Miss Saigon Previews Thread

[Lot666]

Glitter said: ""I cringe hearing Chris sing about saving Kim: "So I wanted to save and protect her. Christ, I am an American! How could I fail to do good?""

Isn't that the point?  We are SUPPOSED to cringe.  it's a ridiculous statement  (and in the Canadian production, sometimes got a laugh from the audience)."

...and it's a very real 'Murican viewpoint (USA! USA! The greatest country in the world!).

 

[Lot666]

Fan123 said: "...I also wonder if some of the "greatest love story" stuff is more for marketing purposes than anything else. That phrase is going to sell more tickets to a sizeable portion of the audience (read: us white people) than "white people screw things up: the musical", more accurate though the latter may be."

Cameron Mackintosh isn't stupid. In truth, this show presents the U.S. in a rather unflattering light and the typical #TrumpsAmerica type would rail against it if the advertising reflected that. If, however, it's presented as "the greatest love story", those same people will go for it like a trout and come away with nary a thought for its indictment of U.S. foreign policy.

[eatlasagna]

SugarButterFlour86 said: "I saw the show Saturday evening. It was great to see a professional staging of the show. Seeing that the music to the show, in my opinion is iconic in it's own right, I was not fond of the lyric changes. I don't know if they were trying to update currency on language or not, but I was not ready for it. Especially the lyric changes in "Heat of Saigon" and if I recall correctly, "Movie In My Mind" was touched as well. Those numbers, I feel are the songs that get the show on its way... and I missed the original lyrics. The original lyrics I felt aren't "dated' by any means. I look for a brand new staging or in realm of designs in a revival I choose to see, and did not care so much lyric/libretto changes. The company is doing a great job with the show, and glad I can say I saw this production. I was too young to catch the original but respect whole-heartedly the original production/concept. 

 

"

i'm only gonna comment on the revival recording and will assume those lyric changes were kept for broadway...

I'm still confused as to why they changed so many damn lyrics!  i honestly understand now why people are so angry at the Star Wars special editions!  haha

the only lyric changes that i personally like are MOVIE IN MY MIND when Gigi no longer sings about eating too much ice cream... i just that that was ridiculously cheesy... I also like that Chris no longer sings about the big mac.... ugh i hated that line!  I also like Chris's line change in Act 2 in when he no longer sings "back when I was a different man, back when i didn't have a clue who I am." While I didn't flat out hate that line, it was just weird.  I like that John no longer is in the scene when Ellen confronts Chris.  I always felt that scene should have been about those two and John being there was odd.  That being said, I don't like the scene now when he comes in after the confrontation.  It's just talking over music.  It's like you spend the whole show singing everything than you just start talking.  

and the one change that REALLY bothers me is when kim sings "i'm seventeen and I'm new here to day, the village i come from seems so far away, all of the girls know much more what to say..." they now added in that "all of these girls here know much more what to say..." it just irks me.  did that really need to be changed?!?  

 

[TheSassySam]

Has anybody need Eva's understudy? How is she? My tickets are for next Saturday's matinee and I read that Eva doesn't do Saturday matinees. 

[FMSES]

[Bettyboy72]

After seeing the current Broadway production, I have a new take on the musical under the current political order of the US. I see the musical as an indictment of the US, its savior mentality, and its laissez-faire attitude towards the exploitation of other cultures. When I was young and saw the Toronto sit down, I actually viewed this as an unrequited love story. It's not. It's a story of how people survive trauma with fantasy and how in the end, it all falls away. 

Also, from the first time I saw it, my heart broke for the female dancers. I struggle with the exploitation and the shoe horning of history to fit the story, but in my early 20s it did make me look into Vietnam and what happened to its people and namely its women and children. The photo the creative team credit as starting the journey for them of the mother surrendering her child still stays with me. 

I think some of the lyric changes and re-writes are attempts to add some more weight or depth to the characters. This doesn't mean it still isn't problematic. I think it still upsets me because Asian women are still highly fetishized and exploited globally. They are among the largest victims of sex trafficking and sex slavery. 

 

[Dave28282]

eatlasagna said: "That being said, I don't like the scene now when he comes in after the confrontation.  It's just talking over music.  It's like you spend the whole show singing everything than you just start talking.  "

Great point! They need to be very careful with this. For some reason the director thinks this is realistic, when in fact, it's the opposite. The language has been singing from the start, and that illusion of sung thoughts and dialogue creates raw emotion. To ask from your audience to suddenly switch is kind of dangerous and takes people out of it.

 

[Babe_Williams]

Bettyboy72 said: "After seeing the current Broadway production, I have a new take on the musical under the current political order of the US. I see the musical as an indictment of the US, its savior mentality, and its laissez-faire attitude towards the exploitation of other cultures. When I was young and saw the Toronto sit down, I actually viewed this as an unrequited love story. It's not. It's a story of how people survive trauma with fantasy and how in the end, it all falls away. 

Also, from the first time I saw it, my heart broke for the female dancers. I struggle with the exploitation and the shoe horning of history to fit the story, but in my early 20s it did make me look into Vietnam and what happened to its people and namely its women and children. The photo the creative team credit as starting the journey for them of the mother surrendering her child still stays with me. 

I think some of the lyric changes and re-writes are attempts to add some more weight or depth to the characters. This doesn't mean it still isn't problematic. I think it still upsets me because Asian women are still highly fetishized and exploited globally. They are among the largest victims of sex trafficking and sex slavery. 

 

 

"

I am hoping that the refugee theme of the show will make some people think about the issue more deeply. It's definitely a timely topic on many fronts. 

