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Spalding was filled with eastern promise last week when this year's SADOS musical The King and I came to town.

Based on the novel by Margaret Landon, The King and I has seen great success as a Broadway production and as a 1956 Hollywood film.

It tells the story of idealistic English teacher Anna and her struggle to adapt to the culture - and people - of Siam, where she has arrived to teach the King's children.

Few musicals can lay claim to covering as wide a range of emotions as The King and I so how did SADOS manage with such a testing production?

The answer, as anyone who ventured along to the South Holland Centre to watch will be able to tell you, is exceptionally well.

The set was well designed with a lavish backdrop used for most of the play, while the quality of props made it easy to identify where each scene was set. The costumes were extraordinary. The Oriental outfits looked remarkably authentic - not surprising as director Anthony Grunwell had them sent from Bangkok by a relative.

The acting and singing were carried out with style and confidence, demonstrated best by leading lady Alison Johnson, who played Anna. Her voice went up and down the scales with ease and she seemed as comfortable singing upbeat numbers as she was with love songs. Her portrayal of Anna's apprehension towards the King's methods was totally believable and she once again showed her range with the more dramatic scenes later in the play.

Norman Parish was perfectly cast as the King of Siam - at times puzzled, at others all powerful but ultimately grateful to Anna. His booming voice also made the most of his solo numbers.

The chemistry between the pair was evident throughout and the antics of the King demanding Anna's head be lower than his at all times had the audience in hysterics.

Rosie Smith demonstrated a deceptively powerful voice as Lady Thiang and her rendition of Something Wonderful was the perfect end to the first act.

Forbidden lovers Tuptim (Laura Adams) and Lun Tha (Adam Patman) sang well throughout, while James McHugh (Louis) and Matthew Neighbour (Prince Chulalonghorn) worked very well together.

And then came the moment that stole the show. Four-year-old Charlotte Sacks was held aloft in front of a full house to recite a letter pleading Anna not to leave Siam. A deafening round of applause was her reward for reading a difficult passage clearly and without a single mistake.

The chorus and supporting cast did a marvellous job, especially during the play-within-a-play section when they performed for the visiting British dignataries.

The musical ended on a sombre note as the characters left the stage after paying their respects to the dead king.

As a cast member pointed out, this meant that the success of the performance was judged on whether the audience left with tears in their eyes. If that was the case, the cast can reflect on a job well done.

A few slightly unbelievable Oriental accents can be forgiven against the backdrop of what was a hugely entertaining show. After all the hard work that has gone into The King and I, the cast, crew and committee of SADOS can sit back, relax and congratulate themselves on a simply stunning show.