[Quique]

http://www.civiclightopera.com/saigon.html

Anyone in SoCal planning on seeing this? It stars Jennifer Paz as Kim (she's featured in the L.A. opening night special I have uploaded to my YouTube account) and Eric Kunze as Chris.

I also read a press release that says it's a large scale production with full orchestra. I might go.

[Quique]

http://www.civiclightopera.com/news/SAIGON_EasyReader1.html

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

I'd love to see it, but I can't make it down there right now. I'm too busy. I'd love to see it as it is one of my favorite shows. If I remember correctly Jennifer Paz also played Kim when Miss Saigon was at the Pantages several years ago. If this is the same girl you are in for a treat. She was great.

[Quique]

I saw her in that production, too! It was the 2004 non-equity tour, I believe. I also saw Jennifer in the original L.A. production 3 times back in 1995, and adored her. This is one of the main reasons I want to see this production.

[mastachen]

Ah thanks for telling me about this! My sister, my mom, and I are going to watch it tonight! I just called to buy tickets.

[Quique]

Cool! Tell us all about it.

And try to list the orchestra for us, if you can. *runs away*

[Quique]

I just realized it's opening night tonight. Lucky! I was going to go tonight, but all of the orchestra A section seats were sold out, so I'll probably end up going toward the end of the run.

CLOSBC is great. I saw an amazing production of A Chorus Line there back in 1999. Their orchestra was incredible and the theatre is intimate, yet still big enough to hold large productions. I'm sure their Saigon will be nothing like the original scenically as that one cost about 15 million to stage, but I've heard their productions are always impressive. Also, the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center was completely renovated a few years ago. I can't wait to see what it looks like nowadays.

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

I saw the 1995 production. It was better than the replacement Broadway cast I saw in 1992. Isn't Jennifer getting a little old to play Kim? She's got a great voice, but Kim is an ingenue role.

[mastachen]

I just got back. Driving to Redondo Beach to and from my house near Brea takes 2 hours. So I'm exhausted. Anyways, just for Quique, the orchestra contained:

1 very noisy trumpet who had no sense of volume
1 trombone
2 horns
2 flutes
1 piccolo
1 bamboo flute
1 oboe
1 English horn
1 clarinet
1 Alto Sax
1 bassoon
1 violin
1 viola
1 cello
1 bass
3 keyboards
and too much percussions

I've always thought Miss Saigon was a poorly-written show that relied on helicopters, chevys, and a huge golden statue to mask it flaws, so I really wasn't expecting a show that I would think was good. My sister and my mom both really like the show, so I agreed to get them tickets, as a mother's day gift, hoping for good acting and singing, but apparently, that was too much to ask.

Outside of Jennifer Paz, Eric Kunze, and Misty Cotton (Ellen), the rest of the leads were mediocre to bad. Harrison White, who played John, had a really difficult time with Bui Doi, and he did not look like a marine, being a tad too overweight for the role. What bothered me the most was Kevin Bailey's performance of the Engineer. It seemed to me like he was trying too hard to copy Kevin Gray's performance from the Miss Saigon Studio Cast recording. He flubbed a couple of his lines... ("did you not get what he said? Did you not get what he said? There's a big screw loose...") and he used excessive hand motion. Everytime he said the word 'me', he would point to himself. Everytime he said 'sky' he points to the sky... and so on. Overact to the extreme.

The orchestra had a really tough time handling the score. They made many noticeable mistakes - including some cracked notes, some missed notes, not playing together, not playing in time, some instruments louder than the others when they weren't supposed to be, and not holding notes to the full count. Also, the production suffered from toomuchpercussionitis, which gave the show more of a pop beat than B&S probably ever intended. It totally killed the moods of "Last Night of the World" and "I Still Believe".


My guess is Jennifer Paz is near 40. But she's still pretty hot. lol She and Eric Kunze were the only people that were able to convincingly convey any type of emotion in their roles. My one problem with Jennifer was that she had a lot of trouble with high notes, often being overpowered by Chris or the orchestra. Misty Cotton reminded me of Ruthie Henshall... which is a good thing, I guess.

[Quique]

Wow, 2 hours?

What a pity. Sounds like a very flawed production.

What good is a full orchestra when it can't be played and mixed right? That's disappointing to know. Was the physical production and lighting design good at least?

Overall, how would you rate it? Do you recommend I go see it, or should I steer clear?

PS: Thanks for listing the orchestra.

[Quique]

[mastachen]

[Quique]

[Colonel_Pickering]

I'm going to see this production this saturday night. I'm looking very forward to it. A free ticket in the orchestra pit and a musical by the same people who did les mis.

And yes, that orchestra pit light always kills the mood, I've noticed it too many times.

I nevr knew it was based on madame butterfly.

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

[Vanessa20]

Could you explain please? I haven't read the book you're talking about, but to me the show is so obviously based on Madame Butterfly.

