Miss Saigon Previews Thread- Page 8

[Theatrebaby-Ki]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 7:53am

wish i were here2 said: "Just got back from the matinee and I thought it was a really good! Lianah Sta. Ana was on for Kim, I think it was her first performance. Any who though I was a little sad I wouldn't be seeing Eva, Lianah blew it out of the park! She was amazing; you never would've thought it was her first performance. "

Would anyone mind doing a comparison of the Kim's? I'm really interested in all of the interpretations. I know that Tanya Manalang was a favourite in London and would like to know what each of the Kim's bring to the table!

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 9:12am

RippedMan said: "Where were your rush seats? "

My rush seats were H 20 and 22! It was all theway at   the end, so they were marked partial view! My friend and I missed some of set pieces but other than that we saw everything. We saw the helicopter perfectly. 

Also, we got to the theatre somewhere between 8-8:30 and we were like 16 and 17 in line!

[starcatchers]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 9:49am

jsg03jd said: "GreasedLightning said: "Where was everyone sitting? Any seat advice/reports?

 

I recommend front mezzanine center so you can appreciate everything happening onstage.

 

"

I was in Row F on the left (rush seats), and I felt I was too close. I think front mezzanine would be ideal. 

 

Question...was the Mormon always there during the club scene in the second act? I didn't remember it in the movie screening, and it felt like a little nod to Book of Mormon. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 9:59am

We were at the first preview in Londin and the Mormon was there in What A Waste

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 10:28am

starcatchers said: "I was in Row F on the left (rush seats), and I felt I was too close. I think front mezzanine would be ideal."

I was in the 5th row in the mezzanine and it's perfect. I'm in the 7th row on opening night. 

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 10:36am

QueenAlice said: "It made sense for Jonathan Pryce to have the final bow in the original production. Aside from the fact his performance was one of the greatest in the history of  musical theatre (and has never been touched in the role) he was an established known star. Angela Landsbury took the final bow in SWEENEY as perhaps a similar point of comparison.

But I agree, in this production it makes no sense for the Engineer to have the final bow. Jon Jon would honestly look better letting Eva take the final.

 

"

Why? It has been this way since the very beginning!

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 10:41am

For the reasons I said. The engineer is no longer being played by a known star and Briones performance- good as it is- makes the Engineer feel secondary (perhaps rightly so) to the role of Kim.

 

 

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 11:42am

When the current Kims reach the stature of Lea Salonga, they can get the final bows. While Jon Jon may not have the stature of a Jonathan Price the Engineer is still the Engineer.   And given Jon Jon's history with this show (starting out as an ensemble in the original London production in 1989 and playing various incarnations of the Engineer worldwide) I am glad this production is honoring the Engineer giving the final bows in the show!

Updated On: 3/5/17 at 11:42 AM

[curel1]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 11:45am

ebontoyan said: "When the current Kims reach the stature of Lea Salonga, they can get the final bows. While Jon Jon may not have the stature of a Jonathan Price the Engineer is still the Engineer. I am glad this production is honoring that.

 

"

And Kim is Kim, she's the main character and she should get the final bow

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 11:49am

Complain all you want but the production doesn't think so lol lol lol Or instead of complaining in a message board why don't you (and other like minded)  petition the producers to give Kim the final bow??!

Updated On: 3/5/17 at 11:49 AM

[Dave28282]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 1:05pm

I have a question. In the 2nd act, when Kim Meets John again in the nightclub, and sings to him about her struggle "One month at sea, etc, but I thought about Chris and we didn't go down", which is a beautiful Kim moment, but in the London revival and filmed version suddenly the Engineer took over half of her lines, which felt very strange and then Kim sang "come see love, come see Chris" but she sang those lines off stage when the Engineer was standing centre stage. It's as if direction wise, they stole Kim's moment and gave it to the Engineer for no reason? It felt really forced and unnatural. This is Kim's moment and at that moment I don't really care about the engineer explaining his motives once again. At that point we already know what the Engineer thinks but we don't know yet how John and Kim will react to eachother which is the point of that scene.

