Miss Saigon Previews Thread — Page 16

They must have bounced the alternate schedule around during Lea's run. I saw the show in June 1991 (the Saturday matinee before the Tonys) and again with the original cast in October 1991 and the alternate played Wednesday matinees and Saturday evenings. After Lea left, I saw the show several more times with different casts and the alternate schedule was always Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.

carolinaguy said: "They must have bounced the alternate schedule around during Lea's run. I saw the show in June 1991 (the Saturday matinee before the Tonys) and again with the original cast in October 1991 and the alternate played Wednesday matinees and Saturday evenings. After Lea left, I saw the show several more times with different casts and the alternate schedule was always Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.

I know, it's odd that the schedule changed so soon after opening. Maybe they got flak for "punishing" matinee audiences.

Broadwaystar2 said: "CT2NYC said: "carolinaguy said: "They must have bounced the alternate schedule around during Lea's run. I saw the show in June 1991 (the Saturday matinee before the Tonys) and again with the original cast in October 1991 and the alternate played Wednesday matinees and Saturday evenings. After Lea left, I saw the show several more times with different casts and the alternate schedule was always Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.

I know, it's odd that the schedule changed so soon after opening. Maybe they got flak for "punishing" matinee audiences.





"

Punishing them how? You really are rude! And obviously have no respect for the theater or the hard job it is to be an alternate. Then again all you've done is bad mouth the show since joining a week ago!


As you can see, I was merely theorizing what could have happened to make them change the schedule. As it was, although I was disappointed, I didn't complain about it. I'm sure others did. Some people get very angry when an actor they expect to see isn't there, and I wouldn't be surprised if some voiced that gripe about the matinees, however misguided. It wasn't a personal commentary about alternates and understudies, of whom I have the utmost respect, it was just an statement of speculation. Also, I haven't bad mouthed the show at all. Actually, I said that I enjoyed it. "I liked it very much" are the exact words I used. So, please be more accurate when casting aspersions. As far as my joining a week ago, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. Everybody has to join sometime.

Updated On: 3/17/17 at 06:08 PM

"CT2NYC said: It wasn't a personal commentary about alternates and understudies, of whom I have the utmost respect, it was just an statement of speculation. Also, I haven't bad mouthed the show at all. Actually, I said that I enjoyed it. "I liked it very much" are the exact words I used. So, please be more accurate when casting aspersions. As far as my joining a week ago, I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. Everybody has to join sometime."

I believe your use of the word "punishing" in this speculation is the issue here. As you acknowledge the role of being accurate in one's phrasing, perhaps consider your phrasing here.

I just listened to "the Confrontation" on the Complete Symphonic recording and I just love those old lyrics.

"It's done....It's planned....The girl is smart....She'll understand". That lyric makes is so much more emotional when Chris says that. That is exactly what real people do in such a situation. Trying to create a certain distance in the way you speak about a person. Then also "We will do what is right, right for him, right for us, right for Kim", which has a beautiful rhyme scheme and the 4 "rights" are powerful here.

The new version really is a mess here, which is a pity in my opinion. (something like: we will do what is right, right for Tam, and for us and for Kim), switching to an unncecessary "and", and no rhyme scheme whatsoever. Also, they sing "Kim is smart, she'll understand" which doesn't flow, because it should be: It's done, It's planned (both 2 syllables on melody), the girl is smart, she'll understand (both 4 syllables on melody). These 2 sentences are connected musically. There is a reason they wrote it like that, it's like a question-answer thing musically. They are convincing themselves they are right. The second 2 lines give the first ones more power, which is symbolic to their convincing themselves. It disturbs me every time I hear the new version because of that disconnect. Why keep the power musically and try to ruin it with lyrics that have another counting? What's the point?

Here is the clip of the Symphonic version:

https://youtu.be/8v6-DZodJZc?t=4m18s

Updated On: 3/19/17 at 06:05 PM

HBBrock said: "Row S will be more than fine. I saw in Row R on Tuesday night and it was perfect!



"

Thanks so much! :)

How is the actor playing Tam? The kid was great when I saw the original production.

Based on social media, I think Billy was on as the Engineer again last night, second Monday in a row. I wonder if Jon Jon is taking Mondays off? I saw Billy last week his first night and he was quite excellent.

