Miss Saigon- Page 2

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 10:33pm

If you're talking about the original Bway cast, the engineer was Brit Jonathan Pryce and the controversy was that he played the engineer in London originally, but American equity didn't want him to be on the Bway stage, plus the fact that he had to put things on his eyes to look more "Asian".

The tour last year had Jon Jon Briones, who is of Philipine decent. Maybe that's who you mean?

[kates]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 10:36pm

I think I'm thinking of the first guy and was a little hazy on the details or my mother never fully understood what the deal was; both of which are equally possible, thanks for clearing it up Tiff.
Can I ask a dumb question though (asks anyway), why didn't equity want him on American stages

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 10:42pm

I believe it was because he was a Brit who wasn't part of the American union, so he's, you know, technically "taking" the part away from a trained American actor. If only back then there was the influx of stunt casting of pop stars that we have now!

(I could be wrong, but I read this last year in the Miss Saigon broadway book. I'm pretty sure those were the 2 big issues.)

[kates]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 10:47pm

Thanks for the explanation Tiff!
My how times have changed

[suchclumsytime]

Posted: 11/6/04 at 10:59pm

Semi-off the topic, but a lot of people are upset about the revival of 'Fiddler on the Roof' because many of the actors aren't Jewish. Or, at least, that's what I've heard through the grapevine. I apologize for the lack of factual/quoteable support.

Also, I LOVE Miss Saigon. It was the first show I ever saw on Broadway, and I was 11 (and quite modest at the time; I was afraid to say the word 'prostitute,' nevermind go to a musical about one). One of the best shows I've ever seen (then again, I haven't given a bad review yet...except for 'Wicked'--Laura Bell Bundy was standing in for Cheno, and honestly, it was the worst performance I'd ever seen on Broadway...but I LOVED Eden)!

And I agree, the helicopter was impressive for two seconds, until you took a moment to really look at it. It took too much away from the show, and it wasn't worth it. If you're putting such an eye-catching effect into a show...you've really got to put more effort into it. But that's just me.