[Broadwaystar2]

Dave28282 said: "eatlasagna said: "That being said, I don't like the scene now when he comes in after the confrontation.  It's just talking over music.  It's like you spend the whole show singing everything than you just start talking.  "

Great point! They need to be very careful with this. For some reason the director thinks this is realistic, when in fact, it's the opposite. The language has been singing from the start, and that illusion of sung thoughts and dialogue creates raw emotion. To ask from your audience to suddenly switch is kind of dangerous and takes people out of it.

 

 

"

I feel this takes you out of the show, you should stop going to theater...LOL!!

[Emmaloucbway]

Saw the show tonight- it was Billy Bustamante's debut as The Engineer and he was fantastic! And of course Eva Noblezada is giving a thrilling performance as well.

I've seen this production before on the West End a few years ago, but I think I liked it better on a second viewing. Love that score (even though some lyrics aren't very good).

Also a side note, the helicopter didn't ascend at the end of the scene so the show had to be held for about 10 minutes. It was a VERY interesting night. 

[everythingtaboo]

Was there tonight too. Was really bummed that Jon Jon wasn't there, but then after a few minutes of the show, once Billy kinda found his footing, he absolutely blew me away. I didn't read the insert until after the show ended and of course he says it's his tenth time as the Engineer. Either way, he was great.

 

The show was great too. It could use a little tightening in the first number to help us know where to focus, but otherwise it really seemed to be in really good shape. At least until the helicopter scene stopped at the end of the sequence. Of course, the sequence was really emotional and the tears were about to flow - and then the stage managers usher the cast off the stage so they can close the curtain. Of course I love the stuff of live theatre, but on the other hand, I had to try to suck the tears back into my ducts as they turned the lights on! But then it returned and smoothly flew to the end.

 

Can I just give a shout-out to the orchestrations of James Moore, who did some amazing work on On The Town and Gigi, and there were points tonight when I just wanted to listen to what he did with the score.

[Lot666]

Bettyboy72 said: "After seeing the current Broadway production, I have a new take on the musical under the current political order of the US. I see the musical as an indictment of the US, its savior mentality, and its laissez-faire attitude towards the exploitation of other cultures."

This has always been the overriding theme of the show to me.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Is Eva on Wednesday afternoons or evenings?

[dodger106]

After months of anticipation, saw the 3/14 preview (yes, the one where the helicopter malfunctioned), and was generally underwhelmed by the entire production. Part of it is staging, and the irritating tendency these days to build out stages that obstruct views, while concentrating so much action downstage where it is barely visible. (We literally could not see any of Kim and could only see the top of Chris' head in the final scene, although we could see everyone in front of us craning their necks trying to see SOMETHING. To stage such an emotional scene that way is just plain disrespectful to paying customers) And no, these seats were not marked obstructed view. But we were never able to really feel part of the show, which we should have been for what we paid for tickets. But more generally, the entire show seemed to lack energy and immediacy. Perhaps the show has not held up well after 20 years. Perhaps this production just lacks chemistry. Perhaps it's different when Jon Jon Briones performs (Billy Bustamante performed the role of the Engineer at our performance). But I have seen amateur productions of Miss Saigon where I have been far more moved than I was at this performance, and that's very disappointing. And I certainly hope they get the helicopter fixed by opening night. 

[dianamorales]

I was there Saturday night, and it was truly one of the best shows I've ever seen. I went in with a general knowledge of the music and the basis of the plot, so I didn't really know what to expect, but it LITERALLY took my breath away. The helicopter worked for me and was unforgettable. There's a reason it's one of the most iconic moments in theatre. Now, I'm a sucker for big musicals and ensembles, and this was perfect for me. Every performance was wonderful (Eva's voice!! Jon Jon!!). I'm so upset that this is a limited run but I'm praying it'll become an open run so I can see it again one day. The only flaws- seating. I was mid/rear mezzanine towards the right and, while I could see the whole stage, it was very blurry and I wish I had a closer seat to get the whole experience. Also, I wish that the audience got to see more of Kim and Chris's falling in love. It just seemed to come out of nowhere.

Now, the white savior thing- it hadn't occurred to me until reading this thread that it was a problem. Personally, I think the show handles it relatively well. Aside from Chris and Bui-Doi, America was shown as the antagonist, right from the first scene. I think the show is largely about the effect of American imperialism on other countries. Chris just represents someone who is somewhat aware of the consequences, largely in the minority.

Sorry for the long post! I have so many feelings about this incredible show. 100/10, would definitely recommend. I can't wait to see how it improves with another week and a half of previews, but I can already smell the tonys.

[Wick3]

I also saw the show last Saturday evening and was blown away (last time I watched the show was back in 2000.) 

i was a crying mess when Nicholas Christopher sang Bui Doi in act II. Wow. I hope he gets a nomination! I didn't know this but Hinton Battle, who performed the role of John back in 1991, won the Tony for Best Featured Actor. Alistair was great too! Overall loved the cast. ????

[Babe_Williams]

I just watched the Last Night of the World performance from yesterday's Today show. A few things, was the lyric always "there's a place where your life will have worth?" I thought in the original London cast, the lyric was "there's a place where life still has worth." Not sure if I heard it wrong on the recording, but that kind of raises my eyebrows given our conversations.

 

Second, Eva is beautiful and has a lovely voice, but she definitely doesn't perform like she is coming off of a London run of the show. Seems like she acts more like someone who is brand new to it? Maybe it was nerves on the TV show and not indicative of her performance, but she seemed uncomfortable and not confident.