I had been meaning to see this show for admittedly quite a while, but due to personal reasons getting in the way as I had been busy working on exams and thereafter was preparing to leave for university along with settling in, so I didn't have much time to go and see shows. But thankfully, now that my first year in uni is coming to an end, I finally had the opportunity to go and see this! So was it worth the long wait? Well, the answer is most definitely yes!
.
The plot, similar to the Puccini opera Madama Butterfly, follows events after the Vietnam war as a young Vietnamese bar-girl and American GI soldier fall in love, but are torn apart by the fall of Saigon and the events afterwards, including the reveal that they have a son & Chris got married after returning to America, show the consequences of their and the wars' actions. Although the love story between Chris and Kim is used as the main plot for the musical, and was, I also was particularly intrigued by the framing device of the time setting during the reunification of the Vietnam, as this alone conveys the message of war causing tragedy thanks to the opposing communist and capitalist beliefs of Vietnam and America. This alone really helps make the show stand out compared to others along with the parallels to the original opera it's based on while entwining the historical context of the fall of Saigon. But despite all of this, the story itself is a tragedy, and a very well executed one at that!
The visuals in this show are absolutely spectacular, with the set designs and lighting capturing the beauty yet the sleaziness of Vietnam, rather it be the Dreamland bar/brothel, the streets of Bangkok with the all nightclubs on full display or the Ho Chi Minh City while celebrating the new communist regime (most certainly a visual delight to watch with the well choreographed military routines, dragon and red lightings used for the parade). The American Dream sequence is also a moment I must mention as it goes all out and makes it The costume designs are all also very well done, given that the show is set in the mid to late 70s along with the attention to detail put into the costumes Kim wears. But I really mustn't forget the helicopter scene on the Embassy roof as it's easily one of the most immaculate set pieces I have ever seen in a musical. In fact, the helicopter scene alone is why I'd recommend people go and see this because it'll blow your mind when watching it on-stage!
Despite the visuals, the main highlight for me was most definitely the actors. In her West End (and professional) debut, Eva Noblezada was absolutely perfect as Kim, capturing the naivete and tragedy of the character as she grows throughout due to the affects of the war and being a mother along with her powerhouse voice (in a way reminding me of London's original Kim, Lea Salonga) leaving me in awe. I definitely think she has an amazing career ahead of her West End actor Alistair Brammer (who I had previously seen as Marius in Les Miserables 4 years ago) also shines as the dashing Chris, in particular when showing the character's turmoil over losing Kim while moving on with his wife Ellen. Of course, I obviously can't forget the Engineer, played by Jon Jon Briones, and he was a delight to watch with his more sleazy and seedy take on the pimp while having moments which left me in stitches! Kwang-Ho Hung as Kim's fiancé Thuy also gave a very intense performance along with his voice being surprisingly nice to listen to despite his threatening presence onstage along with Hugh Maynard as John. I must also give praise to understudies Carolyn Maitland as Ellen, as she manages to give the character more sympathy during the new added song Maybe and Marsha Songcome as Gigi was also a joy to watch, in particular when showing off her talents during The Movie In My Mind!
The music itself, with songs by Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the same trio who worked on Les Miserables, also shines mostly due to the emotional centre of almost all the songs and left me teary eyed, in particular with the numbers Sun and Moon, I Believe and Bui Doi and the execution of all of them also help. The Bui Doi scene especially got to me as it showed footage of children orphaned from the war as John and his charity appeal that they must be reunited with their American fathers. The other songs are also enjoyable to listen to as they show how the characters are feeling and progress the plot, including The Movie In My Mind, Kim's Nightmare and I'd Give My Life For You (well, the whole musical is sung through so this comment was unavoidable) However, that doesn't mean the writers don't get to show off their Broadway style, which is shown through the penultimate number The American Dream, which goes all out to show The Engineer's rather sleazy fantasies of being in America capped off with him in a Cadillac while showgirls dance around him.
Miss Saigon isn't just one of the best recent musicals I've seen, but also one of the bests I've seen period right next to The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. With incredible set pieces, a very compelling cast, memorable musical numbers and huge emotional depth, this really is something theatregoers must go and see now that it's been revived!
Rating: *****
And I did manage to go to the stage door afterwards, so here are a few photos!
My lovely mum came with me to see it & I insisted she have a photo taken with someone before we left!
