Touring Miss Saigon In San Francisco- Page 3

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/3/19 at 9:25am

I saw the tour last night at the Kennedy Center. I saw the original Broadway production shortly after it opened. Kam Cheng was Kim at that performance. I also saw the production at Signature Theatre a few years ago.  I missed the recent revival, opting to see Anastasia last January instead.

Although the performances were good, last night I was reminded why this show has not received multiple viewings by me. The show just doesn't land for me considering I have always liked the score.  My head is still stuck on the original lyrics, but I still can't get over the new song for Ellen in Act 2.  It's Her or Me, or Now That I've Seen Her were much better songs.

Myra Molloy (Kim alternate) was on last night.  I liked her.  Anthony Festa was also good as Chris.  J. Daughtry (John) sang a wonderful rendition of Bui Doi.

I totally forgot about the helicopter scene until right before that particular scene began.

Last night was probably one of the flattest audiences I have experienced at The Kennedy Center, or maybe it's the show in general, although the people in the orchestra were on their feet giving them a standing ovation.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/3/19 at 9:32am

DottieD'Luscia said: "I still can't get over the new song for Ellen in Act 2. It's Her or Me, or Now That I've Seen Her were much better songs."

Agreed. I can't figure out why they thought this song needed to be replaced.

 

Posted: 2/15/19 at 12:51pm

When I read the reviews that state that the ending shows Kim as a weak character and a poor portrayal of women, 'the only choice was death'...or something like that.  I want to ask how they think the story should have ended.  Should Chris have been met at Kim's residence by her lawyer who had drawn up detailed  legal papers regarding child and 'companion' support as well as paternity?

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/15/19 at 1:26pm

I saw it on tour as well, and the one thing I thought was an improvement from Broadwa (and the West End) was the character of Ellen.I think the actress playing Ellen on tour wonderfully negates that aspect, by simply changing her tone and inflection when she tells Kim "he's your child, he's not mine." On Broadway and in the West End , the actresses had this harsh tone that portrayed Ellen as having a lack of enthusiasm for raising someone else's child. On tour, the actress's tone indicates a concern of separating a mother and child, reiterating her earlier line where she tells Kim that her child needs her. She doesn't understand why Kim would suggest that, how she could give up her own son. This is as opposed to sounding like she doesn't want him because he isn't her own son.

Updated On: 2/15/19 at 01:26 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 1:50am

Well, I was at the initial performance of the one week Oklahoma City run tonight and I have to report that the helicopter is still gone. We got the protection instead. Not gonna lie. I was so disappointed that I spontaneously uttered, “ oh man” out loud. Luckily several seats next to me were empty. It worked as well as it could without the physical helicopter. When I bought my ticket, that was the main thing I was looking forward to. It’s like going to see Phantom and getting a projection of a chandelier instead. Although I know the chandelier is much more pivotal to Phantom than the helicopter is to Miss Saigon. However, after talking to the merchandise guy at intermission, I understand why it was taken out at least for now...

He said some guy didn’t notice that the wheel of the plane was headed towards him in San Antonio (apparently it takes 5 or 6 people to navigate it) and it rolled right over his foot and crushed it. It was a local person that they added to the cast just for the San Antonio shows. No idea if they’ll add it back in, but better safe than sorry..,

Speaking of which I almost didn’t go tonight. I am still tired from my NYC trip and after doing laundry, honestly didn’t feel like leaving the house. But I couldn’t even find anyone to take my ticket for free so at the last minute I threw on some joggers and my Madonna tour jacket and got to theater about 10 minutes before showtime only to be greeted by slowly moving security lines into the theater. Finally got in and raced to my seat only to experience 30 minute delay in starting. At first I thought it was because of the security lines, but then they announced it was because of technical difficulties. Intermission was also longer than I expected. Not sure if this is because they are trying to decide about using the helicopter or not.

The technical aspects of The American Dream were excellent. It was also the best number of the show. Red Concepción was great as The Engineer. He stole the show with The American Dream. Emily Bautista was very good as Kim. Anthony Festa was kinda bland as Chris, but I think that’s more how the character is written. His scream however at the end of Act 2 sent chills down my spine. We had no understudies. Haven Je was cute as a button as Tam.

Also I don’t know if it’s the sound design for the show because usually I don’t have any problems with the acoustics in this theater, but I had trouble understanding a lot of the lyrics. Not so much the dialogue when they were just speaking but more of the words when they were singing. It doesn’t help that I was not familiar with the score. Listening to the London cast recording now and the lyrics are crystal clear. It doesn’t help that I found a lot of the music ugly with a few notable exceptions (I Still Believe, The American Dream) although I’m enjoying the cast recording more. I probably should’ve listened to it before I saw the show. It reminds me a bit of Les Miserables, which is understandable.

I also found Act One too long, but that could just be because I had limited legroom in the front row of the Grand Tier and my knees were screaming. I was able to move to an empty aisle seat in same row at intermission and that was much better.

