“Jaw-dropping and truly breathtaking!” Miss Saigon takes over Palace until May
| 25th March 2018
After the revised 25th anniversary production ran for two years on London’s West End, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg’s legendary musical Miss Saigon, has finally embarked on its UK tour – and it’s incredibly clear why this show is still such a big hit with worldwide audiences.
Miss Saigon is based on the 1903 Puccini opera Madam Butterfly and is set during the final days of the Vietnam war. The show tells the story of a 17-year-old orphan called Kim, who is forced to work in a Saigon brothel in order to make ends meet.
Sooha Kim performs the role of Vietnamese village girl Kim perfectly; her naivety makes the audience desperately want to stop her from making wrong life decisions. But we’re immediately put at ease when she falls in love with GI American soldier Chris, who tries his best to protect her from the horrors of the Vietnam war. We watch as their relationship blossoms and they fall madly in love. However, during the fall of Saigon Chris is evacuated back to America and the two lovers are parted as he’s unable to take Kim with him. (Don’t worry we won’t spoil anything for you – you’ll have to watch the show to see how this love story ends.)
Playing the desirable GI American soldier is Ashley Gilmour. The audience are initially in two minds about Chris, as we’re introduced to him as part of the vulgar soldiers exploiting the Saigon girls. However, our views are quickly changed when we realise that he isn’t interested in any of the girls surrounding him – apart from Kim. We sit back and watch as their love story unfolds through duets; Sun and Moon and Last Night of the World.
The complicated role of Chris’ American wife Ellen is portrayed well by Zoë Doano as does Ryan O’Gorman as Chris’ best friend John. At the beginning, the audience are made to dislike John as he persuades Chris to take part in many wrongdoings in the Saigon brothel. However, he redeems himself as his character matures and is later reminding Chris of how the Bui Doi children are, “the living reminder of all the good things we failed to do” – queue the waterworks.
In contrast to the brothel scenes is the revolutionary guard’s military marching scene. A huge metallic statue of Ho Chi Minh’s face fills the back of the stage, whilst the incredible ensemble performs a synchronised choral stomp to The Morning of the Dragon. Although the musical is based around the Vietnam war, which is very much in the past, there is no doubting that his scene is hauntingly reminiscent of today’s military marching in the North Korean dictatorship.
Special recognition must go to Red Concepcion who plays the hilarious and raunchy Engineer. The audience can’t help but love this character as despite him using and abusing everyone he meets, in order to achieve his own goals, the comedic timing that Concepcion has is impeccable. His show-stopping number “The American Dream’ is worthy of a standing ovation. Throughout the number, Concepcion adds his own flair and interaction with the audience which allows him to truly revel in the role.
We could spend hours explaining all of the breathtaking moments that are crammed into this three-hour spectacle. But it’s worth seeing for yourself why we ‘Still Believe’ that this jaw-dropping show has definitely been worth the wait!
Miss Saigon runs at the Manchester Palace Theatre until Saturday 12th May 2018 and you still have chance to buy your own tickets here.
