'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
#0'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/24/04 at 6:00pm
Well, I saw the North American touring production of 'Miss Saigon' on Saturday. I had never seen this musical or heard of it really. Yes, I have been living under a rock. All I have to say about this musical is:
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
However, while watching it, I remembered some of you saying to watch for the amazing virtual helicopter, since the touring prod can't bring a real one. I was expecting a hollogram of sorts. I was disappointed to see that it was just a projection of a moving helicopter on a black screen.
The music is absolutely beautiful and the plot is so heartwrenching that I cried through a lot of it.
Anywho, just thought I'd share this with you all.
-bb2005
Theatre_Lover
Chorus Member Joined: 5/24/04
#1re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/24/04 at 10:04pm
It is wonderful, isn't it? I too had never heard of it, but my mom got me tickits, and I was blown away. The music is incredible, the actors were brillent, and I thought the helicopter was amazing -- I could pratically feel the wind from it!
My favorite number was probably "Why God?" but I love "Movie in my mind" as well.
Greens, greens, and nothing but greens! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery!
#2re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/24/04 at 10:15pmI want to see Miss Saigon SO BADLY! I'm dying to see what it's all about. Is there a website with information on the tour?
Type_A_Tiff
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/04
#3re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/24/04 at 10:35pmBroadwayBoy - glad you enjoyed the show! Who was the Engineer/Kim/Chris for your performance? I saw the show last summer and I gotta admit I was less than blown away (although the sets and costumes were beautiful.).
"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)
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"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater
"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#4re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 8:52amwww.travelinbroadway.cjb.net or www.misssaigontour.com
CCM '10!
#5re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:57am
OMG, the Engineer I saw absolutely stole the show. He is such a great actor!!!!!! Anyway, Chris was played by Alan Gillespie (hottie!), Kim was played by Jennifer Hubilla, and the Engineer was played by Mel Sagrado Maghuyop- I think. Before the show, a voice-over came on and announced that the roles of Kim and Engineer would be played by their understudies, whom I just named.
There was one point in the show, right when Act I is ending and the curtain/screen is about to fall, where Engineer, Kim, and Tam are all leaving Saigon for Bangkok. Did anyone else who saw it just love that part? I dunno, I guess the music and the drama in that just got to me!
If I must choose a favorite song, it would have to be is "I Still Believe" because it's where Kim still thinks Chris is coming back, but she doesn't know that he is now married. But during that scene, the bed Chris and Ellen are on are on top of the shack that Kim, Tam, and other Saigonians(sp?) are in. I looked for bars and wires to hold up the bed, but I couldn't see a thing. How did they do that?
As for the helicopter, I too could feel the wind from it. But like I said, all it came down to being was a projection of a moving helicopter on a black screen. It was so poorly done because I could see when the helicopter was moving around that sometimes it would go off of the screen and parts of the helicopter were cut off.
Anyway, the FINALE!!!!! OMG, I didn't see that coming!!!! When the shot fired, I almost screamed out loud! And the show ending with Kim's lifeless body in Chris' arms- well,by that point I was practically sobbing!
And Tam, when the whole cast had finished taking bows, he ran out to take his in front of everyone. It was so adorable!!!!
P.S.: Sorry for the spoiler!
Updated On: 5/25/04 at 09:57 AM
Theatre_Lover
Chorus Member Joined: 5/24/04
#6re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 5:53pmJon Jon Briones played the Engineer (excellent!), Jennifer Paz played Kim (breath taking!) and Alan Gillespie played Chris (what a voice!) when I went to see it. No understudies when I saw it, but understudies are so aewsome! Like when I saw Buddy we had an understudy and he blew me away.
Greens, greens, and nothing but greens! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery!
#7re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:01pm
I thought this was one of the strongest non-equity tours this year, at least. Briones was a very good Engineer. He's no Jonathan Pryce or Kevin Gray,,but he pulled it off quite well, didn't he? I forget who played Kim when it was in Philly last year (too lazy to look for my playbill) but she was cast very well and also did justice to the part.
I was most impressed with the chorus, the choreog. and the staging. For a tour that hits and runs every week, it's good quality.
My friend Craig Laurie was in the ensamble for a long time. Wondering if he's still with Saigon. Anyone willing to pull out a recent playbill?
www.pbentertainmentinc.com
BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
Theatre_Lover
Chorus Member Joined: 5/24/04
#8re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:04pm
He was in it when I saw it about a mouth ago, so I'd say, yes, he's still there.
Forgot to mention that I met one of the stars: Jonathan Wade. He was signing autographs -- signed my program twice! Of course, he is five... he played Tam. Very cute. 
Greens, greens, and nothing but greens! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery!
#9re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 7:16pm
I'm so glad you saw Mel as the Engineer. He's an old friend of mine from Houston. Last time I saw the show he was the understudy for the Engineer. I was delighted to see him in the show, though he wasn't on as the Engineer when I saw it, but he was in the chorus. He's a great guy and incredibly talented. I went out for drinks with him and some of the cast when they were in town.
I liked the helicopter on tour. I thought it worked well. I guess it depends on the theatre and how well they can set up the projection, but it was very effective when I saw it. Much more so than the slow-moving prop on a hydraulic arm on Broadway. But I must say The American Dream was much better on Broadway. I took my boss at the time to see the show. She's a middle-aged South Chicago black lady who had never been to a musical in her life. She loved every minute of it. When Kim shot Thuy, I heard her say out loud, "She is da BOMB!" It was a wonderful experience.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#10re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/25/04 at 9:08pmHas anybody seen the understudy for Chris?? My dad works with his dad, and apparently he hadn't gone on yet, at least last time I heard. If you saw him, was he any good?
