US Miss Saigon Tour Review (Long)

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:07pm

So I finally got around to writing a miss saigon review: here it goes:Okay. A little bit about me and my experience seeing Miss Saigon. My husband and I are both experienced actors and have performed throughout NYC, NJ and VA. This was my first time EVER seeing Miss Saigon on stage. I had been wanting to see it for a long time before this but this was the first chance I got so I took it. My husband had seen Miss Saigon twice when it was in the West End. He loved it and just raved and raved about it. Lets just say he absolutely hated the tour. I didn't really enjoy it all that much either. It honestly looked like a high school production of the show with cast members moving the scenery on and off the stage.Chris and John's "Telephone Song" were not done over the telephone, but, instead, face-to-face.Also during Thuys arrival another man arrives with a gun and Chris keeps his attention drawn to the "other" man instead of Thuy threating Kim. Something which rather bothered me. They also used the large projection screen to simulate the helicopter and to show a slideshow of American symbols and images during "The American Dream." This, obviously, took a lot away from the dramatic effect.Even the scene with Gigi picking out the winning raffle ticket was rather subdued (and the Engineer is now yelling out, "Number sixty-six!" instead of Gigi). Also, they took out the part at the very end when Gigi begs the winning marine to take her to America. Now, the marine tries to put his hands all over her and she slaps him hard. The bar girls (all except for one) were all overweight and very flabby. The staging of the different musical numbers was strange. At the end of Sun and Moon Kim and Chris end up singing to each other on trash cans??? ouch. On to each of the Cast members reviews:
EYMARD MENESES CABLING (Engineer) Wonderful. Really great. Great singing voice, great actor. Just impressed all around.
OMI FERNANDEZ (U/S for Kim) When I found out that Laurie Cadevida would not be playing Kim I was really disappointed but to my surprise I was so glad that we got to see Omi! She lit up the stage. Her voice was crystal clear and just gorgeous! She was a great kim.
ALAN GILLESPIE (Chris) I know people will hate me for this but he was really awful. I didn't like his portrayal as Chris at all. Sure he was good looking but it takes more than just looks to play Chris well. His voice was good but his acting lacked BIG time. He was akward on stage and just couldn't act for anything
D.J. OLIVER (John)-He was fine. Was great in Bui Doi. I have no complaints about him.
MARIO TADEO (Thuy)-I just want to know who casted him? His acting (well he didn't even try to act) he was just plain awful. He didn't even seem threatening to Kim or Tam...I just felt plain bad for this guy. He just needs to be replaced by someone who can ACT. His singing was ok...but just replace him.
KELLY WILSON (Ellen)-When she first opened her mouth to sing my husband and I were floored. GREAT voice. She needs help with her acting, she acted like she was in a high school production but her voice was just beautiful. I hope she works more on her acting because she could go far with a voice like hers.
EMERITA ALCID (GiGi)-Just okay. Nothing spectacular about her. She needs to get herself in shape.
BRIANNA JUN LAXSON (Tam)-Very cute. Good job.

Sorry if this seems like I am bashing all of them but honestly this was my opinion. Next time I see Miss Saigon its going to be with an Equity tour group.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 07:07 PM

[Natalie 2]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:26pm

Where did you see this production? If you saw it in a smaller town with a smaller theatre how could you expect all of the set pieces of the Broadway production? I think that had nothing to do with Equity vs. Non-Equity tour, I think it's just the way a road show works when it has to play a number of one-nighters back to back. The crew usually gets in at 6 a.m. to assess the stage and see what the theatre can allow. Then they have until the actors show up at 5 p.m. for sound check to set up the show as best they can. They run the show and then have to strike the show, which usually takes 3-4 hours. Then they get on a bus and travel to the next venue (this is when they sleep) and do it all over again. I'm sorry that you had an unpleasant experience...but remember what they go through to bring theatre to your area.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:35pm

Personally I found the figures of the women very nice.

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 7:38pm

I saw it in a very large venue. I understand that it was a touring production but it just seemed more like a high school production to me. Just my opinion. Thanks for your insite though. I understand completely what you are saying! Thanks!

[Che2be]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:23pm

Most of the changes, that you mentioned, were "updates" or "revisions" done by the authors... Aside from staging issues and performances ofcourse...

I saw this production and didn't hate it as much as you did. You can't go into a show expecting either THE EXACT ORIGINAL BWAY everything, where is the freedom of expression there?, or whatever it was that you were expecting was probably a little grand wasn't it?

Although some of the actors have changed since I saw it, I thought that it was a good show. The screen for the helicopter didn't bother me either, Suspension of Disbelief...

[AspectsofLoveLover]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 8:49pm

I actually liked the helicopter on the screen, I was just explaining what I saw. I guess your right that I was expecting something a little more grand because my ideas of the show had built up alot from all that my husband had told me. I shouldn't have expected so much but casting people who can't act thats just wrong.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:45pm

Eymard is a former student of mine. I'm very proud of him and love his performance, but I agree with your comments about the production. I was underwhelmed when I saw it.

I hope you don't mind, but I emailed your comment about Eymard's performance to him. I kmow he'll be pleased.