A timeless take on a classic story, the epic musical blockbuster Miss Saigon is back in Singapore at Sands Theatre till 29 September 2024.
Weekender had high hopes for this beautifully tragic and deeply moving musical production, and after watching it, we can say that it hit close to home.
Highly Melodic Music Style with Both Western and Asian Influences
Needless to say, musicality is crucial in any musical. We anticipated Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon with high expectations—and rightly so. A recipient of 70 major theatre awards, including two Olivier Awards, three Tony Awards, and four Drama Desk Awards, Miss Saigon is often hailed as one of the greatest musicals ever. Created by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the minds behind Les Misérables, Miss Saigon has been seen by 38 million people and performed in 15 languages across 32 countries and 350 cities.
In addition to its operatic quality and emotionally driven melodies, the musical blends Asian-inspired motifs and instruments with the Western musical theatre tradition. If you listen a bit more closely, you may be able to identify influences from Vietnamese music and instruments subtly woven into the orchestral arrangements.
We also found that the cast’s voices suited their roles perfectly. Their vocal and facial expressions were mostly spot-on in tender moments or intense scenes. However, some lines were difficult to make out during the busier, more chaotic scenes, and we believe we could have better appreciated the meaning of those moments if the lyrics had been clearer.
Complex Characters Against the Tumultuous Backdrop of the Vietnam War
Going into Miss Saigon with the general knowledge that Puccini’s Madame Butterfly inspired it, we anticipated a tragic tale of an Asian female protagonist abandoned by the white man she loved. However, we soon realised that Miss Saigon adds complexity to this narrative.
Kim (played by Abigail Adriano), the story’s female lead, despite embodying purity and innocence, is thrust into sex work at the beginning of the show due to being orphaned by the war. Her intense and short-lived romance with Chris (played by Nigel Huckle), an American G.I., feels rash yet relatable. It soon became clear that they were not just mutually attracted but also a source of refuge and a beacon of hope for each other during such dark times. Though some might view it unfavourably, Chris’s later “betrayal” of their relationship is also given understandable justifications. Even the supporting characters are portrayed with depth, making them worth empathising with.
The Engineer, portrayed by Seann Miley Moore, was an unexpected standout in the musical. (Spoiler alert: He’s actually more of a pimp.) However, this character is easily one of the most entertaining we have seen in a long time, thanks to the actor’s stellar performance and diva-like presence.
Despite the multiple juxtapositions of East versus West in its narrative, Miss Saigon’s message is far from a simplistic “West good, East bad” perspective or vice versa. Instead, the musical gave us many things to explore and reflect upon, from modern Vietnamese history to love and freedom, loss and sacrifice, and the ways in which these elements are interwoven.
Moods Enhanced by Cinematic Stage Effects
In some of the musicals we have previously watched, the audience sometimes had to rely on their imagination to fully visualise the scene, given the limitations of live theatre. However, this wasn’t the case with Miss Saigon, where the stage effects delivered a movie-like directness that greatly enhanced the storytelling. This created an immersive experience, drawing the audience into the emotional journey as the moods shifted with each scene. We were particularly impressed by the seamless scene transitions and how the stage set-up amplified the emotions conveyed. A special mention goes to the gut-wrenching helicopter scene, which utterly blew us away.
Different People, Different Takeaways
It is worth noting that even though Miss Saigon is award-winning and widely celebrated, it has also faced criticism on various fronts. Some have pointed out that its portrayal of Asians reinforces harmful stereotypes. Others have critiqued that it seems to promote a Western saviour complex and a colonial mindset, all while lacking historical accuracy and authentic Vietnamese representation. Although the scenes featuring bar girls (and boys) dancing provocatively are not overtly vulgar, they might still be unsettling for some, as they can be seen as contributing to the sexualisation and objectification of Asian women. Compared to other musicals, we feel that Miss Saigon requires a higher level of maturity and open-mindedness to fully appreciate the story and engage with its characters’ perspectives.
Despite these controversies, Miss Saigon remains a musical worth watching—perhaps more than once. Tickets are available here.
Please note that the show rating is Advisory 16 (Mature Content and Coarse Language). The recommended age is 13 and above. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 13, and there will be no admission for children under 5.
ADVERTISEMENTS