Miss Saigon Philadelphia feat. Kunze, Chua & Martino- Page 2

[My Oh My]

Posted: 4/16/11 at 2:17am

Oh, yes. I almost forgot I saw Jen in that one non-equity tour too. She was the one great thing about that production.

I know what you mean, and it's perfectly understandable to want to see someone else take on a role.

On a somewhat related note, it's a pity a talent like Paz is limited to the same roles years later. I'd hate to think her race is what keeps her from being cast in other roles in an art form where suspension of disbelief and acting can effectively turn an ordinary artist into Eva Peron, Elphaba, Fantine, Cassie, and many others.

And why Salonga hasn't been cast in another Broadway show other than ones she's done before is beyond me. I think she'd make a fabulous Elphaba.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/16/11 at 2:30am

Jennifer Paz HAS played Evita.

But on the whole I agree with you.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 4/16/11 at 2:22pm

i kinda think that's why i get mad whenever jennifer paz is cast as KIM... i think to myself... this woman is so damn talented... why the hell is she still playing this role?!? if she loves the role, fine.. but if it's because no one wants to cast her in anything else because of her race, then that just plain sucks and it annoys me

[bryan2]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 9:56am

I saw this last night and all I have to say is UNBELIEVABLE...
GREAT production. Eric Kunze is as usual killing the score with his amazing voice..the man should be a huge bway star.
Philop Michael Baskerville is not only beautiful to look at but a great John...strong and powerful BoiDoi (Spelling) was so powerful I was in tears but the most impressive was Mel Maghuyop, I have seen 4 different engineers including Jonathan Pryce and this is the 1st one who was as good (actually better because he is actually asian). I usually do not wait to talk to the cast but last night I did and had to tell Mel that he knocked it out of the park. He also was one of the nicest people and gracious as can be actually asked our names so that he could engage . This production touched my heart and because of the BIG 3 (men) and a wonderful Kim .. I Thank Them!!!!

[mikem]

Posted: 7/15/11 at 7:40am

I just saw the production and it is very well done. Mel Maghuyop as the Engineer plays up the comedic aspects of the role quite a bit in the beginning, but his American Dream is fantastic. The show has extended until July 24, and same day tickets are only $35. It is well worth seeing -- I am going to try to see it again before it closes.

[mikem]

Posted: 9/6/11 at 7:33pm

The Barrymore Award nominations (the Philadelphia equivalent to the Tonys) were announced today, and Miss Saigon was nominated for

Overall Production of a Musical
Direction of a Musical
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop (the Engineer) for Best Actor in a Musical
Melinda Chua (Kim) for Best Actress in a Musical
Music Direction
Ensemble of a Musical

Congratulations to all! I am glad that Maghuyop got nominated although he did not play Opening Night (he took over the role within a few days). He was outstanding and well deserves a nomination.

By the way, I think that the Barrymore people need to find a better way of making the nominations. Their current way, which is to have 8 people out of a pool of 66 potential nominators see each show and give the elements a point score, does not work IMO -- some shows get extremely high ratings on all elements and they dominate the nominations and wins (the wins are decided by the 8 people's scores -- there is no wider voting on the nominees). Three different shows this year each had 5 acting nominations, and 2 others had 4 nominations. When there are 147 eligible shows, there is no good way, but the nominations and wins seem much less spread out than before this current system.

I also found it bizarre that the actress playing Olive in one production of Spelling Bee was nominated for Leading Actress, while the actress playing the same part in another production was nominated for Supporting Actress. That makes no sense at all. The one with the Lead Actress designation was the same production that played Paper Mill, and Olive was a clear supporting role in that production (as it is in any Spelling Bee production IMO).

Updated On: 9/6/11 at 07:33 PM

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 9/6/11 at 8:52pm

Updated On: 6/17/17 at 08:52 PM

[willep]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 12:08pm

I have never been a fan of Walnut productions, really. I have yet to see one that really blew me away.

And, yeah, I didn't know that about the Barrymores but that is ridiculous.

[mikem]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 9:14pm

I agree that both Kunze and Chua are way too old, but I thought Chua was very good and not on autopilot when I saw her (I've rarely seen an actor cry as many tears as she did during the final scene, and she still looked shaken at curtain call). I agree that the set design looked very low-rent and cheap, but I thought it actually worked to the benefit of the show -- it made Saigon seem very tawdry and seedy.

I also thought Kate Fahrner was a highlight.

That is very odd about the costumes being rented from another theater and not having that mentioned. You would think the other theater's designer would find that annoying.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 9:51pm

Wait. How old is Eric Kunze now?

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 10:56pm

"Wait. How old is Eric Kunze now?"

According to Wikipedia, 39 or 40.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 9/7/11 at 11:15pm

Thanks. The last time I saw Kunze in New York was as Joe Hardy in "Damn Yankees" and prior to that as Marius in "Les Miz" opposite Lea Salonga's Eponine. So he and she are contemporaries. He's a really good looking guy. But 39/40 is really pushing it for playing a young, naive G.I. like Christopher Scott though, isn't it?