question re: Miss Saigon at the Lincolnshire from years ago

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 6:25pm

I know that the theater is in the round, right? did anyone see Miss Saigon there? if so I was wondering if someone can describe how they chose to do the nightmare sequence... i know they didn't have a helicopter... how did they do it? Thanks

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 11:39am

I didn't see it, but my understanding was they used lighting effects and rope ladders. I know it impressed the critics:

"There is no helicopter, as there was in the massive Broadway production, although Marriott has turned up such a roar of noise and blaze of lights for this famous scene that you would swear the copter is just out of sight beyond the theater's roof beams"
-Richard Christiansen, Chicago Tribune

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 11:55am

I saw it, but can't for the life of me remember how they did the nightmare scene. But Fosse's quote pretty much summed up the helicopter moment. Lights, huge booming sound, and fans from above simulated the helicopter, and a rope ladder dropped down. It was extremely convincing and I remember being really blown away by how effective it was.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 2:43pm

Actually it a metal ladder. The combination of noise, lighting, fog and fans was incredible. In the intimate setting, it was much more effective than an (mostly) inflatable helicopter that was 50 feet away from the closest audience member.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 3:40pm

i'm trying to picture it... so was the "helicopter" in the middle of the stage or on one side and then the vietnamese were on the other side trying to get through the gate?

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 9:35pm

Jon probably remembers it more than me, but I want to say that the ladder was hanging down dead center and the gate was on one corner of the stage with use of the aisle, but I'm definitely not 100%.