Miss Saigon at Mayflower Southampton Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Maddie Reynolds
Mayflower Theatre is easy to get to and has plenty of nearby parking at reasonable prices. We were seated in the Dress Circle tonight and had a great view of the stage.
Miss Saigon is a modern adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. It tells a tragic story of love, loss, and survival, moving from Japan to Vietnam during the war. It has been re-created for this tour by Michael Harrison and Cameron Mackintosh and is set for a major UK tour.
The opening number, The Heat Is On, sets the scene in Saigon in 1975, giving a real sense of what life was like for many young women in Vietnam. Kim, played by Julianne Pundan, made her debut with the outstanding and emotional song The Movie in My Mind. She was intense, yet soft and gentle in all the appropriate places. She was very well supported by Gigi, played by Ayn Ferrer, and the girls in the cast.
Both Kim and Chris, played by Jack Kane, had a connection right from the start that made you feel their love was going to be unbreakable. In each scene, the ensemble were impeccable with their acting and dance, always interacting with all members of the cast.
As the storyline grew, the lives of many Vietnamese people unfolded before our eyes, along with the role of the American soldiers at that point in time. Jack encompassed our hearts with Why God Why, delivering strong vocals throughout. The costumes helped us to feel the realness of Saigon and, at times, the sadness within the country.
The set was extremely versatile and allowed all performers to move freely around the stage. Set changes were very slick, with amazing visual effects. Although this production was titled Miss Saigon: The Legend Reborn and appeared slightly different in some areas, it actually enhanced the true image of the fall of Saigon.
Ellen, played by Emily Langham, was strong, empathetic, and caring, with great vocals in the song Maybe.
The role of the Engineer, played by Seann Miley Moore, was, of course, one of the highlights of the second act and delivered an outstanding performance in The American Dream.
As ever, Bui-Doi touched our hearts, with the role of John played by Dominic Hartley-Harris, who had a very powerful voice that blended beautifully with the ensemble throughout the song.
The very recognisable scene of the American soldiers leaving Vietnam and Chris trying to bring Kim with him was recreated in the second act. This was performed with intensity and passion from each member of the cast.
I would rate this show 5 out of 5 – it was beautiful, powerful, and I would definitely recommend getting tickets to see it.
Miss Saigon is currently on tour and is showing at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, from 28 January to 7 February. Ticket prices start from £22.50 to £86.50, with both evening and matinee shows available.
The recommended age for this show is 14+.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.mayflower.org.uk/
or by calling the box office on 02380 711811.
Tour dates can be found here:
https://miss-saigon.com/