Kim and Chris
The Story
As many of you don't know, the story is base on Puccini's tragic opera, 'Madama Butterfly'. Which change the location and time period from Hapon to Vietnam in the midst of the Vietnam War, the only difference is that Kim is a bar girl whereas paruparo is just an ordinary 15 taon old Japanese girl.
Secondly, Butterfly's uncle (The Bonze) and her one-time fiance (Prince Yamadori) are combine into Thuy. It was really scary when he discovers that Kim is going to marry Chris and curses her! It was really sad that Kim shot him later on.
The Characters
I was really blown away sa pamamagitan ng the singers' performances, especially Eva Noblezada, who played Kim. She is no Lea Salonga, she is her own person and she is not trying to be like Lea. In terms of singing, and I really appreciate that! Kim comes off as a naive and innocent young Vietnamese girl. But as time goes by, she gradually came out of the shell, as a headstrong and a determine woman, as seen in the segundo half of the musical!
Alistair Brammer was an amazing Chris, I had watch several actors playing Chris on Youtube. Alistair stands out from the rest, I pag-ibig his rendition of 'Why God, Why?'. He projected Chris's frustrations in this song!
Jon Jon Briones is a cunning Engineer, like Alistair, he stands out from the other actors who play the Engineer. I salute him for that!
Unfortunately, I was not very happy with the Australian actress playing Ellen. In the song 'Maybe', she was wooden and unconvincing as Ellen. As a matter of fact, she could passed as Chris's mother!
Frankly, I have no comments on John, but on the other hand, I pag-ibig Hugh's pag-awit voice in Bui Doi. Once again, he projected the aggressiveness in the song!
Finally, Kwang-Ho Hong was the perfect Thuy, in Kim's Nightmare, his part sends chills to my spine that I'm starting to have nightmares already! I was also surprise that this is his first international performance, so congratulations Kwang-Ho.
The Songs
I absolutely fall in pag-ibig with the songs, a song that serenades me is 'Sun & Moon'. The reason for this was because it reminds us of our relationship, and I was also happy that two of my mga kaibigan sang this song 2 years nakaraan a couple of months before the 25th Anniversary was release!
I was disappointed that 'Now That I Seen Her' was change to 'Maybe', I personally think that the former is much better than the latter, because in 'Maybe, Ellen does not sound like a nice person at all. In 'Now That I Seen Her', she's clearly not a bad person at all.
The Special Effects
This play a dominant role in the musical itself, especially in Kim's Nightmare. I pag-ibig the transition of Thuy's spirit he taunts Kim, and the helicopter flying of the American Embassy.
It was also interesting to see the characters shown in 'I Still Believe' and 'The Confrontation', so that the audience will know what each characters tell us!
Why God, Why Today?
So, is Miss Saigon one of the musicals that you want to see? If I have the chance, I would pag-ibig to see it live alongside Wicked the Musical either in London or a World Tour!
3 Cheers!
