Anyone into Miss Saigon?

[canadianguy2]

Hello,

The purpose of this message is to (hopefully) meet more people interested in Miss Saigon - among my friends who are into theatre, there seems to be a lot of negativity for this show, and I can't figure out why (besides the obvious socio-political implications for some) - and so I am turning to this community.

I've been into the show for a variety of reasons - partially personal ones (my late father was a Vietnam War veteran), but also because I genuinely enjoy the music. I also find the story personally compelling. I was lucky enough to play in the orchestra as a horn player when the show came to Calgary last year and would be glad to share more about this with anyone interested.

Does anyone else feel that this show is very special? If so, I'd like to hear from you. I have a lot of cool souvenirs from the show - including lots of the "cut" music and audios from way back in the late 80s. I am also looking for audio of the show - especially anything from the 1993 Toronto production.

Hope to hear from someone via email,

Joseph
[e-mail]

[LizzieCurry]

I used to be way, way into it. I saw it for the first time in 1995 in Los Angeles. And I probably have the same demos you do. But the more I listen to it (and the few times I've seen it in recent years) I get more and more uncomfortable. I'm Asian American -- but I can't even really pinpoint why the show makes me that uncomfortable.

[bobbybaby85]

^ It might be the lack of any attempt to write in the style of the time period (Vietnam war era) or culturally... none of the music in Vietnam sounds Vietnamese.

[SporkGoddess]

It's my favorite musical.

[Dave19]

Mine too.

I think it's the best show ever written.
The music is divine and the story is epic.

[Bettyboy72]

It was one of the first "mega" musicals I saw in Toronto and I loved it. I obsessed over it in fact. I loved the score and listened to it night and day. Several songs can still bring me to tears.

I've distanced myself from the show over the years and after having seen a recent tour a few years back I have a lot of problems with the history and depictions of Asians. I'm much more culturally aware than I was as a young man. Some of the characterizations were offensive. I still enjoy the musical though, but I have problems with it.

[PitPro2004]

I thoroughly enjoyed this show, thought the music was lovely. Not a huge fan, but the orchestrations were amazing, especially for percussion. :)

[brian.klimowski]

Love the show. I actually have an audition for a local production of it in two weeks.

[jsg03jd]

I love "Miss Saigon." It's my favorite of the big pop operas that came out from the West End in the mid to late 80's.

[carolinaguy]

It's certainly my favorite of the pop operas that came out in the late '80s/early '90s. I saw it for the first time in New York the day before the Tonys and Salonga, Price, and Battle were all on fire. I found Callaway and Falk to be somewhat problematic, though. I saw it later with a different Ellen and Jarrod Emick on as Chris and it worked better.

I love the score and the story. It's one of the great "good old-fashioned" tearjerkers and it has some wonderful showcase parts.

[Mister Matt]

I loved the show. I think the music is mostly gorgeous, though I'm not a fan of the lyrics. Les Miserables is still my favorite musical, but I thought Miss Saigon was a worthy follow-up from Boublil and Schoenberg. I also love the original Martin Guerre, but can't stand the revised version.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

It's my favorite show too. It's not the best score in the world, but I just love it. The Music Circus production this past summer was brilliant. Saigon must have a good cast...and Ma-Anne and Eric were fantastic.

[pinoyidol2006]

It was the musical that made me into a Broadway fan. Unfortunately, I hardly listen to it anymore.

[EponineAmneris]

I am a HUGE fan of this amazing show

[theatrepaul]

Miss Saigon is one of my all time favourite musicals. The story is so strong and told beautifully though an incredible score. I was lucky enough to see the original London cast when the show first opened and eventually saw the show more than 10 times.

[NDR]

Absolutely love Miss Saigon. I even have a tattoo of the helicopter/face from the logo. I love all the dialogue lately about changes (new song for Ellen) and old changes (Her or Me to Now That I've Seen Her) etc.

I can't wait until it is finally revived on Broadway. I assume it won't be for a while yet, but I will certainly be there if/when it is.

