Stunning set pieces, spellbinding music, an unbelievably talented cast and a gripping story – it must be ‘Miss Saigon’.
This Tony and Oliver Award-winning production is almost faultless, save only for its slightly lengthy runtime, for which no one here can be blamed. Dazzling sets and impressive lighting design are the canvas for a truly mesmerising night at the theatre, carried through by Abigail Adriano as Kim, Nigel Huckle as Chris, and Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer.
It’s been 16 years since the show last graced Her Majesty’s Theatre, and it’s a production worthy of the hype. Abigail Adriano is mesmerising the second she appears on stage as Kim – the picture of innocence with a kind, soft nature. Abigail’s huge voice fills the room during every song, and, at 19 years old and a newcomer to the main stage, she puts her acting chops to incredible use displaying a most convincing character development throughout the performance.
The love Nigel Huckle’s Chris is struck by upon seeing Kim is palpable – their chemistry as a couple too. So much of the emotion in this show in fact can be felt almost as if it were physically there to touch. . . And it’s the work of an extraordinary cast that makes it so.
Image © Daniel Boud
Seann Miley Moore’s The Engineer provides a comic relief that is a relief in every sense of the word among the high stakes of the story. His performance of ‘The American Dream’ is undoubtedly a highlight, presenting a moment of extravagance and campness that, while starkly different from the rest of the show, fits perfectly among it.
The music is operatic and sweeping, packed with heart and filling most of the production. It’s a musical with very little dialogue, relying almost solely on the power of its musical numbers to connect with its audience – something done here with total ease. For this reviewer in particular there is something so hauntingly gorgeous about the harmonies and vocals of ‘The Ceremony (Dju Vui Vai)’ that has stuck with me.
Other musical highlights include ‘The Movie In My Mind’, ‘Sun And Moon’, and ‘Maybe’, the latter stunningly delivered by Kerrie Anne Greenland in the role of Ellen.
‘Miss Saigon’ delivers on all fronts. It’s a gripping, high-stakes story splashed on a canvas of towering, impressive set pieces, painted by an extraordinary cast.