Did they fix this in the Broadway version?

Also, in that scene she sings to John "Chris is here? Oh my god it's all true". And then in the next scene "Too much for one heart" halfway through the song John tells her again that Chris is here and it's like she hears it for the first time? Maybe the first one is just a hunch and the latter a confirmation, but then the conclusion of "Oh my god it's true" is a bit misplaced in the first?

 Also, does anyone know who the understudy Kim is?

Edit: Oh, I already found it, Emily Bautista.

 

Updated On: 3/5/17 at 01:05 PM

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 5:18pm

starcatchers said: "jsg03jd said: "GreasedLightning said: "Where was everyone sitting? Any seat advice/reports?

 

I recommend front mezzanine center so you can appreciate everything happening onstage.

 

"

I was in Row F on the left (rush seats), and I felt I was too close. I think front mezzanine would be ideal. 

 

Question...was the Mormon always there during the club scene in the second act? I didn't remember it in the movie screening, and it felt like a little nod to Book of Mormon. 

 

No.  The speaking Mormon bit was not in the 2014 West End revival and certainly not part of the original Drury Lane and Broadway Theatre productions.  There was no performer who said out loud several times, "I'm a Mormon!"  Someone may have been dressed as a Mormon missionary but they certainly didn't steal focus by saying the above referenced line quite audibly several times, and the original productions didn't feature a Thai S&M go-go guy tempting the Mormon guy.

 

Updated On: 3/5/17 at 05:18 PM

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 5:22pm

Dave28282 said: "I have a question. In the 2nd act, when Kim Meets John again in the nightclub, and sings to him about her struggle "One month at sea, etc, but I thought about Chris and we didn't go down", which is a beautiful Kim moment, but in the London revival and filmed version suddenly the Engineer took over half of her lines, which felt very strange and then Kim sang "come see love, come see Chris" but she sang those lines off stage when the Engineer was standing centre stage. It's as if direction wise, they stole Kim's moment and gave it to the Engineer for no reason? It felt really forced and unnatural. This is Kim's moment and at that moment I don't really care about the engineer explaining his motives once again. At that point we already know what the Engineer thinks but we don't know yet how John and Kim will react to eachother which is the point of that scene.

Did they fix this in the Broadway version?

Also, in that scene she sings to John "Chris is here? Oh my god it's all true". And then in the next scene "Too much for one heart" halfway through the song John tells her again that Chris is here and it's like she hears it for the first time? Maybe the first one is just a hunch and the latter a conformation, but then the conclusion of "Oh my god it's true" is a bit misplaced in the first?

 

 

None of the issues you spotted have been altered as of the first preview.  Originally, Kim also sang to her customer, "Take your hands off we're finished.  Go find someone else."  The Engineer took over that line as well.

 

[Ragged Tear]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 7:31pm

jsg03jd said: "The Engineer took over that line as well."

See, now he DOES deserve final bow!

[Drewski Vanderbilt]

Posted: 3/5/17 at 9:28pm

Does anyone have a photo of how high the stage is? I've heard the stage is really high and it's hard to see in the first row.

[mint]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 10:44am

Hi all, I will be heading to New York next month, there is a Telecharge promotion for Miss Saigon and a Orchestra seat at row G (side) cost USD120 (including service fees). Is row G considered too in front, will it hard to see the stage?

Should I go ahead to purchase the ticket online or should I head down to TKTS to get discounted tickets, but how long is the queue, do I need to wait long? 

Lastly, will I get to see most of the main cast (in particular Eva, Rachelle Ann Go and Jon Jon) on a Saturday evening show?

Thanks in advance!

[MinnieFay]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 10:53am

mint said: "Should I go ahead to purchase the ticket online or should I head down to TKTS to get discounted tickets, but how long is the queue, do I need to wait long? 

