into the mystical land of Siam. The Orchestra is comprised of mostly students from Gelinas, and played as well, if not better than, many local theater orchestras.

The young junior high-age cast was overflowing with talent. Anna, portrayed by Alle Wallace, sang with a voice much more mature than her age, and with a pureness so often overlooked in an age of auto-tune. Ms. Wallace’s rendition of “Hello, Young Lovers” left the audience speechless, hanging on her every word. She portrayed an Anna with great depth and vulnerability, so that when she cried you could feel her pain. The King, portrayed by Peter Hsu, brought a powerful yet comical presence. In his song “A Puzzlement,” Mr. Hsu managed to express to the audience his bewilderment at the Western world. His voice commanded authority from his subjects. Lady Thiang, portrayed by Isabela Kyle, lit up the stage with her presence. Her performance of “Something Wonderful” was truly something wonderful to behold. The two young lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, portrayed by Alexis Salerno and Jordan Pollak, respectively, stole the audience’s hearts. Together in the song “I Have Dreamed” the audience watched as these two star-crossed lovers stole a tender moment together.

So many aspects of the performance are to be admired, from the visually stunning costumes created by Ms. Irene Gische and Ms. Jenna Wolf, to the set designs of Mr. Ed Moloney, Mr. Kraig Herrell and Mr. Dean Kostis that captured the majesty of the King’s palace, to the jaw-dropping choreography during “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” as envisioned by choreographer Ms. Christine Chase.

I remain impressed by the high level of talent that these young performers displayed. They should be incredibly proud of their achievement. Congratulations to the cast, orchestra, crew, faculty and parents of the Gelinas JHS production of “The King and I.” Bravo!

–Andrew Lenahan

Editor's note: Two reamining performances of "The King and I" at Gelinas are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. For tickets, call 631-730-4789.