When I was visiting my friend Bob in California in 1995, one of the highlights was seeing the stage production of Miss Saigon. This was on Tuesday, June 27, 1995 at 8:00 pm PST at the Ahmanson Theatre. I have been hooked every since. During the days following the show, I played his ”Highlights of Miss Saigon” CD over and over again as Bob and I drove around southern California. Then upon arrival home, I purchased the full double-disc set and played it over and over again, too. Lisa, my wife at the time, fell in love with it. She loaned it to her friend Susan and she fell in love with it. We would sing it, we would play it, we did everything but eat it.
Last night, Wednesday, September 20, I saw the stage play again for the first time since 1995. Since the California show was the official Broadway version, and last night’s performance was put on at the small-time La Comedia dinner theatre, I didn’t expect to be ‘wow-ed’ the way I was in ‘95, but I was pleasantly proven wrong.
Carolyn and I have enjoyed going to La Comedia ever since we first met. During the past two years, we have attended nearly every one of their shows. Even though we are no longer together, we have continued to finish out our season passes by seeing the last remaing shows of 2006. We’ve seen roughly 20 plays or so, and I have seen probably another 10 before we were together.
The performance of Miss Saigon last night was outstanding. The leads were amazing and their vocal ranges occasionally outshined those in the original cast recording CD. It always amazes me the talent that this little ‘poor-man’s’ Broadway theatre comes up with.
Miss Saigon tells the story of a young American soldier’s liaison with a shy, Vietnemese girl forced into prostitution after her parents were killed during the Vietnam war. The soldier, Chris, decides to protect the girl, Kim, by committing himself to her and then attempts to bring her home with him - as the wife of a soldier. During the fall of Saigon, the couple are seperated and Chris is shipped home without Kim.
Three years later, it is discovered that Kim had delivered a child, a product of their one night together. Chris, now happily married back into the States, decides to travel - with his wife in tow - to Bangkok, where Kim is now living, and offer his support for their child. Unfortunately, Kim has been counting on Chris to return and claim both her and their child and bring them to America. This leads to a disastrous confrontation between all parties.
The beauty of this play is that the story is told entirely in music, reminiscent of the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber (maybe even better!). I would recommend this CD and this play to anyone - and don’t underestimate the talent found at La Comedia. They were even able to stage a noble re-creation of the helicopter entrance during the Saigon rescue. And, oh yeah, the girls are often only scantily clad - and very hot.
P.S. Carolyn and I always look for one particular actor - Christopher James - because he is the only guy that is (or at least seems to be) in every single play at La Comedia. Miss Saigon was no exception.
Up next: yet another trip to Plains, Georgia…
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