I collect MIss Saigon "stuff" as well. I wish I could get ahold of one of the masks worn in the show or other costume pieces (straw hat), or even one of the light up signs. Or that cadillac - lol.

I have recordings from London, Broadway, Japan, Holland and Germany. Any more that folks would like to share?

[nealb1]

I love "Miss Saigon" and saw the original Broadway cast twice in May of 1991, right before The Tonys.

I first heard about the show when I read a review of it in "Time" magazine as it had just opened in London - Sept of 1989. I got the cast recording on cassette (remember those),and couldn't stop listening to it. I was completely capivated by the show. When tickets went on sale for the Broadway production, I mailed in my order, as they were doing mail orders first, then you could get your tickets through Telecharge before the box office opened. Then the show was cancelled, but ultimately the show went on. I had my tickets for over a year before I saw it.

CD's were just coming out back then and a friend of mine bought the cast album on cd, and he had a few extra songs that my cassette version didn't have. Who knew?

By the time I saw the show, I loved it - LOVED IT! It was so moving and so timeless and so tragic. It completely exceeded my expectations.

A very dear friend of mine, who has since passed away, saw the very first preview of "Miss Saigon" in London. He actually had a ticket to the 2nd preview of the show, but the 1st preview was cancelled for tech issues. So, he was in the audience on that first night.

[shuikika]

Wow, came across this post by accident and I am flooded with great memories...!! I was an intern for Cameron Macintosh's press office during the height of Miss Saigon and it was a blast.

I was obsessed with this show!! As an Asian-American, I saw Miss Saigon as a great open door for Asian-American performers and not too much on the socio-political level. My obsession lead to an international Miss Saigon fan magazine called "Sun And Moon" and had writers all around the world contributing to the fanzine.

It was also a privilege working with the three 'Kim's (Leila, Rona, Joan) on a personal publicity level after my stint at CM (Lea had already left the show by the time I became an intern - but when she came for a Limited Engagement @ Les Mis, I worked with her on personal publicity for various NY appearances).

Have lots of backstage insights and stories, unique souvenirs that I consider all a treasure. Somewhere in my storage is an original 2-piece street poster that used to be advertised around the Great White Way. It is about 5 feet across and about 11 feet long. Wish I had a wall space for it!

Thanks for that nostalgic flight back to 'Saigon'! :)

[ClapYo'Hands]

"It might be the lack of any attempt to write in the style of the time period (Vietnam war era) or culturally... none of the music in Vietnam sounds Vietnamese."

I don't understand how anyone can listen to that overture or Dju Vui Vai (two examples) and still say that...

[CarlosAlberto]

I love, love, love this show. I remember keeping up with all the news of it's move from London to New York and all the controversy of bringing both Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga over to reprise their roles.

I wore out the Original London Cast Recording. The score is so beautiful. I still remember being overwhelmed by it when I finally got the chance to see it.

[Matt2]

I've never seen the show live, but I treasure my cast recording. The music is gorgeous-- in fact I'm listening to "Please" right now, just wow!

[SporkGoddess]

Boubil and Schonberg supposedly incorporated a lot of the music they heard in Vietnam into the score.

[ChildrenwillListen]

I really want to see this show at least once. Really Badly.

[Shubert Alley Cat]

I saw the original "Martin Guerre" in London in 1997, and it was one of the most thrilling theatrical experiences ever. The revised show, however, is a big disappointment.

[Shubert Alley Cat]

"Please" is absolutely gorgeous - my favorite song in the score!

[Justin D]

I love it also, sadly only got to see it twice, first in London (was not too great, sat at the back of the stalls behind a pillar, and the cast at that time were not very good. Second time was on Broadway close to the end, sat at the back of the balcony (well where they pull that curtain) and the cast and show then was excellent, so much more alive than when I saw it in London. I also love the set design, how the scenery moves on and off to effortless, the use of the blinds at the back and sides and the combination of heavy realistic set pieces with the abstracted, mesh scrims of newspaper print that fly in. John Napier is the bomb!