If you looked at the March 6 article from The Charlotte Observer, you may have noticed that it was written by Lawrence Toppman. But he didn't write the review of the opening night (March 10) performance that was published on March 11 in the same paper. I noticed in Mr. Toppman's article that he had a special interest in seeing the show, so I sent him an email asking whether he had actually seen the opening night performance, and if so, what were his impressions. He was kind enough to send me the following response, which he also graciously allowed me to add to this web site:

I did go opening night. The sets and costumes were splendid, just a shade short of the revival I saw on Broadway in 1996. The supporting cast, especially Lady Thiang and Tuptim, sang well and acted with flair. I warmed to the King slowly, though I finally found him convincing in all his emotional moods except the most savage. (The King needn't be played like a barbarian, but you have to believe he has a streak in him that would allow him to beat Tuptim.) Vee Talmadge also sang better than the other kings I've heard.

Mills won me over gradually. Her voice is a frayed thread, and she can't begin to do justice to "Hello, Young Lovers." She copes more adequately with the simpler songs, such as "Getting to Know You," and she's at her best when speaking "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?" (Which, of course, is mostly spoken.) I thought she had enough warmth to make the character sympathetic, and she was schoolmarm'ish in an appealing way, especially in act two.

Lawrence Toppman Movie Critic The Charlotte Observer March 16, 1998