Miss Saigon at Winter Gardens Blackpool Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Cath
Few musicals match the emotional scale of Miss Saigon, and having watched Miss Saigon The Legend Reborn at Blackpool Opera House last night, it is easy to see why this story has captivated audiences for more than three decades. Set towards the end of the Vietnam War, it is an epic love story, brought to life by a combination of clever scenery, Claude-Michel’s Schonberg’s fantastic music and a cast that delivered a simply outstanding performance last night.
Based on Puccini’s famous opera, Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon The Legend Reborn is set in 1975, just as the Vietnam War is ending. Set over 3 years the story follows Kim, a 17 year old girl, who following the deaths of her family is forced to work as a prostitute in a Saigon bar/ brothel that is run by a notorious character known as The Engineer. There she meets Chris, an American GI, but their brief relationship is cruelly cut short when Saigon falls and the Americans are evacuated. Unknown to Chris, Kim is pregnant but she hopes that Chris will eventually return to find her. Three years later Kim is living in Bangkok and trying to build a life for the two of them and with the help of the Engineer, who has his own agenda, she is eventually reunited with Chris. Unfortunately Chris is now married and whilst he has never forgotten her the story ends with a devastating finale.
The Engineer (Seann Miley Moore) steals many of the scenes with his exuberant and camp, larger-than-life performance. He brings plenty of humour to the show which is a bit of light relief in a play covering plenty of darker themes. Beneath the flamboyant exterior there’s a man driven by desperation and survival and he is an absolute joy to watch. His performance of “The American Dream” in the second half was a real highlight of the show, jumping around the stage in an outrageous Stars and Stripes jumpsuit.
Dominic Hartley Harris was also brilliant as American Marine John and we loved the scene when he sang “Bui-Doi” at the start of the second act. The real star of the show though is Julianne Pundan, making her professional debut in the role of Kim. Her voice is simply amazing and she easily filled the large theatre with her powerful voice. It was a fantastic debut and she is definitely a star with an incredibly bright future ahead.
With dialogue kept to a minimum, the music and songs tell the story and the orchestra was brilliant last night performing Schonberg’s sweeping, cinematic beautifully, giving an added depth to the story.
The set makes full use of the large Opera House stage, with striking projections helping to transport the audience from war-torn Saigon to the neon-lit streets of Bangkok. The famous helicopter evacuation sequence was very well done as was the vibrant, garish glow of Bangkok’s red-light district.
Whilst it is a very tragic and heartbreaking story it has to be one of the best musicals I have seen for a very long long time and judging by the standing ovation at the end, the rest of the theatre agreed with us! If you’re in Blackpool this week you really must go and see it!
Age Guidance: 12+
Rating: 5/5
Tickets start from £25.95
Miss Saigon The Legend Reborn is at Blackpool Opera House from Tuesday 30th June to Saturday 4th July. For more information or to book tickets, visit www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 770 0593.
Winter Gardens Blackpool, Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HU