'Miss Saigon' has played in 300 countries in 15 different languages and is graciously swaying to the Gold Coast.
An epic musical love story, 'Miss Saigon' tells the tragic tale of young bar girl Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with Chris, an American G.I., and how their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon in the 1970s.
Playing the role of Kim in 'Miss Siagon', Vivien Emsworth was among the first cohort to graduate from the Bachelor of Musical Theatre at Griffith Conservatorium Of Music. Her debut professional musical was 'The King And I' in the role of Tuptim during the Melbourne season of the show. During her third year of study, Vivien played the role of Kim in the Griffith production of 'Miss Saigon'. “I'm very fortunate that I already know the role but it's a role that I would want to do for the rest of my life. It's so in-depth,” says Vivien.
Despite having played this role before, Vivien is finding it to be an unrelated experience. “It's completely different because I get to work purely on myself in this role. Every time you do a show I think it'll be different because it's a different cast and a different director and so their vision is different as well.” Her age and experience are also helping her to relate more to the character and use skills she has learnt since, to bring Kim to life.
Kim is an Asian 17-year-old girl recently orphaned and forced to work at a bar – 'Dreamland'. “Kim has strengths she doesn't even know she has. From her life experiences and the trauma that she's been through at such a young age, it has made her the human and the spirit she is,” explains Vivien. 'Miss Saigon' explores a doomed romance involving Kim and her lover Chris, a G.I. Sergeant about to leave Saigon to return to America. “[Kim] is the purity and the innocence that the war kind of contrasts, which I think is why Chris is so drawn to this pure woman who has gone through all these traumatic things in her life and she can still overcome it with love and hope. I think hope is definitely her through-line of living and thriving. It's all about survival and a better future, for not necessarily her, but the next generation, so they don't have to suffer like her family did and how she did.”
Vivien relates to this role through her own personal hardships as well. “My father passed away when I was two, so there's a lot of referencing to our fathers deaths who we can't honour today. And [Kim's] always praying to them and believing that they are part of her life and part of who she is and I completely feel that and it's something that, in this role, I can explore and it's a very good feeling to share that and know what it feels like. As horrible as it is, I'm more connected to that role through that way.”
While working on 'Miss Saigon', Vivien has learnt the importance of trusting herself. “I've learnt that my instincts are OK and my choices are appropriate. One way of trusting yourself is if you're listening to what you think is right it will all just automatically happen.” After 'Miss Saigon' Vivien is planning to move to Sydney and continue her journey there and explore all the facets of the musical theatre industry.
'Miss Saigon' is a tear-jerking musical, and “it's a very intense musical. I think it will be received well. I think it is a very high standard of what Brad (Rush; Director) is envisioning and the cast are sensational. I'm working with some really amazing people... I think [the audience] will embrace the beauty and be blown away by the talent of the cast in general.
“I think it speaks for itself. I love that it's got a lot of history in it because a lot of musicals don't have that these days and as entertaining as you want something to be you always want to be moved and I definitely think that this show moves people and is almost a history lesson in itself.”
'Miss Saigon' plays The Arts Centre Gold Coast, 12 – 20 June.
