Miss Saigon - Theatre Royal / Prince Edward / UK Tour

The DVD comes with the Gala Finale as a special feature on the actual film disk. There is a 2nd disk that is The Heat Is Back On, the re-making of Miss Saigon documentary! 😊

Downloaded this during the week. It's SO good.
I haven't seen the show live in 10 years. I had forgotten how amazing it is.

I have watched the Blu ray 4 times now and I can't get enough of it.
There are just so many beautiful moments and highlights to look forward to that it's worth watching over and over again.

The thing that makes it work so well is the perfect combination of acting and singing. In for example the Les Miserables film, the singing is constantly separated from the acting, like speaking 4 words and use a long vibrato on the 5th, combined with inadequate voices. This constant switching (even in 1 sentence or even word) makes the film completely unwatchable for me. Embarrassing even.

In this Miss Saigon film, there is no switching. The acting is supported by the notes as they are combined, which elevates every scene. And it works extremely well on screen. Real singing, real acting. A fusion of both things. Which is absolutely necessary because it is sung-through and therefore important that the audience stays connected and doesn't have to switch all the time. Some notes work as actors themselves, which is amazing. It makes it more filmic, and feel more raw, real and connected.

There are 2 or 3 moments where Alistair Brammer almost messes this up, by speaking a few words and then hold the last syllable for too long with a vibrato, for example after Bui Doi, "is this story for reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal", just like Hugh Jackman did in the les Mis film. Disconnected. Or right before "Last night of the world", "And take you out with meeeeeeeeeeee", which should have been more beautiful and intimate. Also his first "why goooooood" should have been more connected, more sung to give the note actual connection/feeling. Some strange choices that should have been short, but at least Alistair makes up for it in most other scenes like the brilliant breakdown in act 2.

My only other complaint is that Eva's acting seems a bit off in the first 30 minutes where she has to play timid and later very happy with Chris. She just looks a bit bland/blanco.I think this side of Kim is very important to give the role sympathy. Also in act 2 during "too much for one heart" she just looked kind of numb/bored. When I saw Tanya Manalang in the role, in this scene she was about to burst into tears of happiness and John really had to hush her, which made me cry, while Eva almost didn't do anything to interrupt him. One of the last scenes where she sings to the Engineer about paper dragons, Tanya was in a sort of trance, and had a tear streaming down her cheek, while Eva just walked by and sang quite expression-less like she was singing about her grocery list.

BUT in some other scenes, after "I still believe", like "back in town" and "Thuy's death" she is suddenly very strong. In fact, I think "Thuy's death" and the moments leading up to it, with the sound, the singing, the camerawork, the chorus, the tension, is one of the best scenes on film ever.

The opening, the heat is on, movie in my mind, i'd give my life for you, the morning of the dragon, bui doi, confrontation, nightmare, american dream, finale, there are so many brilliant moments.

I would still like to see a future Hollywood film version. I think they can do so much more with actual locations, elaborate cinematography, pre-recorded stuff as a voice over for certain scenes. I think Jeremy Jordan and Tanya Manalang would make a perfect couple in this, as they both have a way of acting through notes with very natural choices.

But in the meantime, I'm glad we have this wonderful document of the stage show on screen. I will definitely watch it every now and then.

I like his acting and his voice. And he uses it well most of the time and combines the acting with the singing, it's just 3 occasions where he made an unnatural choice which took me out of it.

Has anyone heard about dates for Manchester or Bristol for this!?
Or anywhere ATG come to think of it....

Further dates to be announced...Manchester is definitely on the list, I think Bristol is too but don't quote me on it. Plymouth not sure.

Oh i didn't rate Ashley Gilmour in Hairspray at all. But Sooha Kim ws great when i saw the show. Though i have seen her so was hoping for someone else honestly.

Btw, the tour cast has been announced. Haha. Maybe should have put that first.


www.whatsonstage.com/leicester-theatre/news/miss-saigon-initial-casting-uk-tour_43356.html

Love Zoe, I'm sure she'll be a great Ellen. Was just thinking this morning about what she could do next.

Very happy about Sooha getting cast as Kim, I saw her in London and much preferred her to Tanya who alternated the role!

A few names in that cast I recognise, a shame I need to wait until next year to see it

I enjoyed Sooha's performance. I thought her acting was best out of the four Kim's I saw. Isn't she currently in Miss Saigon in Japan?

Zoe though, I thought was dull as a doorknob in Les Mis. Blah.

Sooha was my favourite Kim, her casting has made me even more excited for this tour!