Whatever Happened to Miss Saigon? - Page 2

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 10:25am

He'd never do it, but I'm dying to see Ken Jeong ("The Hangover," "Community") as The Engineer.

[rjm516]

Posted: 12/20/11 at 8:39pm

Wow, I would never ever have thought of Ken Jeong for musical theatre but I really like that idea!

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 9:35am

It helps that on the complete recording, Kevin Gray is practically a soundalike for Jeong.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 3:16pm

I'd be interested in seeing Jeong or possibly Rob Schneider as the Engineer if a film was made (and if either one can sing). Harry Shum as Thuy, perhaps?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 3:47pm

"There's SUPPOSEDLY a movie version in the works, too."

As soon as Meryl Streep frees up. Apparently she's going to pull a Madonna and sing all the songs herself. Her "Bui Doi" will be awesome.

[watchmesoar]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 4:10pm

I recently saw a production in Utrecht/NL at the wonderful Beatrix Theater. It´s basically the UK Tour and a new, fresh cast (and a phenomenal orchestra)! Even though I don´t really speak any Dutch, it touched me and I´ve been blown away by the talent of this AMAZING cast!

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 8:36pm

Just a nit but "Miss Saigon" didn't reach the ten-year mark in New York unlike in London. The Broadway production opened on April 11, 1991 and closed on January 28, 2001. I saw it for the first time the week after Lea Salonga, Jonathan Pryce and Hinton Battle won their Tonys in 1991 and numerous times thereafter. And I was there for the final Saturday matinee on January 27, 2001 and at the closing performance the next day at the Broadway Theatre.

At the time it closed, I remember being annoyed that Cameron Mackintosh couldn't even wait for the show to reach its 10th anniversary in New York but something called "Blast" (?) was IIRC in line to take over the Broadway Theatre.

I hope the movie version of "Miss Saigon" becomes a reality. I've always felt that because "Saigon" is really at most a 5-character piece with a love story as its centerpiece that it would translate better into film than the arguably unwieldy "Les Miz." And I would kill to see Hollywood discover a young Asian actress to carry Lea Salonga's torch.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 2:50pm

Is anybody else really irked by Simon Bowman on the recording? He's so overwrought. It's like a parody of how some people think actors perform in Broadway musicals. The clips I've seen of Will Chase as Chris are much better.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 4:05pm

^ You're definitely not alone. Bowman doesn't get to me as much as Peter Cousens' ridiculously stereotypical American take on Chris in certain scenes on the complete recording.

"Yoou shoodent beee heeeere. Gad tha hell OuT!"

Other than a few similar moments, he's really enjoyable to listen to.

Updated On: 12/29/11 at 04:05 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 6:19pm

Great news that "Miss Saigon" is coming to The La Mirada Civic Theatre. I have many fond memories of the shows that I did there back in the day.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 7:28pm

Hahaha, I HATED Peter Cousens in that recording. Not as much as I disliked Hinton Battle, though. I know the latter's performance as John was award-winning, though, so maybe you had to see him onstage.

I also hope the Miss Saigon film happens and I REALLY hope that they cast a Vietnamese girl as Kim.

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 7:49pm

I enjoyed Simon Bowman with the exception that I still feel he's flat on the high notes during Why God. And a bit smarmy.

I wish some more local theaters would take a chance on this show, it's a percussive feast! Sat in the pit just a few months before it closed and I was a kid in a musical candy store. The music is just wonderful if you are an instrumentalist.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/29/11 at 9:19pm

Yes! Miss Saigon's orchestra in Los Angeles was amazing and the number of percussive elements controlled by one person would have been a show in itself.

I saw the L.A. production (1st national tour) at the Ahmanson 3 times and twice on Broadway, the last being in July, 2000.