I has never seen Miss Saigon before and after tonight I’m not sure I need to see it again but I’m glad at least now I’ve seen it. After my NYC trip, I didn’t plan to spend much tonight, but I ended up buying the coffee mug, magnet and program. I may have been iffy on the show, but I do quite admire the graphic design. .

I didn’t stage door as I was tired.

Updated On: 1/15/20 at 01:50 AM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 1:56am

Also, I had my binoculars and we got partially mooned by Anthony Festa (Chris) when he initially crawls into bed with Kim. I’ll just say the guy is blessed.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 5:28am

Miles2Go2 said: "Well, I was at the initial performance of the one week Oklahoma City run tonight and I have to report that the helicopter is still gone..."

 

Thank you for taking time to write about your experience at Miss Saigon. I’m seeing the show in about three weeks and haven’t even started listening to the music. Is there anything I need to do to prepare for this? I’m completely unfamiliar with the entire plot, storyline, music, etc.

Updated On: 1/15/20 at 05:28 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 7:36am

This tour has been plagued with technical problems since the tour launched well over a year ago... helicopter issues, delayed opening nights because of load in problems, and many mid performance stops. I know this is a tech heavy show, but there comes a point when it’s time to get it together.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 11:12am

dmwnc1959 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Well, I was at the initial performance of the one week Oklahoma City run tonight and I have to report that the helicopter is still gone..."



Thank you for taking time to write about your experience at Miss Saigon. I’m seeing theshow in about three weeks and haven’t even started listening to the music. Is there anything I need to do to prepare for this? I’m completely unfamiliar with the entire plot, storyline, music, etc."

It's a big fat soap opera set to music. You can go in cold and be fine.

 

FWIW, I like "Maybe" for Ellen better. I think the aspect of the wife thinking, "Oh my God, what if I'm the other woman?" works better and generates more sympathy than the previous versions. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 11:17am

I think if you listen to the cast recording, you’ll be fine. Just look through your playbill/ program before as it tells the time frames/ locations for each Act. I’m sure I missed some nuance, but it was pretty easy to figure out the big plot points as it was unfurling.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 11:29am

This does beg the question of which cast recording to listen to. I rather liked what I heard of the London recording last night. Is that considered the gold standard or is it the 2014 live recording which includes “Maybe”? Or maybe another?

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 11:58am

The cast recording I’m listening to now is the one titled: Cameron Mackintosh presents the complete recording of Boubill & Schonberg’s Miss Saigon.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 1/15/20 at 1:48pm

bwayphreak234 said: "This tour has been plagued with technical problems since the tour launched well over a year ago... helicopter issues, delayed opening nights because of load in problems, and many mid performance stops. I know this is a tech heavy show, but there comes a point when it’s time to get it together."

We also received notification (by email) as early as December 20th that the start time had been moved from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. “due to the size and complexity of the show.”

 

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/23/20 at 5:01pm

Just saw the tour and the helicopter apparently wasn't working; we had the projection instead. I heard from someone who attended the matinee earlier in the day that they had a delay before intermission that was technical related. Not sure if it was the helicopter but that would make sense.

I had no idea that the Broadway version of the show had changed the wedding ceremony lyrics (according to an article, Christopher Vo from the Broadway cast rewrote them). Since they were supposedly gibberish, that's a very welcome change! I just would have thought that it would be talked about more. I had no idea and I follow this show pretty closely.

Red Concepcion was good as the Engineer but I felt like his portrayal was meaner, sleazier, and made the character less sympathetic. This is the first time I haven't had some level of sadness for the Engineer at the finale. It made the show feel even bleaker because he's the majority of the comic relief. 

And I still hate "Maybe." If Ellen's ready to give up Chris, her actions/responses in the following scene make very little sense.

Updated On: 2/23/20 at 05:01 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/23/20 at 5:06pm

Yep, comment in here from Marc Thibodeau:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/theater/the-battle-of-miss-saigon-yellowface-art-and-opportunity.html

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/23/20 at 5:12pm

Lizzie: Yes, that's the article I found! I wish I knew what they translated to in English. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/23/20 at 11:01pm

SporkGoddess said: "Lizzie: Yes, that's the article I found! I wish I knew what they translated to in English."

I'm just wondering, had no one ever brought this up until the revival? 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/23/20 at 11:35pm

It's basically outlined in the original Mark Steyn coffee table book.

[TravisOKC]

Posted: 2/24/20 at 11:26am

I've seen the touring show 3 times (once in san fran, and twice in OKC), all of which had no tech issues.  I have a friend who is in the show, and he told me that what had happened with the helicopter in OKC was that before they were supposed to use it a warning popped up in Dutch and tech crew had no idea what it meant and that they were literally on the phone with people in Holland trying to figure out.  And since they didn't know what the warning message meant they decided it'd be best to not risk the safety of the actors.   I feel bad that the audience didn't get to experience the helicopter as it is such an iconic moment.

I had the opportunity to see eric b (engineer understudy) play the engineer while in OKC and I thought he was better than Red.

I didn't realize until the other day that one of the understudies for Ellen is Asian.  Would LOVE to see that dynamic play out on stage.

All in all, this has become one of my favorite productions.  Beautiful story.