Miss Saigon
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Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr.. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London on 20 September 1989, closing after 4264 performances on 30 October 1999. On 11 April 1991, it opened at The Broadway Theatre in New York, and closed on 28 January 2001 after 4092 performances"Internet Broadway Database" http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4639.
Miss Saigon was part of the major European influence on Broadway in the 1980s, along with the musicals Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables.
Popularity
Since opening, Miss Saigon was successfully produced in many cities around the world including Stuttgart and Toronto, where new theatres were designed specifically to house the show. In December 1994 the London production became the Theatre Royal's (Drury Lane) longest running musical, eclipsing the record set by My Fair Lady.After a tour of the six largest venues in the British Isles and Ireland, the production was redesigned so that it could be accommodated in smaller theatres. This 'new' tour started in July 2004.
The musical was massively hyped as the best musical of 1991, both critically and commericially. It broke several Broadway records, including a record advance-ticket sales at $24 million, highest priced ticket at $100, and repaying investors in less than 39 weeks.[link] The show led the 1991 Tony Award nominations of the year with 10 nominations. Predicted to be the clear winner for Best Musical, the show was upset by American musical, The Will Rogers Follies for nearly every major award. Though Lea Salonga won a Tony Award for "Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical", Jonathan Pryce won for "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical" and Hinton Battle won for "Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical," the night is often considered one of the biggest upsets in musical history. Ironically, Will Rogers Follies closed after only 900 performances (a little over two years) whereas Miss Saigon went on to become one of the longest running musicals, running over 10 years on Broadway.
Miss Saigon is currently in national and regional productions across the United States and many other countries. The current UK National tour opened at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in August 2004, and continues to tour the country into early 2006. The tour has been the most successful of recent times, with venues including Oxford, Milton Keynes, Woking, Norwich, Nottingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Bradford, Belfast, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Liverpool and Sunderland.
Notability Miss Saigon was brought back in 2006 with the world High school Premiere at St. Joseph Regional in Montvale New Jersey. Working with MTI (Musical Theater International) they gained the rights to do the pilot, and to serve as examples to see if this show was able to be possibly done by a high school. Under the direction of director John Asselta and musical director Neil Berg it became a massive success. The very first high schools to perform this musical on their own are Pittsford Mendon and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; the musical serves as both schools' spring productions. University High School of Irvine, California will become the third high school to perform Miss Saigon, and has already received outstanding reviews.
Plot summary
Miss Saigon is a 'modern' adaptation of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." The setting is often said to be the Vietnam War, but in actuality the events centers more on post-war Vietnam and Thailand. The story takes place in two stages during 1975 and 1978, and as such the war is only shown in its very final stages.
The show was inspired by a photograph inadvertently found by Schönberg in a magazine of a Vietnamese mother leaving her child at a departure gate at Tan Son Nhat Airport to board a plane for the United States of America where her father, an ex-GI, would be in a position to provide a much better life.
The plot is based on this real-life episode, and tells the story of Chris an American Marine serving as an Embassy guard in Saigon on the eve of the city's fall to the Communist forces in May 1975. He meets Kim, a young Vietnamese woman orphaned by the war and forced to work in a Saigon night club/brothel. The two have a reluctant sexual encounter, but end up falling in love despite their initial apprehension. Separated from Kim in the chaos of the American evacuation, Chris is forced to return to the United States and during the next three years the two struggle to deal with the emotional aftermath of their affair.
Simultaneously the plot follows the adventures of Tran, a Vietnamese pimp and Kim's boss who is referred to as the Engineer. Tran dreams of moving to the United States and living the American dream, but after the war ends, his ambitions are crushed under Vietnam's new Communist government. He, Kim and her child (by Chris) eventually escape as "boat people" to Thailand where to survive they are forced into their former pimp/prostitute roles.
Chris, now married to an American woman, learns of Kim's survival through his former sergeant who is involved in organising relief work amongst the mixed blood children left behind in Vietnam by their American fathers. Reunited briefly in Bangkok Kim finds that her lover now has another wife and (like Madam Butterfly in similar circumstances) she kills herself to ensure a new life for her infant son.
While the scenario is a grim one, the music and surging choruses give "Miss Saigon" a vitality and emotional depth that accounts for the show's enduring popularity. Highlights include the evacuation of the last Americans in Saigon from the Embassy roof by helicopter while a crowd of abandoned Vietnamese scream their dispair, the victory parade of the new communist regime and the frenzied night club scene on the edge of defeat.
In-depth synopsis
Act 1
The story begins in May 1975 in a Vietnamese club, a few days before the fall of Saigon. It is Kim's first day as a prostitute, and she is greeted by the Engineer, the French-Vietnamese pimp who owns the club. Backstage, all the girls get ready for the night's show and jeer at Kim's naivette as they help her get dressed. ("Overture").
The show starts at the club, and the American Marines and Vietnamese prostitutes party together ("The Heat is on in Saigon"). The Marines know that they are losing the war and are out to have one last fling before leaving Vietnam. Here, we are introduced to Chris, a young disenchanted Marine disgusted with the empty club scene, and his army friend John. The girls flaunt themselves at the Marines, competing for the title of "Miss Saigon." The winner will be raffled off to a Marine, and in the prostitutes' minds, taken away to America and a better life. Each prostitute takes a turn raunchily trying to impress the marines, and when Kim takes her turn, her innocence and inexperience catches Chris's eye. Gigi, the sexiest dancer, wins the crown for the evening and begs the marine who won the raffle to take her back to America. He refuses and gets annoyed at her cajoling. The scene freezes as all of the prostitutes reflect upon their dreams of men who will be good to them, and a better life in America ("Movie in my Mind"). John, noticing Chris' infatuation with Kim, talks to the Engineer and buys the virgin Kim and Chris a room for the night ("The Transaction"). Kim is reluctant and shy in being a prostitute for the first time, but introduces herself to Chris, and they slowdance to a tune on a solo saxophone. Suddenly, Chris brusquely shoves money at her and tells her she doesn't belong in the nightclub and to leave, but the Engineer interferes thinking that Chris doesn't like Kim. Chris affirms that he likes her, so Kim silently leads him to her room ("The Dance").
In the middle of the night, Chris is awake watching Kim sleep. Chris has hated everything in Vietnam, but is completely enchanted with Kim, and asks God why he had to find someone that he would miss right before leaving ("Why God Why?"). When Kim wakes up, Chris tries to give her money but she refuses, telling him that it is her first time sleeping with a man ("This Money's Yours"). Chris doesn't believe her, and asks more about her. Kim tells him the story of how her parents died. Touched, Chris tells her that she doesn't need to sell herself at the club anymore, because he wants her to stay with him. The two fall madly in love with each other ("Sun and Moon"). Chris calls John ecstatically on the telephone telling him that he is taking leave to spend time with Kim. John tells him he is crazy and will get himself killed because the VietCong are closing in on Saigon and America is in the process of sending people home and retreating before Saigon is captured. Chris begs John to cover for him for a day, and John reluctantly agrees. ("The Telephone Song"). Chris meets up with the Engineer for a pre-arranged trade for Kim, but the Engineer tries to weasel an America visa into the deal, as many Vietnamese are trying to escape before the Vietcong arrive. Chris refuses, and at gunpoint the Engineer agrees to the original arrangement for Kim ("The Deal").
Kim and the bargirls hold a wedding ceremony for Chris and Kim ("Dju Vui Vai"). During the celebration, Thuy, Kim's cousin and husband by arranged marriage, barges in to rescue her and take her home, and is extremely hurt and angered to find her marrying herself to another man ("Thuy's Arrival"). Chris declares "This girl is mine!" and the two men pull out guns and confront each other over Kim. Kim sides with Chris telling Thuy that their arranged marriage as children is now null because her parents who promised her to him are dead. Thuy is furious and curses them all declaring that all Americans and prostitutes will be gone or dead in the near future, before storming out. Kim is devastated and believes Chris will leave her. Chris says that he will leave Vietnam, but that he is going to take Kim with him. Chris and Kim cling to each other in a dance to a cheesy club song about the "last night of the world," but the song holds extra weight because for the the two of them, it really is the last night of the world ("Last Night of the World").
The story moves forward three years to 1978, Saigon (now renamed Ho Chi Minh City), where a street festival is taking place celebrating the third anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam and the defeat of the Americans ("Morning of the Dragon"). Thuy, who is now a commissar in the new government, ordered his soldiers to find the Engineer. We discover that the Engineer is still alive, and is still his corrupt and opportunistic self despite being 're-educated' by the new communist regime. Thuy orders the Engineer to find Kim, who disappeared when the Communists shut down the bars, and bring her back to him.
Kim has been left behind by Chris, and has been living in hiding in an impoverished area. She is still completely in love with Chris and fiercely believes that he will come back to Vietnam to rescue her. At the same time, we see Chris sleeping in bed with his new American wife, Ellen. Ellen deeply loves Chris, but longs to know about the past that haunts him, as he suddenly sits up in bed shouting Kim's name. Ellen comforts him back to sleep, and the two women both swear their devotion to Chris at opposite ends of the earth ("I Still Believe").
The Engineer locates Kim and brings Thuy to her. Thuy explains that he has searched three years for her, and asks her to come with him and become his wife. She refuses, staying devoted to Chris despite his absence. Kim shocks Thuy by introducing him to Tam, her three year old son fathered by Chris. Infuriated and very upset, Thuy calls Kim a traitor and Tam an enemy turning Kim away from him, and tries to kill Tam with a knife. Kim pulls out Chris's gun and is forced to shoot Thuy to protect Tam. Thuy dies, and Kim cries cradling his body. Kim flees with Tam as the street parade continues outside ("You Will Not Touch Him").
Kim runs to the Engineer and tells him what she has done ("If You Want to Die in Bed", "Kim & Engineer"). The Engineer wants nothing to do with it and refuses to help her until she reveals that Chris is Tam's father. Enchanted, the Engineer is immediately allured by the boy whom he views as a literal passport to the United States. He tells Kim that from now on, he is the boy's uncle, and that he will take them with him to Bangkok, Thailand. Kim swears to Tam that she would sacrifice herself to see him have a better life, and the three set out onto a ship with other suffering refugees ("I'd Give My Life for You").
Act 2
1978, Atlanta, Georgia. John now works for an aid organisation whose mission is to connect Bui-Doi, children conceived during the Vietnam War and left in Vietnam, with their American fathers. In Vietnam, Bui-Doi are subject to prejudice, easily identifiable by their Eurasian faces. John is speaking at a conference, in which he and other veterans plead with their audience to do their obligation as fathers to such children and give aid ("Bui Doi"). After his presentation which Chris attended, John pulls Chris aside saying he has important news to tell. John tells Chris that Kim is still alive, which Chris is relieved to hear after years of having nightmares of her dying. However, John also tells Chris about Tam, which is less joyous news as it complicates Chris's current situation since Ellen doesn't know about Kim. John urges Chris to go to Bangkok with Ellen to meet with Kim, and Chris resolves to finally tell Ellen about Kim before leaving ("The Revelation").
1978, Bangkok. The Engineer has been reduced to working as a hustler enticing tourists to enter sleazy clubs, where Kim works as a dancer ("What a Waste"). Chris, Ellen and John have all traveled to Bangkok in search of Kim. John walks into the club, and is reunited with Kim and the Engineer. Kim is stunned to see John and is thrilled to hear that Chris is here in Bangkok. John attempts to gently break it to Kim that Chris remarried, but before he can get the truth out, Kim interrupts saying that she already knows the story and to take her to America with Chris. John marvels at Kim's absolute faith in Chris and doesn't have the heart to break the devastating news to her. He promises to bring Chris to her ("Please").
While John goes to bring Chris to Kim, the Engineer tells Kim to go find Chris herself because he doesn't trust that Chris will really come. ("Chris is Here"). As Kim is getting ready to find Chris, she is haunted by the ghost of Thuy. Thuy taunts Kim claiming that Chris will betray her like he did the night Saigon fell. Kim suffers an intense, horrible flashback to that night ("Kim's Nightmare").
1975, Saigon. Chris and Kim have made plans to escape Vietnam together as the Vietcong approach and Saigon becomes increasingly chaotic. Chris is called to work at the embassy and Kim wants to go with him, but he leaves his gun with her and tells her to pack first, reassuring her that they have plenty of time before they have to leave. Almost immediately after Chris enters the embassy, the gates are closed. Orders from Washington are for a total and complete evacuation of the remaining Americans. The Ambassador orders that no more Vietnamese are allowed into the Embassy. Aware of the situation, Kim reaches the gates of the Embassy, but she is only one of an entire mob of terrified Vietnamese trying to bribe, cajole, and climb their way in. Meanwhile, Chris unsuccessfully tries to call Kim at her room, and is about to resort to going out into the crowd to look for her. The Americans refuse to let Chris out and John is eventually forced to punch Chris in the face to stop him from leaving. Chris gets into the last helicopter leaving Saigon as Kim watches from behind the gate. Devastated, Kim pledges her love to Chris 'against all odds'. The helicopter takes off with Chris screaming Kim's name.
1978, Bangkok. Kim finds herself back in her room after her flashback, and joyfully dresses herself in the her old wedding clothes in preparation to meet Chris ("Sun and Moon: Reprise"). Kim goes to Chris's hotel room, but only finds a woman there when she enters; it is Ellen. Ellen is mortified when she realizes that the woman is Kim, and is forced to be the first to tell Kim that she is now Chris's wife. Kim is completely shocked and heartbroken, and refuses to believe Ellen's assertion. Her dreams for Tam's new life in America are also shattered as Ellen refuses to take Tam back with her, wishing instead to help out financially from a distance. Infuriated and in denial, Kim demands that Chris must come tell her these things to her face ("Room 317"). Ellen is also very upset after the confrontation and does not know how to handle the situation. She thought that Kim was just a short meaningless fling, but now realizes that Chris lied to her. She feels bad for Kim, but expresses that she loves Chris and will fight to keep him regardless ("Now That I've Seen Her"). Chris returns to the room with John after unsuccessfully looking for Kim, and is horrified when Ellen tells him of her encounter with Kim. Ellen accuses Chris of not telling her the truth and doubts his love for her; she issues the ultimatum - Kim or her. Chris reassures Ellen that he loves her and tearfully tells her of his experience in Vietnam. They pledge their love for each other, and coldly decide to leave Tam and Kim in Bangkok and offer them monetary support from America, patronizingly rationalizing that Kim "is smart, she'll understand." ("The Confrontation"). The Engineer dreams extravagently of his new life in America and is excited to finally be going. He, Chris, John, and Ellen all go to Kim's room to find her ("The American Dream").
In her room, Kim tells Tam that he should be happy because he now has a father. She tells Tam not to forget her, and that she will be watching over him. Seeing Chris, Ellen, John and the Engineer approaching from a distance, she says goodbye to Tam and kisses him on the forehead. She goes behind a curtain and shoots herself. Chris, Ellen, the Engineer, and John all rush into the room at the sound of the gunshot and find Kim mortally wounded on the floor. Chris runs to Kim and holds her in his arms. He heartbrokenly asks Kim why she has shot herself, and she explains that the gods have guided him to his son. Chris begs her not to die, but she merely asks him to hold her one last time. She echoes a phrase uttered earlier when they first fell in love: "How in one night have we come so far?" As everyone watches in horror, Kim dies in Chris's arms. Ellen kneels down and opens her arms to Tam ("Finale").
Curtain falls.
Awards
Tony Awards
Miss Saigon was nominated for, and WON the following Tony Awards in 1991. It was the favorite for Best Musical however was upset by Will Rogers Follies.- Tony Award for Best Musical
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Original Score
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Pryce) WINNER
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga) WINNER
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Hinton Battle) WINNER
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Willy Falk)
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Choreography of a Musical
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical "The Official Website of the Tony Awards," www.tonyawards.com
Other Awards
- 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Pryce) WINNER
- 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Lea Salonga) WINNER
- 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Orchestration (Willian D. Brohn) WINNER
- 1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lighting Design (David Hersey) WINNER
- 1991 Theatre World Award (Lea Salonga) WINNER
Controversy
Lea Salonga originally starred as Kim, with Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in the London production of Miss Saigon. There was a controversy when the production transferred from London to New York City when Actors' Equity Association refused to allow Jonathan Pryce, the white British actor who had played the Engineer, to recreate the role in America. As Alan Eisenberg, executive secretary of Actors' Equity explained, "The casting of a Caucasian actor made up to appear Asian is an affront to the Asian community. The casting choice is especially disturbing when the casting of an Asian actor, in the role, would be an important and significant opportunity to break the usual pattern of casting Asians in minor roles."Mervyn Rothstein, "Union Bars White in Asian Role; Broadway May Lose 'Miss Saigon'," New York Times, 8 August 1990, A1. This ruling led to criticism from many including British Equity, and caused producer Cameron Mackintosh to cancel the show despite massive advanced ticket sales. Actors' equity was concerned about casting discrimination because despite a large well-publicized international search among Asian actresses to play Kim, there was no equivalent search for Asian actors to play the major Asian male roles (namely Engineer and Thuy) in Miss Saigon. To add to the controversy, Pryce was considered by many to have "star status", a clause that allows a well-known foreign actor to recreate a role on Broadway without an American casting call. However, after pressure from Mackintosh, the general public, and many of its own members, Actors' Equity was forced to reverse its decision, and Pryce starred alongside Salonga and Willy Falk (as Chris) when the show opened on Broadway.
Miss Saigon has experienced criticism from the Asian American community for various racial issues. Originally, Pryce and Burns, white actors playing Eurasian/Asian characters, wore eye prostheses and bronzing cream to make themselves look more Asian,Behr, Edward, and Mark Steyn. The Story of Miss Saigon. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1991. which outraged some who compared this to a "minstrel show." The libretto of Miss Saigon also contains lyrics that many Asians would consider offensive, such as the Engineer's lines: "Greasy chinks make life so sleazy/ in the States I'll have a club that's four-starred" (American Dream) and "Why was I born of a race that thinks only of rice and hates entrepeneurs?" (If You Want to Die in Bed). Furthermore, Miss Saigon contains simplistic portrayals of Asians that perpetuate various stereotypes of Asian women, such as the sexually available vixen, or the submissive China Doll. Miss Saigon, like its predecessor Madame Butterfly, is also a prime example of orientalism in Western arts.
Original London cast
- Jonathan Pryce - Engineer
- Lea Salonga - Kim
- Simon Bowman - Chris
- Peter Polycarpou - John
- Claire Moore - Ellen
- Isay Alvarez - Gigi
- Keith Burns - Thuy
Footnotes
External links
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