Btw, anyone here seen the short-lived 2nd national tour? I saw it twice, once in San Diego at the Civic and once at the Orange County PAC. I've yet to know of another fan who has seen it. It featured the same Broadway/London designs and the only difference was the usually rectangular stage area with its great depth was adapted in the 2nd national into a smaller area that appeared the same size thanks to a little forced perspective. Everything else including the helicopter was the same as on Broadway.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/30/11 at 3:59am

I saw the final week in London, by chance with Joanna Ampil. I was in London that Summer and just wanted to see it because I knew the show growing up--but I actually liked it (unpopular opinion here) much more than Les Miz...

[choitoy]

Posted: 12/30/11 at 4:22am

"Girl's gotta eat, and let's be frank, it's not like there are oodles of roles for Asian actors out there."


Ehh, Jennifer Paz has been everything from Belle (Beauty and the Beast), to Evita, to Cinderella (most recently), so it seems like she's doing pretty well for herself in the Seattle area also. Seriously, I've seen more shows with Jennifer Paz and Billie Wildrick in the past few years than I care to realize... I guess I'm just ready for some "new" faces instead of our usual Settle "Repertory" players.

Anyway, back on subject. Isn't a new Netherlands production of "Miss Saigon" happening soon (or has happened). I think there may even be a cast recording coming out of it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/30/11 at 12:46pm

There is, and there's a new song for Ellen which is yet another rewrite of "Her or Me"/"Now That I've Seen Her." That song is like its own Martin Guerre.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/30/11 at 4:19pm

My oh My... I saw the 2NT in San Diego 7 times!!! and then I drove up to the OPAC to see it twice!!! haha... I loved that tour! I also saw the tour once in LA at the ahmanson... first time i ever saw miss saigon (and with Jen Paz)... July 13, 1995! I will always remember that date!

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/30/11 at 11:23pm

Ah. Finally someone who has seen it and at the same venues that I did! The San Diego run was perfect. The Civic Theatre isn't what I would call "small" but it somehow feels intimate and I've enjoyed my times seeing both Saigon and Les Mis there. The OCPAC is cool if you have great seats like I did when I saw it there, but I was pissed off they supplemented the slimmer brass section with synthesized ones for that engagement!!!

I saw it for the first time at the Ahmanson, too. It was in January, 1995 and sat front row center. I had only heard the OLC recording and really liked the slight but effective changes they had made since. And that friggin helicopter...I honestly wasn't expecting much, but to date, I don't think I've been more amazed at a piece of theatrical technical wizardry. For a second there, I believed it was real. Then, of course, you think there's no way it could be, lol. Very impressive scene.

When I finally saw it on Broadway in July, 1997, I was surprised how much better that effect was in Los Angeles. It wasn't horrible on Broadway but nowhere nearly as imposing and realistic as in both the 1st and 2nd national tours. On Broadway it looked small and tilted in a fake, robotic manner.

I'm not really the type of theatre-goer who demands to see the money I spent for a ticket onstage in tons of gaudy scenery and tricks. One of my top 5 faves of all time has no scenery (A Chorus Line)!

But Saigon's blasted helicopter scene was something else and its hype completely warranted. Those who hate the show because they feel it's all about the effects are so wrong. The story and music is deeply engaging and definitely the main attraction for me. What makes the nightmare scene so moving in addition to the wow special effects factor, is its strategic placement late in the 2nd act and especially at that point in the story where things are looking up; it has a way of tying any loose ends and also giving weight to everything that has already occurred and will occur, as well. Am I the only one who'd literally fight back sobs at that scene right after the nightmare, where Kim is left alone in her room and sings a reprise of "Sun and Moon" while putting on the dress she wore at her and Chris' ceremony? The nightmare scene having taken place right before that had a lot to do with it.

I hope the La Mirada Theatre production uses the set that Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities used in their 2008 production. I think it's the closest one can get to seeing something similar in overall impact to the original staging and 2nd act nightmare effect as seen in the original productions nowadays.

