Anastasia or Miss Saigon?

[zjb8]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:51pm

I'm going to New York in a couple of weeks and I haven't fully made up my mind on which show to see. Should I go see Anastasia or Miss Saigon!?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:53pm

Miss Saigon. There is really no question in my book.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:01pm

Easily Miss Saigon. Try to make sure you're going to a performance when Eva Noblezada will be on for Kim (I believe she takes off Wednesday nights and Saturday matinees). She and the show are phenomenal.

As someone who grew up with Anastasia, I was overall disappointed by this production (save for a wonderful performance by Christy Altomare).

[little_sally]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:01pm

zjb8 said: "I'm going to New York in a couple of weeks and I haven't fully made up my mind on which show to see. Should I go see Anastasia or Miss Saigon!?"

Miss Saigon is overall just a better musical, plus Anastasia doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:06pm

I started to nod off a couple of times during Anastasia. To me (and although many will disagree), if felt like a second-rate Disney knockoff.

There's no way I could ever nod off during Miss Saigon.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:37pm

These are my two favorite shows. It depends on when you would see saigon. If it was a Wednesday night or sat. matinee, Eva doesn't perform so I would say anastasia.

I personally enjoy the upbeat of anastasia more, but if you want a super impactful and sad musical probably Miss Saigon. I did find myself taken away from the story and nodded off a lot in Miss Saigon, and never really at Anastasia.

If you want a good view for saigon, you would have to sit very front mezz. I sat in the front mezz center and it was VERY obstructed. At anastasia, I was last row side and fine. 

So, I guess I would recommend Anastasia. But, its just preference.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:40pm

Lot666 said: "I started to nod off a couple of times during Anastasia. To me (and although many will disagree), if felt like a second-rate Disney knockoff.

There's no way I could ever nod off during Miss Saigon."

Thats odd. I loved Miss Saigon, but nodded off A LOT. I didn't do so at Anastasia. However, there have only been 4 musicals out of a lot that I have seen that I have never nodded off in so maybe its just a habit. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:45pm

ellbellthomps said: "...there have only been 4 musicals out of a lot that I have seen that I have never nodded off in so maybe its just a habit."

If you fall asleep in most shows, I can only surmise that you consistently select bad shows or you have a very short attention span. Or narcolepsy.

[asoftplacetoland]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:55pm

Definitely Miss Saigon. Plus, it’s closing really soon so you’ll need to catch it while you can.

[haterobics]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:01pm

I'd pick Saigon of the two, but it's hardly a Sophie's Choice. Sophie could have just said, "eh, whichever you want is fine..." I'd almost wonder why not a lot of other shows?!

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:25pm

I want to put in a good word for understudy Kim. I have seen this revival 2x once in the West End and the other time in Broadway both times excited to see Eva as Kim. Just my luck I got Kim understudies in both shows! I will say I didn’t miss anything from seeing understudies! Lianah Sta Ana, the Broadway understudy was amazing! Miss Saigon is Miss Saigon whoever plays Kim!

I have seen original Miss Saigon with Lea Salonga (and others) as Kim. Lea is the ultimate Kim for me, But seeing other Kims did not distract me from the show itself!

[Pauly3]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 6:28pm

I saw Lianah Sta Ana as well and thought she was quite good.  It took a little while for me to fully warm up to her, but I got there while still in the first act.  Going in knowing I would not be seeing Eva Noblezada, I wasn't too disappointed as I knew the London recording on DVD/Blu-ray (with Eva) will be released at some point....and could get the Blu-ray from Amazon UK anytime and play it on any Blu-ray player as it is not region coded.

I liked Anastasia OK but was not terribly impressed by it.  If you plan on buying Miss Saigon on Blu-ray and really want to see Anastasia, then maybe see Anastasia.  For me, having seen both as well as having viewed the Miss Saigon Blu-ray, I would still recommend Miss Saigon (live) with anyone playing Kim over seeing Anastasia.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 8:19am

ebontoyan said: "I have seen this revival 2x once in the West End and the other time in Broadway both times excited to see Eva as Kim. Just my luck I got Kim understudies in both shows! I will say I didn’t miss anything from seeing understudies!"

If you've seen it twice and the understudy was on both times, how do you know you "didn't miss anything" by not seeing Eva Noblezada?

[jbird5]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 9:34am

I don’t get the love for Eva. She struck me as very meh. She sang beautifully, but it’s musical theater and I hardly noticed she was there. She seems to have tons of personality, but none of it came through. I’m going back Saturday to see Lianah.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 11:19am

I love both, but I would recommend Miss Saigon for this trip since it closes in a few weeks. Anastasia will probably still be running next time you're in NYC.

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 12:53pm

Lot666 said: "ebontoyan said: "I have seen this revival 2x once in the West End and the other time in Broadway both times excited to see Eva as Kim. Just my luck I got Kim understudies in both shows! I will say I didn’t miss anything from seeing understudies!"

If you've seen it twice and the understudy was on both times, how do you know you "didn't miss anything" by not seeing Eva Noblezada?"

I saw the show, I still loved it and it is still one of my fave shows (even without Eva), move on.  Life is too short to waste my time on “What did I miss??!”  Obviously I was not meant to see Eva.

Eva herself responded to me on Twitter about seeing Kim understudies that they are the best Kims, trust her lol I don’t need to trust her I’ve seen for myself!  Sorry don’t know how to link

[acekatherineplumber2]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 2:10pm

See Anastasia! One of my favorite shows I saw this year!

[PatrickDennis92]

Posted: 12/19/17 at 3:00pm

1000% Miss Saigon. I promise. Just take my word for it.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 12/22/17 at 7:43pm

Anastasia. It’s not a surprise by now that I adore Anastasia and consider it my favorite show. I have tried so hard to listen to Miss Saigon, and just could never get into it. I didn’t very much enjoy the filmed London production either; generally I just don’t like the show. It’s really a matter of taste, but I’d say go for Anastasia. It’s fun, has a barrel of great songs, and is surprisingly emotional.

[atuomala]

Posted: 12/23/17 at 1:46pm

Miss Saigon

I saw both shows and even though I liked Anastasia, I loved Miss Saigon.

[jbird5]

Posted: 12/23/17 at 3:34pm

Sitting front row. Lianah is killing i(in a good way). Don’t miss this show. You’ll
Have more chances to see Anastasia.