Lastly, will I get to see most of the main cast (in particular Eva, Rachelle Ann Go and Jon Jon) on a Saturday evening show?

We have no way of knowing what day you intend on going --- so I'm going to go ahead and say that, no, you should not expect to see ANY of the main cast (especially Eva and Rachelle Ann Go) on that day.  Also the wait at TKTS that day will be 57 minutes and 12 seconds.

 

"

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 11:58am

mint said: "Hi all, I will be heading to New York next month, there is a Telecharge promotion for Miss Saigon and a Orchestra seat at row G (side) cost USD120 (including service fees). Is row G considered too in front, will it hard to see the stage?"

Orchestra row G is about three rows forward of the mezzanine overhang, so I don't think it will be too close to the stage. You didn't say which seat you're contemplating, but I would be more concerned with how far down the row the seat is. If the seat number is higher than about 15-16, the view will likely be too far off to the side.

"Should I go ahead to purchase the ticket online or should I head down to TKTS to get discounted tickets, but how long is the queue, do I need to wait long?"

If you definitely intend to see the show, I recommend that you purchase your tickets in advance (especially given the fact that you already have access to a discount). It may be possible to purchase same-day tickets at the TKTS booth, but orchestra seats will likely be within about $20 of the online price you quoted and you will almost certainly have to stand in a long line to do so.

Lastly, will I get to see most of the main cast (in particular Eva, Rachelle Ann Go and Jon Jon) on a Saturday evening show?"

Barring illness, injury, or vacation, you are more likely to see the advertised star performers on a Saturday evening than in any other performance that week.

Enjoy!

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 12:19pm

In the original production, Lea Salonga's alternate played Saturday evenings. We don't yet know for certain the regular schedule for the Kim alternate in this production (though she played the matinee this past preview Saturday), so you may miss Eva on a Saturday night.

Updated On: 3/6/17 at 12:19 PM

[MinnieFay]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 12:36pm

carolinaguy said: "In the original production, Lea Salonga's alternate played Saturday evenings. We don't yet know for certain the regular schedule for the Kim alternate in this production (though she played the matinee this past preview Saturday), so you may miss Eva on a Saturday night."

carolinaguy --- you are incorrect.  In the original production, Lea Salonga's alternate, Kam Cheng, played Saturday matinees (not Saturday evenings).  Given that Saturday night is the biggest moneymaker as far as selling premiums --- I would be astonished if the producers let Eva Noblezada out for those performances.

Updated On: 3/6/17 at 12:36 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 12:43pm

Yep, and here's a source:

http://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000150-aea7-d936-a7fd-eef76ae40000&type=InsidePlaybill&slide=3

[BroadwayLuv2]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 12:43pm

Rushed today. Got there at about 9:15am, was 26th in line.  Got orchestra row J all the way to the side.  Looking forward to this! 

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 3:12pm

MinnieFay said: "mint said: "Should I go ahead to purchase the ticket online or should I head down to TKTS to get discounted tickets, but how long is the queue, do I need to wait long? 

Lastly, will I get to see most of the main cast (in particular Eva, Rachelle Ann Go and Jon Jon) on a Saturday evening show?

We have no way of knowing what day you intend on going --- so I'm going to go ahead and say that, no, you should not expect to see ANY of the main cast (especially Eva and Rachelle Ann Go) on that day.  Also the wait at TKTS that day will be 57 minutes and 12 seconds.

 

"

 

 

"Why wouldnt they not see Rachelle? The role isn't that taxing lol!

 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 5:43pm

Looking back at my Playbills from June 1, 1991 and October 7, 1991 the Kim alternate is listed as playing  Wednesday matinees and Saturday evenings. After Leila Florentino took over, the schedule switched to Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees. I'd post a picture if I could figure out how. :) 

 

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/6/17 at 6:06pm

Upload it to TinyPic or Imgur and link it here.