I remember from the London run that Jon Jon was out on Mondays and Eva was out on Wednesday nights and Saturday matinees. It seems like there is a strong possibility that this schedule will stick here, but I am sure that this could change.

tcawam said:
Ugh, I wish I'd known that a few days ago when I bought my tickets for the Monday after the Tonys. Jon Jon was the one I was most looking forward to seeing. Though I'm sure Billy will be great in the role as well.

I would see if Monday nights off for Jon Jon continues over the coming weeks, and, if it does, you can always contact Telecharge and see what your options are. I thought he was brilliant, and, in my opinion, the best part of this new production.

Updated On: 3/21/17 at 10:58 AM

LimelightMike said: "Anyone know if it's likely Eva will be on Monday evenings? Can't decide btwn Monday or Wednesday night and really want to see her.



Eva will most likely be on...off Wednesday night and Saturday matinees will probably be her schedule

I saw the show last night (Monday) and it was just breath taking. I'll admit I didn't know much about the show going into it sans a few songs here and there, but my exposure to it was limited compared to say Les Mis. I saw Billy as The Engineer and the adorable little girl that alternates Tam.

I was so swept up in the story and score and just loved every epic moment. Eva is an incredible Kim and you just feel every movement, every heartbeat and her voice is gorgeous. Billy was an excellent Engineer, and while I don't have anything to compare it to, I definitely think seeing him is anything but a disappointment. He's everything I felt the Engineer needed to be and sold every moment - I'm sure I'll see Jon Jon at some point, but Billy is just fabulous.

I loved Alistair's voice and I definitely felt the chemistry between him and Eva, and despite their roles not being large I was happy to see Nick Christopher, Devin Ilaw, and Katie Rose Clarke shine in their respective moments. Rachelle was wonderful and her "Movie in My Mind" was gorgeous, but I definitely was under the impression Gigi was a bit bigger of a role.

The ensemble is killing it - and I definitely agree with Florida below me, they're definitely hot. Their stamina during those big group numbers was insane, and they sound incredible all together. Shout out to Casey Garvin as the Mormon in the second act opener - that was a hilarious moment. And lastly, that helicopter - my god, it was just.. it's such an iconic thing and just to see it and watch it happen was really impressive.

Updated On: 3/22/17 at 12:30 AM

Wow, this was just a major disappointment for me on all levels.

First, Eva is phenomenal. She's great as Kim. She's not quite the powerhouse actress I would think she'd be after a long run on the West End, but vocally she nails it. And her acting is decent.

Now to the rest of the show: Terrible direction. Having Room 137 and the following bits be mostly spoken is just awkward. The lines are melodramatic. They need to be sung because listening to them I was cringing at the choices the actors were making. To have "Movie in My Mind" be just two girls standing/sitting at a chair DSR while the ensemble is upstage just felt a total misfire. Where is the story you're trying to tell? What's the message? Even the helicopter felt "eh" to me. You could see the GI's escaping out of the other side.

Alistair is ... oof. I just don't like his voice. Again, after a year plus in the role, I just felt like he'd be better? I don't like his upper register, and I just felt like he was doing all the hand movements but nothing was quite registering.

Katie Rose Clarke was just miscast, to me. I think you need an Elphaba here and not a Glinda. She just didn't have the powerhouse vocals I wanted. Or the calm, reserved "I know he's been cheating on me" kind of quiet storm I think the roll needs. Her "I Still Believe" was just vocally very underwhelming. I'm not sure what the musical director told them, but her and Alistair both made some odd choices throughout the night.

I don't understand why the role of the Engineer can't be played 8x a week? What did he do that was so demanding? I don't see the appeal. "American Dream" was dead. There were awkward pauses, nothing felt cohesive. Half the time, he was barely audible. You could tell he's played the part for awhile because everything felt very small. I wanted him to command the stage and make himself known. I didn't get that from him at all.

The set was awful. At least in Les Miz there were some moments of "wow," but here this felt like a decent set at a regional house. Nothing impressive, nothing interesting. No pretty stage pictures, no clever lighting. Just very "eh."

All in all, I was crazy disappointed and found myself really bored throughout the whole show. I just think it was misdirected and misconceived from the beginning. Why they felt they needed to bring over the London leads makes zero sense to me.