Please note that some of the additional information provided here by the journalist named below may not be accurate, so it should be treated with caution.
‘Woman’ – 10th September, 1973
Peter’s Royal Progress
“Yes, I suppose people are surprised when they hear my singing voice,” said Peter Wyngarde, referring to his right royal success in the revival of the stage musical, The King And I. He added, “it was a surprise to me, too! I sound better than I originally thought I would. I’ve been enjoying the role tremendously, even though it’s poles apart from my tough guy TV image as the other king, author and detective Jason.
“I believe a lot of my fans, especially the teenage ones, don’t quite know what to expect when they come to see the show but they seem to enjoy it, all the same!” In fact, he’s still recovering from the enthusiasm of a party of 400 teenyboppers who made a block booking and all turned up at the stage door afterwards.
“It’s hard for me to analyse my appeal. Basically, I think my younger fans like the trendy clothes I wear as Jason King. Also, I’ve got an older man’s authority which makes me perhaps something of a change from the usual young pop stars, doesn’t it?”
The London Evening Standard
Thursday, 11th October, 1973
Surprise Encore With A Cuddle From The King
Dawn was almost breaking before Sally Ann Howes and Peter Wyngarde got to the beds today after the triumphant West End first night in The King And I. It had been an emotional occasion at the Adelphi Theatre, with audience applause thundering out and curtain call after curtain call.
The most emotional moments of all which was totally unexpected by the stars. It came when the curtain rose one more time to find the two of them hugging each other with delight. Peter explained: “We thought the curtain was down for good and we just fell into each other’s arms in relief. It was a magical moment.
“I don’t know what we said, but it sort of sealed the occasion. I imagine we were just gasping our thanks to each other”.
Backstage after all the congratulations from people like Cecely Courtnage, who looks upon herself as the second mother to Sally Ann, the stars exchanged presents.
He, using a line from the script, gave her a huge model elephant. “I think it has brought us both good luck,” he told her. She, remembering that the King wore glasses in the show, gave him a pair of Georgian spectacles. Says TV’s Jason King, “When I get the lenses taken out I will wear them during future performances”.
Both of them went on to a series of parties to mark the opening. There were public ones and private celebrations. Peter got to two of them but missed a third. “With a matinee due today,” he said, “I felt I had to sleep at some time”.
It was his first West End musical and he was at the theatre early to mentally adjust himself from London to Siam – leaving one world for another.
“It was wonderful hearing the adulation for the music,” he said. “I was so nervous that I must have gargled 100 times before going onstage. But it was exhilaration rather than fear. My last words to Sally were, look into my eyes when we’re out there”.
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