I will go Engineer

"Why was I born of a race that thinks only of rice and hates entrepreneurs?"

[engineeringsince1998]

Goodbye, Miss Saigon!

We’ve finally reached the week that we’ve all been dreading. Miss Saigon is due to fly out of London and over to Broadway to live the american dream. Rumoyr has it that a UK Tour is being planned within the next couple of years, so let’s hope that Cameron stays true to his word on that one. 

Just a short message to the cast from me:

Thank you all so much for giving the west end a new breath of life. Each member of the cast is so talented in his/her own individual way, and you will all be missed very much by your UK fans. Also, a huge congratulations to Jon Jon and Eva, who are both due to reprise their roles respectively as The Engineer & Kim with their Broadway debut. At the age of 50, this must be a wonderful feeling for Jon Jon - proving once again that he’s too good to waste his talents for greed. 

Au Revoir, Miss Saigon - you’re moving on. 

[engineeringsince1998]

Miss Saigon Review - 17/10/15

So, here I am again reviewing another performance of Saigon. 

Jon Jon Briones

Oh how I love Jon Jon. He just IS the Engineer. Everything about his performance is spectacular, every single bit of it. I’m even finding that he’s starting to experiment a little bit with the character again, which is making the part even more interesting. You know the bit at the end of “IYWDIB” where the really funky music plays and he starts dancing around? This time, it was bloody incredible. It was just so rock n’ roll. 

Eva Noblezada

Beautiful, beautiful Eva. I loved her singing so much. Plus, I feel like the bit where she screams “NOOO” during This is the hour, was much more timed and dramatic this time around. I even shed a tear when she was saying goodbye to Tam :(

Chris Peluso

Prefer him a lot more to Alistair (just because he’s not grumpy all the time). There also seems to be something a lot funnier about some of his lines when he gets confused at the Vietnamese culture (such as Paper Dragons and perfume). However, I think that the walk-in during Kim’s Nightmare was way too cringey. 

Hugh Maynard

Hugh is a boss. His singing is soulful, his acting is soulful, his personality is soulful. During Bui Doi, he looked me straight in the eyes when he sang the line “They are the living reminder of all the good we failed to do!”. I felt him staring into my soul...I felt bad, and I wasn’t even fighting in the Vietnam War :O Heck, I wasn’t even born!

Carolyn Maitland

What a lovely, lovely woman. I didn’t get a chance to get to the stage door and meet her this time around, but I’m hoping that next time I’m in London I can just nip round to the stage door and thank all of them for putting on such a powerful set of performances...I may not even see the show again, but It makes me feel like I can perhaps meet them in person and just tell them how much it has meant for me to see something as hugely creative and magical as Saigon, on Stage. Carolyn has a wonderful voice, and her acting was ace. I sent her a tweet about half an hour after the performance whilst I was on the train back, just to say how wonderful she was - and she even sent me a tweet back thanking me! :D

Sangwoong Jo

There are things about Sangwoong that work. There are things about Sangwoong that don’t work. Either way, people are going to have a split opinion on him especially after Kwang Ho left at cast change. I like the fact that Sangwoong really puts on a display of a desperate character trying to fight his military brainwashing for the woman he loves, but at the same time - I didn’t like the fact that during the torture scene where Kim and Engineer get beaten up by the soldiers, Sangwoong screams “Noooooooo! Get out!” “Commissar?” “I said get out!!! GO!!!” 

This may be because I’m so used to hearing Kwang Ho shouting “Stop! Get out!” “Commissar *u wot m8?8 “I said get out!”

Natalie Mendoza

Her Gigi is flipping crazy, but still a bit sexy. I think the difference between her a Rachelle is that Rachelle was originally very calm & used a lot of seduction rather than Natalie, who kind of just throws it in your face quite a bit. 

How do I explain this theory? Ok, here’s an idea:

Rachelle (in American Dream:

“Yep, I’m back. Missed me? I’ve got a big fur coat and I’m a bit posh now”

Natalie (in American Dream)

“WASSUP!? HERE I AM!”

Overall, a smashing performance. 

Ensemble notes:

- Big well done to Gavin Tsang for covering many roles in one performance!

- Marsha and Kanako are beautiful! (Just me being a bloke :) )

- Great work from Adam Rowe and his conducting skills!

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

2015-16 cast appreciation: Jon Jon Briones

[engineeringsince1998]

One of the most talented actors i’ve seen on the stage. All hail the Engineer!

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

London revival 2014-16: The American Dream

[engineeringsince1998]

“Au Revoir, Miss Saigon! I’m moving on. Grab what you can till it’s gone..”

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

London revival 2014-16: What a Waste

[engineeringsince1998]

You want a thrill? Come on and grab it. Two girls, One gerbil and a rabbit!

*Love this song*

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

London revival 2014-16: Morning of the Dragon

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

Jon Jon Briones and Hugh Maynard

[engineeringsince1998]

“I have to warn you, she don’t come cheap” - Engineer

“I’ve got that covered, my man!” - John

“It’s got to be 20 for my princess, she’s sort of a Virgin more or less” - Engineer

[heckyeahmisssaigon]

Junix Inocian as the Engineer in the West End (1992-94)

[engineeringsince1998]

Rest in Peace, Junix

[engineeringsince1998]

Jonathan Pryce as ‘The Engineer’ - 1989 to ?

