MISS SAIGON IN THE CINEMA — Page 6

You're right Mr. Nowack. I feel better now.

I think the line you might be thinking of was something like "I'm an American, how could I fail to do good?!" That line, and especially the whole American Dream sequence, definitely struck through to me that the musical was satirizing a lot of the popular views of America and especially how America views itself in the foreign sphere. While I disagree necessarily that Chris is entirely bad, I found everyone somewhat nuanced enough to not really hate anyone. Though even though Kim was the most obviously sympathetic and the biggest sufferer, I still ended up finding myself sympathizing a lot with The Engineer too for some reason, even if he was an ass. But I guess part of that is that him also being the show's comic relief softens him a bit I guess. He felt more like the star than anything else to me half the time.

I definitely agree there is a lot of nuance. The Engineer especially is so sleazy and manipulative, but he has that whole "do what you need to survive" deal going on and obviously he has had an extremely hard life. That's one of the things I love about the show, there's a lot of moral ambiguity and nothing is Black and White.

I have to go back to the radio broadcast to find the line I'm thinking of, it wasn't the "how can I fail to do good" line although that does about the same thing.

No character is really innocent, I think that is what makes the show so good to me. Each character is flawed, none are perfectly righteous.

I whole heartedly agree with the idea of Chris being the symbol of America trying to be the good in the world, while managing to make things a more complicated mess. America really is good at that, but dammit we try so hard.

The engineer represents the darker, greedier side of capitalism, another dark mirror in the face of the states.

Kim isn't completely without fault either. She essentially tricks Chris into a marriage that he didn't know he was in. Sure, he intended to many her, but at the point that all of the girls are singing Dju Vui Vai he isn't aware that he is marrying her. She tells him that it's what all of the girls sing at weddings and they are singing it because they don't know what else to sing, prety much reassuring him that it's not really real. However, from then on, she refers to him as her husband. She is really represents a struggle over the loss of innocence. She starts so pure and tries so hard to maintain her virtue, but she gets a husband through a white lie; she kills a man, but does it to save her child; she turns to dancing and implied prostitution, but does it to get back to her husband; and in the end she takes her own life. Don't think I'm knocking Kim. I'm not. This all makes her a nice round character. She isn't a mere damsel in distress, waiting for her prince to return and rescue her. She takes an active role in her destiny. She makes choices, and each of those choices affect her as well as everyone else in the story.

I think that is why we can empathize with each of the characters. Each character is forced to make some very tough, but realistic choices, and that comes to life beautifully here. Each character represents something we can recognize in ourselves.

jsg03jd said: "Was a verse cut out of WHAT A WASTE? It seemed the opening of the Bangkok scene was trimmed for the cineast. At least it seemed that way to me.



"

Yes, and I believe it was the one where the Engineer sings, "Screw the Siamese." During the first intermission, I was talking with my friend about how the new production cut some racist terms like "Chinks," while still keeping (somewhat reasonably in context) "Siamese" according to the cast recording. However, we didn't find the specific verse containing the word included in the screening.

Updated On: 9/24/16 at 12:37 AM

I definitely remember one of the songs being shorter last night, that must have been it. Would like to add, considering the little of the sets we could actually see, that the Bangkok one was underwhelming compared to the original production. 8:58 here,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3-Q-x2uW0

I did really enjoy the whole thing though, despite almost everything being close-up and shot like a music video.

Mr. Nowack, glad you could find the full one. I only specifically remembered that one line as standing out to me just from the sheer...camp? melodrama? of it. But I agree, it all together really shines a light on what the real meaning of Chris's whole character is.

Also, someone made a comment regarding it earlier, but I did notice what seemed to be a reference to Book of Mormon within the Bangkok scene. There was also a comment which sounded like it might have been a reference to La Cage Aux Folles, but I wasn't sure. If these were intentional, those were nice little easter eggs.

The Mormon actually says "Hello" in the stage show and is enamored by the male leather dancer.

Wildcard said: "The Mormon actually says "Hello" in the stage show and is enamored by the male leather dancer.





Yes! I remember that male go go boy when I saw the West End revival in November 2015 because that character was definitely NOT in the original Drury Lane and Broadway Theatre productions.

Thanks to the folks for confirming WHAT A WASTE was trimmed. Glad I've not lost my mind completely.

Updated On: 9/24/16 at 11:33 PM

Ellen doesn't seem like the type of person who would immediately think that

That's what makes it seem like an out of place song for me, it just doesn't strike me as a believable reaction to what's happening. Considering the possibility that maybe Chris always loved Kim and not her yes, but the song doesn't incorporate any other reactions or possibilities and lands as a one note throwaway.

The music to Please and the original Too Much For One Heart are the same. So they didn't just try to fit it in there. Too Much... came first.

Also, the male leather dancer was in the original production. The Mormon is the new character.

Wildcard said: "The music to Please and the original Too Much For One Heart are the same. So they didn't just try to fit it in there. Too Much... came first.

Also, the male leather dancer was in the original production. The Mormon is the new character.



I know that but there was a sound reason TOO MUCH FOR ONE HEART was reconfigured from being a solo for Kim to PLEASE, which covers Kim's reunion with John. The melody may be the same but the lyrics in place now are so godawful compared to PLEASE. And I do not remember any male go go dancer at both Drury Lane and the Broadway Theatre. That's why seeing one at the Prince Edward was jarring. At least it was for me.

Updated On: 9/29/16 at 11:37 PM