Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The King and I is the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about a British schoolteacher, named Anna Leonowens, and her nine-year-old son, Louis, who travel to Siam to instruct the king's children. Set in the mid 1860's, the play addresses slavery, British imperialism, and women's issues. The musical is one of eleven, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Many of the songs in the production are recognized as theatre classics.

The play opens on the deck of a ship called the Chow Phya, which has sailed from Singapore to Siam and is approaching the port of Bangkok. Anna and Louis Leonowens are on board the ship destined for Bangkok, where Anna will become schoolteacher to the king's children.

The captain of the ship is Captain Orton. He talks to Louis, who is excited to see the lights of Bangkok, as the ship approaches...