Updated On: 12/30/11 at 11:23 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 2:30am

My Oh My... I saw the Civic Bay production as well!!! haha... I sat right in front of Sam Anderson (aka Bernard from the show LOST if you watched it)

I'm really hoping I get to see the La Mirada production as well

Honestly... i HATE the civic theater... which is why i tend to go up to LA to see shows... the civic is just huge... no wonder people call it a barn... i've sat everywhere in that theater! haha...

in LA i saw it second row center balcony... great seats... it was actually my first time seeing the show and seeing a broadway show ever and i wasn't too informed on theater... so i sat there with the OLC lyrics in my head thinking... this is different what is going on!?! haha... especially when i sat there thinking... where the hell is SACRED BIRD! haha... oh and Kevin Gray was just perfection as The Engineer

i do love the OCPAC though... when i saw the show there twice one of the times i sat second row from the stage... absolutely amazing... Mika Nishida was absolutely perfect as KIM that night... although I think she made a better Gigi... i actually like seeing shows there too.. i saw Aida, Beauty and the Beast and Dreamgirls there... great theater... I think i may see Les Mis there

I never saw the Broadway production (well only in bootlegs) and i actually think the national tours did the YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HIM scene better... i like having that little stage come out for that scene... and then TAM running to KIM and THUY walking toward KIM taunting her about to kill TAM instead of on Broadway where TAM goes back behind the bed... doesn't seem natural... oh well...

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 3:05am

It really does help that Richard Maltby Jr worked on the lyrics (even if there are some real stinkers, nothing is as bad as a majority of Kreztmer's for Les Miz, I have no idea why so many foreign musicals use him as translator unless it's simply because he's a known name thanks to Miz).

I know there was one arena tour I think for N America but maybe just Canada that basically used the Napier sets but the helicopter was a video--which sounds kinda lame to me... How is the new production? The Hytner/Napier/Avian original staging, at least in that massive London theatre, was so effective that I really can't picture a new staging.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 3:35am

you mean the non equity tour? that was an interesting one... they used projections for the helicopter and for the American Dream... it was weird.. i didn't care for it too much... but i did appreciate the fact that the new tour pretty much focused on the love story and made it more intimate instead of feeling like some spectacle... that being said.. i did miss the original staging and costumes... hated how Sun and Moon was staged and how Kim was wearing the blanket instead of Chris's t-shirt which was not used during the rest of Act I...

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 3:53am

That must be it. I missed it (i actually probably would have gone when it came to my city but I think I was out of town), and later getting my haircut the woman cutting my hair, not a theatre goer at all, was telling me how disappointed she was that the helicopter (which almost sounded like the only reason she went) was a projection...

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 11:36am

I saw the non-Equity tour twice and loved it. The projections weren't as great as the real thing, but still pretty impressive. Granted, I love Miss Saigon so much, I probably would have put up with a lot and still adored it. Jennifer Hubila was a great Kim, she loved the role so much and you could tell.

And I also cry during the entire "Nightmare" scene, especially the "Sun and Moon (Reprise)". Sometimes I tear up just listening to the recording. I don't think any other show will replace Miss Saigon as my favorite because it just resonates with me on such an emotional level. I love Les Mis, but I prefer Miss Saigon's more intimate story. I also like how they changed it from Madame Butterfly by making Chris fall in love with Kim, and how Kim's sacrifice really does make her son have a chance in life. Miss Saigon does have good special effects, but the show is so much more than that.

I also maintain that "I'd Give My Life for You" is one of the most powerful Act I finales that I've ever seen.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 12:35pm

As a subscriber of the South Bay CLO since 1999, I will say that theatre is a barn, but most shows there are brilliant. Some have been odd (the tours, Cirque Dreams, more recent). I am happy they found a new home, even if it's the Warner Grand in San Pedro (small stage, MASSIVE auditorium, no parking, and poor upkeep). But I digress. (I did love their Miss Saigon set!)

I love Miss Saigon, and I am going to try to see it at La Mirada. I love the score and the sets are iconic.

And really random question, but what was the original show curtain? When I saw it, it was some beach scene at sunset.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/31/11 at 3:27pm

i think on Broadway the curtain was just a plain red curtain

the 1NT (or the LA Cast) it was the sun on a red curtain.. basically the logo with only the sn

the 2NT was a scrim of scenes of vietnam i think...

i forget what the non equity was