Why go to London’s West End when London’s West End can come to you? Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon did just that when his spectacular production opened last night at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal...
Danny Kaan
The romantic musical follows the epic events of the Fall of Saigon and the historical consequences through the lens of a love affair. Kim is an orphaned country girl who turns to prostitution to survive and Chris is an American GI, more principled than his army buddies, seeking love over a Saturday night quickie.
Boy meets girl. Thanks to the triumph of the Vietcong and the USA’s ignoble rout, boy loses girl. Boy meets another girl back home. How will this multi-ethnic love triangle play out? Well, therein lies the climax.
The stage craft was mind-blowing. Rotating rooms, staircases that glided across the stage, backdrop projections, and not least a levitating gigantic dollar sign, all come together to give the theatregoer an evening to remember. You will be highly impressed.
Although none of the songs (by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil) have gone onto wider fame, you may find yourself humming The Movie in My Mind as you stumble out of the theatre onto the chilly streets of March. And the entire cast know how to belt out a show tune. Simply awesome to behold.
The large cast are excellent. Jack Kane, as Chris, brings a charisma to his role. Julianne Pundan, as Kim, had us weeping all the way to the Upper Circle. And Seann Riley Moore stole every scene with his performance as The Engineer. That is, the pimp and hustler who, like everyone else in Saigon, wants a US Visa to get out in time. The character is written to be sexually ambiguous, totally amoral, drug-snorting, a manipulative yet vulnerable player in this drama. Shades of Cabaret’s Emcee character. And Seann fulfills that role and then some.
And perhaps the showstopping number had to be American Dream
The script uses a non-linear style to flit between Saigon, Atlanta and Bangkok in different years. A clever way of keeping us guessing as to why exactly Chris abandoned his sweetheart.
Dance routines were superb. And perhaps the showstopping number had to be American Dream performed by the Engineer and company. So packed with ideas you might lose track of the American icons and homages therein. Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Cagney, and Fred Astaire for starters.
Was there a subtext to this scene? With yet another American war in the headlines it was hard not to think so. Hmm, let us see. The USA goes to war, it loses and hightails it home, abandoning the locals who helped it. Sound familiar?
Miss Saigon is of course a transcription of the legendary opera Madame Butterfly, rebooted for modern audiences with modern issues. As such it must be ripe for critique about Western/Asian relationships. Perhaps soon someone will write a show where the roles of white man and East Asian woman are reversed.
In conclusion, the show ended with a standing ovation. What greater compliment is there? If you enjoy spectacular sets, foot-stomping song and dance, powerhouse performances and don’t mind shedding a few tears, don’t miss this famous musical while it is in town.
Miss Saigon plays at the Theatre Royal from Wednesday 26 March to Saturday 4 April 2026.
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