Miss Saigon Previews Thread — Page 2

Seeing this on Monday. VERY excited!

For those going and who haven't heard the London revival recording (or watched the streamed version)...beware that there are lyric changes in several songs from the original (and not just the addition of "Maybe". So, don't be too surprised.

When I just walked by TKTS it was 50% off.

I'm going tonight and super excited. This was my first show ever and Eva's aunt was my Kim way back when.

Anyone get rush tickets this morning? If so, how many people were in line and where are the seats located? As you can see from my avi, I absolutely love this show and and beyond thrilled this is back on Broadway!

And?? Thoughts?

I was there tonight and it was a bit of an odd evening for me. This production feels a lot less like a revival and more like a stop on the 3rd national tour- which isn't really an insult, but rather a remark on how familiar and safe it all feels. It's not a slavish recreation, but it doesn't really bring anything new to the table either. You won't see anything you wouldn't expect to see from any production of Miss Saigon. It's being presented as a sort of comfort food and ends up being just kind of there, albeit in a very professional way.

I had heard so many rave reviews about Eva Noblezada from London and was really expecting to be bowled over, but the performance wasn't as revelatory as I was hoping for. Don't get me wrong, she's very good, but there were often times when if you had told me she was lip syncing to Salonga's recording I totally would have believed you. I wore out the original cast recording when it was first released and the handful of Kims I've seen since have all followed in Salonga's vocal footsteps to a tee.

Jon Jon Briones changed things up the most from his cast recording counterpart and he does come across as the strongest of the bunch (and the star of the show). He kind of Rex Harrisoned his way through the first 1/3 of the score and I wondered if they hired him for his acting chops rather than his singing voice, but he acquitted himself nicely from "If You Want to Die in Bed" on. Unfortunately his "American Dream" was upstaged by a Trump punchline; it got the biggest reaction of the night, but his performance sold the song without it.

It was only the first preview so I'll say I didn't care for Alistair Brammer's acting and leave it at that.

I still have a soft spot for the score and it was nice to hear it sung live like this. I still get chills during the big confrontation between Thuy and Kim and loved their, "You will not take my child/You don't know hoooooooow to kill/ I have no other choice, what I must do. I. will! This is the hour..." It's so exciting! And yet I was often all too aware that I was watching the show and not becoming fully immersed in it.

I didn't mind the lyric changes. They weren't jarring the way the Falsettos lyric changes were. "Maybe" was bland though.

I think this production might please the fans who want to hear the score again, but next time they revive the show I would like to see something new done with it.

As somebody who has yet to see a live production of Saigon, this honestly sounds perfect for me (and others in my generation that missed it the first time around)...

Regarding Maybe, I'm not sure whether it's the problem of the sound mixing or Katie's voice, but she didn't give me the chill I had when I was watching the 25th Anniversary. If you disregard her age, Tasmin Carroll really nailed the song. Her Maybe was heartbreaking, and you could feeI how torn she was. I liked Katie's acting, but her voice just feels too flat for what the song calls for.

How's the set design?? Helicopter moment? Any standout things that differ from the original set wise?

Some other thoughts:

For some reason, the scene where Gigi goes home felt less heartbreaking than the production I saw in Japan last year. BTW, the Japanese revival and the Broadway revival are the same production.

I love how Why God Why is reinterpreted. The first part gives you a glimpse of nighttime Saigon. You see a beggar, a monk, and someone dressed like Kim being sold to who I assume to be a pimp. You get the feeling that Chris is not only lamenting about his miserable life but also everyone else's. The second part turns the focus back to Chris, and I think Alistair does a pretty good job showing the conflicts Chris is confronted with. It then very smoothly transitions to This Money's Yours. Very well-done direction.

Again, I applaud the creative for changing Dju Vui Vay to real Vietnamese words that make sense.

Bui Doi is now less showy, although still a little bit, than in the London production.

Overall, I loved this production. Even better than the Japanese production I saw last year (mostly because of the language). There were a few mishaps, but nothing that couldn't be fixed during the preview.

GreasedLightning said: "Where was everyone sitting? Any seat advice/reports?



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I was in the lower mezzanine in the 5th row on a aisle left center(E 2). It was a pretty perfect seat. No seat in front of you since they are staggered. Prefect view of the stage and not too far away.

Updated On: 3/2/17 at 01:07 AM

EvanK said: "How's the set design?? Helicopter moment? Any standout things that differ from the original set wise?



"

The set is simplistic in most scenes, but doesn't detract anything from the show. I guess it's a show when you get a barebone set, you realize what really makes it work is not the razzle dazzle but how genuine and moving the performance itself is. The Helicopter scene is done exactly the same way as in the London revival: dark, barebone, but nevertheless real helicopter. The American Dream has a sort of distorted steel face of the statue of liberty, which gives you the similar feel of the statue of Ho Chi Minh. You can easily tell what the creative team wants you to think.

Regarding the seat, I was at 5th Row Orchestra Center (Bought my ticket the moment the AMEX presale started). The stage is very high, and you do miss some details in the back. I think two rows back would be perfect. Still, an amazing view.

Updated On: 3/2/17 at 01:10 AM

EvanK said: "Does this production maintain the flying car gimmick? Or is that gone?



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Not sure about what you mean. The helicopter moved both up and down and back and forth. The car is still there in American Dream.