Miss Saigon (UK Touring)

Every now and then you get that feeling of déjà vu with a show that it takes a bit of time to put your finger on and having not done a lot of research on Miss Saigon there was something recognisable that I just couldn't work out, then I saw the names Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg.

There are some obvious parallels between Miss Saigon and Les Miserables, both are epic pieces of musical theatre but, equally there is that feeling that there is more to it than that and less obvious connections. Let's take a brief moment to compare some characters and see if there is any similarities, perhaps The Engineer and Monsieur Thénardier or Kim and Éponine, I would challenge anybody not to see the connection.

I guess if you find a winning formula and can adapt it to multiple storylines, why wouldn't you and there is no doubting the success of both musicals.

Having seen both a performance at Leicester Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome I was lucky enough to see the main principals and the alternates in some of the roles. Red Concepción and Christian Rey Marbella are both commanding as The Engineer a role that needs both a touch of the brazen showman and a hidden vulnerability when trying every angle to ultimately save his skin at all costs.

Sooha Kim and Joreen Bautista have both perfected a similar dual characterisation, scared and impressionable in the early stages followed by strong and scarred by life in the later portions of the show, it's also fair to say that both have voices as smooth as silk.

Ashley Gilmour as Chris manages to portray the toll of the Vietnam War, on many if not all of the military, perfectly and Zoë Doano as Ellen his wife, who's world is shattered by the revelations of his relationship with Kim, must have those many women who lived through similar situations (although perhaps not quite to the same level) cheering for joy with her sheer emotion.

I am always impressed when a production can stir emotions as that can be difficult to do effectively with such a harrowing subject, however this is achieved in abundance, particularly during the song 'Bui-Doi' (performed wonderfully by Ryan O'Gorman as John) when many a tissue became a need for the audience.

Miss Saigon continues to tour until 15th September 2018 and it really is one not to miss.

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