[Quique]

I just saw this production. Sat 5th row, center. Here's my review. Forgive the awful writing. It's late and I'm sleepy.

CAST

Kevin Bailey was miscast as the Engineer, to put it bluntly. One thing for sure...he has an excellent and very clear singing voice. Not one lyric went unheard or muffled. That was major plus here.

Unfortunately, Alex was indeed right about his acting--way, WAY over-the-top. Most of the jokes fell flat because he did not know how to deliver them other than with a grunt or a shout. The Engineer is supposed to be a likable scumbag. Here, the Engineer is just a scumbag. The L.A. Times review perfectly summed up his performance..."If Civic Light Opera regular Kevin Bailey is a little uncomfortable as the Engineer, a French-Vietnamese hustler, he at least has the old-fashioned instincts of a good ham." I did not hate his performance, but I did keep wishing he'd tone it down a bit, or at least get loud and grunty at key moments that called for that sort of acting, not constantly throughout the whole show.

Eric Kunze was vocally great as Chris, though his acting was just OK. He spent a lot of time closing his eyes as he sang and he pronounced words in odd ways that sometimes made them unintelligible. He does not look too old to play Chris. He totally looks the part.

Jennifer Paz looks EXACTLY like I remember her at the 1995 Ahmanson engagement I saw her in. This woman doesn't age, lol. Her voice sounded great, but she did sing a few lines a bit too softly and some of her high notes were slightly strained. Overall, she gave a wonderfully passionate performance.

You can't ask for a better Thuy...Bonifacio Deoso Jr. was excellent. Very passionate acting and what a strong voice!

Harrison White was not bad as John, but again, Alex was right about his Bui Doi--it's not so much that he strained, but he tried to add these odd riffs that sort of fell apart and ruined the higher notes. Other than that, he was an excellent John. Like Bailey, his voice was very clear and he delivered his lines with feeling.

Misty Cotton was great as Ellen. Very strong voice and acting.

The ensemble was probably one of the best things about this production. The group numbers were breathtakingly sung.

PRODUCTION DESIGNS

I was very surprised that the production itself was very close to the original's designs, costumes, and choreography. I thought I'd never see that version again and was pleased to get the chance to see something very similar once more. The only set piece I didn't like was the opening Saigon street set--it looked like a typical American street. It failed to capture the look and essence of Saigon. Other than that, it was all very well put together. I was pleasantly surprised to see they pulled off the original helicopter effect. While nothing will ever out-do the original production's massive, ultra-realistic looking one, this was pretty darn close. VERY impressive.

The lighting was a bit erratic. They shouldn't have tried mixing so many different colors together in the more intimate scenes. Simplicity is always best. However, they did a great job in the big, splashy numbers like the "What a Waste," "The Morning of the Dragon," and "the American Dream."

ORCHESTRA

The orchestra was not very well mixed, but I could forgive that since they had enough sense to use real musicians and instruments. Yes, there were parts where the trumpet sounded way louder than the rest of the orchestra, but I think that had more to do with the fact they only had one instead of the required two. Two of them would've harmonized together thus offsetting that shrill sound that blared through the sound system ever now and again. The strings weren't very audible half the time, but when they were, they were gorgeous. As for percussion, few scenes did seem to have too much of it, but I think that's because it is live. I recall thinking there being too much percussion when I saw it at the Ahmanson, too. Despite the sound system's unevenness, the musicians did a great job. And yes, the spotlight on the conductor was odd, lol.

Is it worth seeing? I saw yes! Overall, it an enjoyable night out at the theatre. And many scenes still gave me gooseflesh, which can't be a bad thing, hehe. If you've always wanted to see something very close to the original production, then you shouldn't miss this one.

For those of you that live really far away, I'd say it's worth it only if you're a really big fan of the show and don't mind the drawbacks I've listed, which to some, may be enough to ruin the production. Depends on the person. While it certainly isn't a perfect production, it was pretty good for me. But if you live locally, I say go for it. Especially at only $60, it's worth the price.

[Set_Buildin_Dad]

[Vanessa20]

Thanks. I haven't read that book, but I have read the story about the photo before. But I've still always thought that the show was based on Madame Butterfly. I thought that the photo of the Vietnamese mother reminded the composers of Butterfly giving up her child, and that was what inspired them to write a Vietnam War-era musical based on the opera.

[Colonel_Pickering]

I saw it last night and I was AMAZED!!! Amazed to the point where Miss Saigon might replace The phantom of the opera as my favorite musical. The voices were great and Chris's was heavenly to here.

I wonder where the got the prop helicopter and cadillac from. For a theatre like that to put on such a spectacular show, with great actors and choreography like broadway, I have a lot of respect to them.

My aunt who saw it with me said it was better than the tour she saw in los angeles.

Jennifer paz looks young enough to put on a perfect kim.
I had no problem with the orchestra or the orchestra pit light that night.

I must make my teacher see this production, I was overwhelmed on how powerful this musical was.

[Quique]