Curve Theatre, Leicester
★★★★★
The critically acclaimed production of the Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical Miss Saigon is embarking on its huge UK Tour, taking the success it had whilst being in London's West End through to venues across the country until 2018. With producer Cameron Mackintosh at the very heart of bringing this epic production to the stage with a company of 60 in tow, they bring to life a timeless love story surrounding by history. Having not particularly enjoyed my first encounter with this musical when I saw it whilst it was in London, mostly due to lack of sound, I was thrilled to see how such a big production would be transferred into Leicester's Curve Theatre.
The story begins in the last days of the Vietnam War, a 17 a year old girl (Kim) is thrust into the unknown, forced to work in a Saigon bar full of dancers and American soldiers. The bar is ran by a prominent character known to many as the Engineer. In the bar she meets and falls in love with an American GI called Chris, however their love is torn apart by the fall of Saigon and the love feels like it's no more exists. Kim spends 3 years on a journey of survival to find her way back into the arms of Chris, whose life has moved on from Saigon, he has a new wife on his arm and no idea that he has fathered Kim's son. The themes that are embedded within the set design are as big emotionally as they are physically present. The themes of love, loyalty and duty are so prominent through the production and presented well.
The musical production is a complete triumph from start to finish with the entire set and set-pieces helping to take centre stage in setting the various different scenes and atmospheres that are sometimes only lit up by a few stage lights. There is a real great play with contrast between the sleazy glitz of Saigon's bars and clubs to the American embassy. One of the most significant moments for me within the musical was the scene where the Americans are seen to be evacuated in a chaotic manner from the embassy, with a real lack of organisation, it's very frantic and tense. All of the sudden we hear the thundering, overwhelming sound of an oncoming helicopter and it's soon obvious to the audience that the locals are swarming towards it, helpless and desperate to not be left behind. There was real artistic masterpiece and definite 'wow' factor as a helicopter comes to the forefront of the stage, something I hadn't expected would be recreated on the UK Tour. Often I feel like UK Tour are a more condensed version of a London smash hit but Cameron Mackintosh and his creative team hit the nail on the head with this production and it was flawless!
This sounds like an interesting production! There isn't a whole lot of representation for asian women as leading roles in the media, but maybe there is hope for theater.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's a really good production that represents the asian women in theatre, really positive too! :) There is room for them definitely though if you ask me xx
DeleteI would love to see this, it looks like a great production! I love musicals and my mom would always listen to different ones when I was small.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a lovely memory with your mum, it's such a great production that's for sure! :) xx
DeleteThis sounds like a beautiful show, and has quite the story! I'd love to see it if they tour North America. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteThat would be amazing if they did, definitely keep your eyes pealed for it! :D xx
DeleteHonestly the most beautiful and amazing show I have ever seen ... I laughed I cried and a standing ovation was well deserved.
ReplyDeleteIt was gorgeous wasn't it? Yeah definitely, it's definitely deserved all the love it has! x
DeleteI have seen this only on DVD but play it often as I adore the music & love the play. I am so excited to have tickets booked for later this year & can't wait.Meanwhile I have Les Mis coming up this Wednesday another first for me apart form the dvd's I have.
ReplyDeleteThe DVD is so good of the production, I definitely my own copy! Oh Les Mis is a emotional performance but incredible all the same, enjoy! xx
DeleteThis looks so interesting! I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThis show is amazing. I've just booked to see it again on Manchester.
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