Monique Wilson-Almost The First "Miss Saigon"

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:13pm

Whatever happened to her? She came sooooooo close to winning the role and possibly having Salonga's career. I thought her voice was just as good as Salonga's but she didn't project the wholesome look as much. I know she made some comments about Miss Saigon later on that many construed as sour grapes but how is her career going? Anyone know what she's been up to?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:14pm

She played Maureen in the Manila production of Rent.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:52pm

More!
http://www.essencecard.com/pages/Magazine/pages/nov-dec/monique.htm

[Barnaby12345]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:27pm

Vocally I don't think they are even almost in the same league...Lea's voice is so much better.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:52pm

I'm kind of surprised how Frances Ruffelle was Kim in the workshop of Miss Saigon. I guess they just wanted her to test the songs, but had no true intention of using her.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 7:15pm

Monique Wilson is now based in Manila. She is the founder and artistic director of a local theater company called New Voice Company. The company will mount Aspects of Love at the Republic of Malate in Manila this November. The company recently staged Vagina Monologues and Cabaret. She also has a CD out.

Bio from Vagina Monologues, Japan:
http://www.vaginamonologuesjapan.com/html/director.htm

Recent article on Monique

Updated On: 10/26/05 at 07:15 PM

[jo]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 7:16pm

Monique is quite an actress and a singer in her own right. She has a beautiful voice and is more versatile in her choice of materials.

After her stint in MISS SAIGON as the alternate Kim ( with Lea) in the original production in London, she completed a drama course in London. She came back to Manila and founded a theatre company which has produced quite a number of shows. She has also performed in a number of concerts over the years.

This month, I am going to see her re-create the role of Rose Vibert in the company's revival of ALWebber's ASPECTS OF LOVE. She has always talked about this project in the past and now they are actually mounting the production ( based on the more intimate ensemble version which succeeded the big production of the show). I understand that after this show, she will be based in London again for a restart of a West End career.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 9:16pm

I'm kind of surprised how Frances Ruffelle was Kim in the workshop of Miss Saigon. I guess they just wanted her to test the songs, but had no true intention of using her.

Frances Ruffelle was on the demo, not the workshop. Linzi Hateley also performed Kim on the later concept recording (which was unreleased).

[jo]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 9:47pm

How remarkable that all three who performed the role of KIM ( Frances on the demo, Linzi on the concept album, and Lea who originated the role at the West End) all performed the role of EPONINE in LES MISERABLES.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:04pm

I dunno; the roles aren't that different (it's like Christine/Cosette and Radames/Roger), so it doesn't seem "remarkable" to me. Or maybe I'm just jaded.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:48pm

Monique Wilson has always been a better actress than Lea Salonga. Lea herself admits that she's a singer who acts as opposed to being an actress who sings; Monique is the latter. I think Monique played Kim full-time when Lea became ill during the early part of the London run of MISS SAIGON, and Monique stayed in the show for a total of 3 years. When SAIGON opened in Drury Lane, Monique played Mimi and she can be seen in the MAKING OF MISS SAIGON video as one of the bikini-clad bar girls.

Monique's other theatrical credits are quite extensive and I had a chance to see her in TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, and she made a fine Emma.

[hellskitchenguy]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:53pm

Monique is currently playing Rose Vibert in "Aspects of Love" in Manila. She also recently played Sally Bowles in a production of "Cabaret" there as well. Here are some pics:

http://www.newvoicecompany.com/html/cabaret_gallery.htm

[jo]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 10:58pm

I saw MISS SAIGON fairly close to Opening Night ( about a month after it opened) and Monique was already alternating with Lea on some days for the role of Kim ( it was a very difficult role vocally and I imagine an alternate for some days was the working arrangements right from the beginning). On the days she wasn't performing the role of Kim, Monique played the role of a bar girl.

Yes, Monique was quite good in a local production of TELL ME ON A SUNDAY.

Kim and Eponine are similar roles?? Not too sure about that - Kim is a very difficult role to perform, vocally and dramatically speaking. Eponine was not central to the story, although she did have one or two significant songs to deliver onstage.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 11:00pm

They're similar enough in age and vocal requirements. I don't think it's any coincidence that pretty much all the Asian Eponines (outside of Asian countries, of course) have played Kim at one point or another.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:20pm

"They're similar enough in age and vocal requirements. I don't think it's any coincidence that pretty much all the Asian Eponines (outside of Asian countries, of course) have played Kim at one point or another."

So, that makes the roles similar bec. all Asiam Kims have played Eponines, and they are of same age, and vocal requirements? Are you a stage/musical actor at all to make a technical assessment on the difference between the two roles? Bec., I am and believe me girl, they are both different...waaayyyy different!

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 07:20 PM

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:17pm

I don't have the musical scores in front of me, but if you look at a few of the songs for both shows, the range for both characters are virtually the same.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 10:47pm

Both parts are written for essentially the same vocal/age type.

It's not exactly some new or bold assessment of the material.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/16/16 at 9:43pm

I think she's great as Sally in Cabaret:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW9ZTSQF6l8

 

And Eva Noblezada is also doing Eponine, and she's got what it takes to pull it off!

Updated On: 5/16/16 at 09:43 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/17/16 at 12:59am

You know you're replying to a post that's probably older than all the current Matildas, right?

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 5/17/16 at 7:51am

PThespian said: "musicaltheater1 said: ""They're similar enough in age and vocal requirements. I don't think it's any coincidence that pretty much all the Asian Eponines (outside of Asian countries, of course) have played Kim at one point or another."

So, that makes the roles similar bec. all Asiam Kims have played Eponines, and they are of same age, and vocal requirements? Are you a stage/musical actor at all to make a technical assessment on the difference between the two roles? Bec., I am and believe me girl, they are both different...waaayyyy different!

"

That's it. The Board's resident stage/musical actor has rendered his verdict in this case. The roles are waaayyyy different.

Appealing the decision is futile.

 

"

Well, Eva Noblezada should be playing Eponine in London right now...

Updated On: 5/17/16 at 07:51 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/17/16 at 8:48am

It'll never happen...

http://www.lesmis.com/uk/2016/01/cast-changes-for-les-miz-london/

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/17/16 at 2:13pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Well, Eva Noblezada should be playing Epionine in London right now..."

why the heck are you bringing this up in the ancient thread though

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/17/16 at 3:39pm

And who the F is Epionine?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/16/16 at 3:45pm

One Eponine/Kim similarity: They both died happily in the arms of the object of their affection.