THE KING And I is exactly the kind of show that makes York Light Opera Company integral to York's theatre map.

You won't see a professional production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein favourite coming this way any time soon. So be grateful that York Light take on the challenge of mounting a show on an epic scale with a large ensemble and costumes galore, directed and choreographed by Martyn Knight with admirable discipline and a flair for spectacle.

In a novel but informative opening, the overture under Philip Redding's musical direction is accompanied by video footage of the company in rehearsal, with each principal captured on film, followed by credits for the multitude of Royal Wives and Royal Children. It all helps to set the scene for the story to follow, with advance notice of who's who for the nigh-on three hours that lie ahead.

The year is 1862, the setting is Siam, and East and West relations are about to be put to the test as English widow Anna Leonowens (Emma Dickinson) and her young son Louis (Flynn Coultous/Reuben Lally) arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, not exactly warmly received by martinet-in-chief The Kralahome (Geoffrey Turner), after a kindly send-off from ship's captain Orton (Phillip Jackson). She has been summoned by the haughty King to serve as tutor to his ever expanding retinue of children and wives.

Emma Dickinson, perfect casting as Anna Leonowens with her old-fashioned-in-a-good-way school of acting, has already set the auditorium humming (if not whistling) with her I Whistle A Happy Tune, and she will go on to give a tremendous performance opposite John Hall as The King.

Hall has talked of this stellar role being his stage farewell, going out on a high and all that, but frankly that would be premature. He looks the part, trimmed, spray-tanned, big stage presence, hair trimmed to the sides with a knot on top; he's authoritative, autocratic, yet humorous too. The accent, in pidgin English, is spot-on and his acting demands that if he pushes musical theatre to one side, he should at least do plays.

Richard Bayton and Naomi Halliday are in fine voice as the not-so-secret lovers Lun Tha and Tuptim, while Sally Lewis gives a particularly strong performance as Lady Thiang. Jack Porter impresses too as Prince Chulalongkorn.

Martyn Knight's choreography is at its best for the Jerome Robbins ballet centrepiece, The Small House Of Uncle, which is as spectacular as you could wish it to be. Praise too goes to the myriad wives and children and to Redding's musical forces who sustain musical vibrancy for such a long show with panache.

The King And I, York Light Opera Company, York Theatre Royal, until March 18, 7.30pm and 2.30pm, tomorrow and next Saturday. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk