Miss Saigon is back in Singapore after more than two decades years
Winner of 70 major theatre awards including two Olivier Awards, three Tony Awards, and four Drama Desk Awards, Miss Saigon has been described as one of the greatest musicals of all time. From the creators of Les Misérables, Alain Boubliland Claude-Michel Schönberg, Miss Saigon has been seen by 38 million people and performed in 15 different languages, in over 32 countries and 350 cities.
Miss Saigon has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Richard Maltby Jr. and Alain Boublil, adapted from original French lyrics by Alain Boublil, with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler. The new production is directed by Laurence Connor with musical staging by Bob Avian and additional choreography by Geoffrey Garratt. The production design is by Matt Kinley and Totie Driver based on an original concept by Adrian Vaux; costume design by Andreane Neofitou; lighting design by Bruno Poet; projections by Luke Halls; sound design by Mick Potter; and orchestrations by William David Brohn. Music supervision is by Alfonso Casado Trigo and Guy Simpson, with associate choreography by Richard Jones, and the Asian tour production is directed by Jean-Pierre Van Der Spu.
At Marina Bay Sand Theatre
At the MBS Theatre, the entrance buzzed with excitement, adorned with beautifully decorated posters of the main cast and pulsating bass music to entertain the guests. The atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm as everyone eagerly awaited the award-winning performance.
The stage
We were greeted with an elaborate decoration on stage, setting the tone for what was to come. A spectacular full 17-piece orchestra brings to life Miss Saigon’s captivating scores including classic hits like “The Heat is On in Saigon”, “The Movie in My Mind”, “Last Night of the World” and “American Dream”.
As soon as the performance began, the music, sound effects, and stage design were so impressive that you felt as though you were part of the cast.
Ho Chi Minh Statue
Helicopter Scene
Each scene was accompanied by detailed and meticulous set designs, making every moment on stage feel incredibly realistic. From the red-light district of Ho Chi Minh City to the revolutionary marches and the dramatic retreat of American troops by helicopter, each scene was brought to life with a level of realism and grandeur that was truly breathtaking.
The Story
Miss Saigon is a poignant love story set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The musical follows Kim, a young Vietnamese woman whose life is shattered when her village is destroyed, forcing her into a life as a bar girl. In the nightclub where she works, she meets Chris, an American soldier, and they quickly fall in love. However, their relationship is soon torn apart by the chaos of the war.
As the war draws to a close and Saigon falls to the Viet Cong, Chris is forced to evacuate, leaving Kim behind, unaware that she is pregnant with his child. The story then delves into the aftermath of their separation, with Kim clinging to the hope that Chris will return for her and their son, Tam. Meanwhile, Chris, believing Kim to be lost forever, returns to America and marries another woman, Ellen.
The narrative reaches its emotional peak when Chris discovers that Kim is still alive and that they have a son. He and Ellen travel to Bangkok in search of them, leading to a heartbreaking confrontation. In the end, Kim makes the ultimate sacrifice to secure a better future for her son. How the story concludes is something you’ll have to see for yourself.
It is an emotional ride watching these 2 hours and 30 mins play.
The cast
Each actor brings their character to life with such authenticity that you can feel their emotions— every hope, every despair, and every sacrifice. It’s clear that the cast has poured their hearts and souls into their roles, making the story not just a performance, but an experience. Their portrayal of love in the face of impossible odds resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impact on everyone who watches.
As you watch Miss Saigon, you are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, feeling the intensity of Kim and Chris’s love, the sorrow of their separation, and the devastating consequences of the choices they are forced to make. It’s a story that reminds us of the enduring power of love, even in the darkest of times, and the profound sacrifices people are willing to make for those they love.
The Main Casts
Kim
Originating from Sydney, rising star Abigail Adriano began her performance training at the age of six. Her passion for singing led her to study both classical and contemporary under the guidance of Peter Bodnar. Abigail’s first theatrical experience was in Tim Minchin’s Matilda the Musical in the role of Alice. On the small screen, Abigail played the co-leading role of Rose in the Netflix/ABC television series The Unlisted. She also appeared on The Voice Kids Australia and has worked on numerous advertising campaigns. Abigail is excited to be making her professional lead role debut as Kim in the 2023 Miss Saigon Australian Tour.
Chris
Nigel Huckle is an award-winning Australian-American performer based in New York. He has performed in iconic venues across the world from the Dubai Opera in Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables, to the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro with The TEN Tenors, and hereat home in the Opera House in West Side Story with Opera Australia. He recently won a San Diego Theatre Critics’ Circle Award for his run as Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza at the California Center for the Arts, Es-condido. Other credits include Lt. Cable in South Pacific(Theatre Under the Stars, Houston),Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie(The Production Company),and Nick in the Australian premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale(Australian Contemporary Opera Company).Nigel holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory, is proudly represented by IWM and is a member of MEAA Equity.
Engineer (aka the pimp)
An embodiment of queer Asian excellence, SMM has performed at Gay prides all over the world, including the UK, Amsterdam, New York and most recently headlining at Sydney World Pride 2023. He/she/they is well known for pushing boundaries outside the heteronormative and is a beauty and fashion ambassador to international brands LuluLemon, Camilla with love, Fenty Beauty & Jean Paul Gaultier and featured in Vogue Australia for their pride campaign, Get Used To It. They won over our hearts on shows such as Eurovision 2022andXFactor UK 2015 with their standing ovation rendition of Freddy Mercury’s The Show Must go On, and performed in O2 arena London. Even Simon Cowell said “This Kids A STAR!!Theatre credits in Australia include Angel Dumott Schunard in RENT the Rock Opera 2022 directed by Sean Rennie and part of the original cast and Helpmann award winning show Sweet Charity 2013, directed by Dean Bryant at Hayes Theatre. They also recently released their disco pop anthem with St Croix My Lover shitting a #5 peak on the Aria Charts advocating LGBTQ+ love & equality. (Stream on Spotify) SMM is purring with excitement for their return to Opera Australia having last been with the company in The King & I 2014, their first tour/show after graduating WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts) in 2013.
And he is my favourite actor for the night.
About Base Entertainment
Base Entertainment Asia, part of the Tremendous Entertainment group, is a major player in live entertainment across the Asia Pacific. With its main office in Kuala Lumpur and a regional office in Singapore, the company is also the resident developer, producer, and manager of the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands. Tremendous Entertainment is one of Asia’s top entertainment groups, known for bringing global and iconic brands to the region. The company is led by Chantal Prudhomme, a veteran in the entertainment industry and the Group CEO.
Wanna watch this musical? (Only 16 years and above are allowed to watch)
Website: https://ticketing.sistic.com.sg/mbs/booking/043MS1024 (For Booking)
Location: Marina Bay Sand Theatre
Performance Dates: Now – 29 September 2024
Follow IG: https://instagram.com/baseasia (For more musical performances in the future)
Happy watching and may you find true love….
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