(Original London Cast)

(Original Broadway Cast)

(West End Revival 25th Anniversary)

[engineeringsince1998]

The American Dream

Whoever came up with the idea for ‘The American Dream’ must have been a genius. It’s my favourite song in the entire show, purely because it gives us a better insight into the misinterpretation of America that The Engineer has. He seems to believe that if he was to get a VISA into the USA, he’d just be able to live life as a rich man with model wife, servants, dancers and not a care in the world - oh how wrong he is. If he had really managed to get to America around that time, he’d be on the streets, without any money, and no job. 

I love The Engineer. I want to perform as him one day......please....

[misssaigonconfessions]

I watched Jon Jon recently in the show, and he literally captivates the audience. He’s so brilliant at being humorous and shockingly cruel at the same time. I love his character, I love his acting and I adore his kind personality. Favourite Engineer.

[engineeringsince1998]

Favourite Engineers

1. Johann Michael Camat (Stuggart)

2. Jon Jon Briones (West End Revival)

3. Jonathan Pryce (Original London Cast)

4. Luoyong Wang (Broadway)

[diablodancer]

I’m fed up with small-time hustles I’m too good to waste my talent for greed I need room to flex my muscles in an ocean where the big sharks feed make me Yankee, they’re my fam'ly they’re selling what people need

[engineeringsince1998]

Saigon is closing!

Sad but true. Miss Saigon is flying away from us here in the UK to Broadway, Germany and Australia in 2016. I can’t believe it, especially after all the really lovely things Cameron Mackintosh has been saying about it - how could he do this?

I’ve also heard that Aladdin is coming to The Prince Edward Theatre to replace Saigon. Are you kidding me? I decided not to judge at first and I listened to the Broadway Cast Album (Friend like me, Prince Ali). I have to say, I enjoyed those two songs. Then I listened to the rest of it. What? How can you replace something as glorious as Miss Saigon - which, by the way, has a true significant impact due to its historical storytelling and creative set design - and replace it with a Disney show? 

Disappointed. Saddened. Angry. This shouldn’t be happening, it feels like a bad dream. 

[mademoiselledechagny]

Loving the new photos of Miss Saigon, but I’m extremely sad that the show’s closing.

[engineeringsince1998]

I’m going to miss this show so much :( 

[engineeringsince1998]

The Heat is Back on

The DVD ‘The Heat is Back on’ was released today. 

I pre-ordered the DVD from Amazon two weeks ago, and I was told I would receive it on the day of release. However, Amazon has mucked me about - giving me different dates for the past 2 days. I have now been told that I won’t receive the DVD until late next week - so I’ve cancelled my order.

Just a heads up to all of you - I’ve now had to order the DVD from ZOOM.com. 

Tah

[engineeringsince1998]

Miss Saigon Review (04/06/15)

So, I thought i’d go and see the new cast for the 1st time - and they did not disappoint.

Tanya Manalang as Kim

My first time seeing Tanya as Kim. She is incredible. Oh my god. Why has she not got as much recognition? I loved everything about her portrayal of Kim - especially the fear and innocence. I even met her after the show, she’s such a kind and comedic soul. 

Chris Peluso as Chris

Preferred Chris so much more than Alistair (Sorry Al). Chris came across to me as a soldier who just couldn’t be bothered with all the sex, drugs and all that jazz whereas Alistair just seemed angry all the time. The chemistry between Chris and Tanya during their scenes was electric. I also forgot that he wasn’t married to Ellen at one point - just because of how good they were at playing the parts.

Jon Jon Briones as The Engineer

What can I say? He steals the show. Jon Jon is a world class act - especially with his acting and singing. I honestly feel that Jon Jon could be one of the best Engineers that there has even been. ‘If you want to die in bed’ was sung amazingly, and ‘The American Dream’ once again had him dry-humping the bonnet of his imaginary Cadillac car, whilst Natalie Mendoza lit his cigar for him. 

Natalie Mendoza as Gigi

Hmm. I didn’t feel like Natalie had that sexy, sneaky side that Rachelle brought to the role - but she still did a marvelous job at singing ‘Movie in my Mind’ and sitting in the Cadillac at the end. Originally Rachelle would sneakily reveal her body to the audience whilst she was in the car (naughty), but this time Natalie just full on opened her coat up and showed us what she’s got - Dollar signs covering her breasts. 

Aaron Lee Lambert as John

Very impressive. I prefer his portrayal to Kurt’s, and I loved his Bui Doi. The ‘Dreamland’ scene where Natalie was on the table just before he won the competition worked really well because you felt like they were both actually having a conversation. His aggression when Natalie scratched him on the face was really effective as well. 

Claire Parrish as Ellen

What a beauty. Claire is gorgeous, talented and could very well make it to a Leading Cast Member. Some people have been criticizing her because during ‘Room 317′ and ‘The Confrontation’, she smiles a lot - come on, she’s smiling because she’s figured out what her promiscuous husband has been up to in ‘Nam!

Sangwoong Jo as Thuy

Gave me the chills. The criticism he received for being “too Korean” is absolute rubbish - he’s a wonderful Thuy and really gives the role new life. When he found out that Kim had given birth to Tam, he was only the floor crying - screaming. He’s my favorite Thuy. 

To Conclude, I’ve fallen in love with the show all over again. I can’t wait till I get the DVD of ‘The Heat is back on’ and I wish the cast the best of luck for their next few performances.

Will definitely be going back.

Seat:  A15

View:  Incredible, I could see everything

Legroom:   So much room!

Company:  Met a man who had come all the way from Korea, just to see Sangwoong perform.