#11re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 9:24am
I looked in my playbill, but I couldn't find anyone who is an understudy for Chris, but there has to be somewhere.
Speaking of the helicopter scene, did anyone else just love the chorus at that particular moment when they are all up on the fence trying to get out of Saigon? That is pure drama, people!!!
But something I didn't understand, why did Chris try calling Kim to see where she was right then? I wouldn't exactly think many people in Saigon would have phones, but that's just my opinion....
Pinky
Broadway Star Joined: 3/31/04
#12re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 11:57am
Miss Saigon was the first show I ever saw on Broadway. I LOVE that show...it's one of my favs.
I saw the tour in Philly in Oct. of 2003 & I loved the cast, the set, & the video projection of the heli. was okay...the real thing is much better.
In the tour's production, I liked the little diddy before Kim's final scene. I think the song is a form of the Sacred Bird from the Orig. London Cast Album.
I'm so glad Miss Saigon toured and came to Penn State...it's tough being so far from NYC & stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Penn State Forever!!!!
Theatre_Lover
Chorus Member Joined: 5/24/04
#13re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 5:29pm
I love that scene when the gate goes up, and the strobes flash in people's eyes, and next thing you know, you're on the other side of the fence, and then back again! It was so awesome.
As for the phone... no clue. Maybe he was calling the club where she worked?
Greens, greens, and nothing but greens! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery!
#14re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:12pm
Ya know, I didn't even realize they were trying to make the lights flashing in our eyes give the effect of different times/settings until my ride back home. Then I thought "Well, that DOES make sense."
Shortly after, a building in Los Angeles caught fire.
Anyway, I feel like hopping on a plane and seeing it wherever it is now.... As for the engineer, the guy whom I mentioned earlier who played him, I can't understand why HE is the understudy because if he doesn't have the role usually, then the person who almost always played Engineer must be like roof-blower-offer, because like....wow.
I'd definitely have to agree that Allan Gellispie (Chris) does have an AMAZING voice. Kinda wish he'd hold ME in his arms and sing to me, but ya know how that goes....
Musetta1957
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#15re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 5/27/04 at 4:25am
"But something I didn't understand, why did Chris try calling Kim to see where she was right then? I wouldn't exactly think many people in Saigon would have phones, but that's just my opinion...."
Yeah, but he didn't know she was there. Thus: "Please be home..."
They're in the same place, but neither of them know it. So he calls the only contact number he has for her. That's always been my theory, anyway.
(Seen the show three times, but not since 1999.)
#16re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/1/04 at 2:03pmIm seeing the show tonight. I'll be sure to post a review.
"Wherever you go... I'll be right there. When you get your own private kick in the ass, just remember: it's a present from me to you."
Rose's dying words to Louise
#17re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/2/04 at 11:17am
Hey ya'll!
Has anyone seen the tour recently? I was just cast in the tour and I go in soon and wanted to know how this tour was. What was the stageing like? Do the sets move by themselves or does the cast do the changes? I saw Jen Paz as Kim when I was in the 8th grade and LOVED her.....anyone see her performance in this production? Love to hear your reviews!
#18re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/2/04 at 11:17am
Hey ya'll!
Has anyone seen the tour recently? I was just cast in the tour and I go in soon and wanted to know how this tour was. What was the stageing like? Do the sets move by themselves or does the cast do the changes? I saw Jen Paz as Kim when I was in the 8th grade and LOVED her.....anyone see her performance in this production? Love to hear your reviews!
#19re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/2/04 at 11:44amI just saw it last night, and thought it was fantastic! I saw Jennifer Paz as Kim, and she was absolutely fantastic! The cast does move the sets, but it does not look bad. I'll post a full review later.
"Wherever you go... I'll be right there. When you get your own private kick in the ass, just remember: it's a present from me to you."
Rose's dying words to Louise
#20re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/2/04 at 12:56pmSay hi to Mel for me !!!
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#21re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 6/2/04 at 2:47pm
Danny-This is Katie Pierce, how are you babe? Anyways I never said congrats and so here it is!!!!!!!
Love,
Katie
"Did you know that if you take the first two vowels in Olive and rearrange them it spells I-Love?"-Spelling Bee
"It's night like this that hotel bars were specifically made." Light In The Piazza
#22re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 10/6/04 at 6:22pmThis tour is hitting my school Monday and Tuesday. (I have tickets for Tuesday nights show.) I know Johann Michael Camat, Jennifer Paz, and Alan Gillespie are in it but I was wondering about the other parts and if they have changed.
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Updated On: 10/6/04 at 06:22 PM
#23re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 10/6/04 at 6:50pm
My avatar is a reminder to myself. I need lots of reminders...
Updated On: 10/6/04 at 06:50 PM
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#24re: 'Miss Saigon' tour!!!
Posted: 10/6/04 at 7:19pm
i finally stopped being lazy and registered so i can post... woo hoo...
well i'm a HUGE Miss Saigon fan (and Lea Salonga)... i've seen the show a total of 17 times... with this new non-equity tour i've seen I believe 7 times... and i was completely blown away with how much i would love the show... after seeing the first national tour and the 2nd national tour... i thought this new tour would suck... it didn't... well some of the new staging and costumes did...
all i can say is that after seeing this non-equity tour... the HEART of the show came through... now I always thought Miss Saigon was underrated... people kept focusing on the helicopter and the huge sets... and that's what i felt made people think it was overrated... but what this new production did was take the audience's mindset away from all that and force you to look at the core of the show, which is this beautiful love story set against the backdrop of the Vietnam war... ok... that's my two cents... GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!
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