Miss Saigon, Birmingham Hippodrome - review and pictures

But what I had not bargained for was the power of the performance and overwhelming emotional effect this sensational piece of theatre was to have on me.

Leaving the Birmingham Hippodrome in tears and feeling somewhat disturbed, yet at the same time thoroughly entertained, moved and even proud of what I had experienced, I realised that you never forget Miss Saigon.

The UK tour of this outstanding musical opened in Birmingham last week, after previewing at The Curve in Leicester; so Midland audiences already have two bites of the cherry.

In this, director Laurence Connor has created nothing short of a blockbuster. Not only has this fresh, young cast, outstanding designers and superb production team breathed new life into the classic tale of 17-year-old bar girl, Kim, who falls in love with American GI, Chris, only for the couple to be torn apart by the fall of Vietnam - but they have done it to absolute perfection.

The tale is heart-wrenching, as after their love affair, in the following three years as Kim survives, she also hides a very special secret – Chris has fathered her son, who he has no idea exists.

Korean actress and singer Sooha Kim is so perfectly cast as Kim, she will bring a lump to your throat on sight. Her vocal performance sends shivers down your spine and her delivery of the dialogue, even though off stage her spoken conversational English is limited, is sensitive, yet passionate. There is no doubt she understands every single word.

Her touching portrayal is never more apparent than in the scenes with her tiny son, Tam, played beautifully by a tiny little soul called Gerline Rosales, where she declares she will give her life for him. Every mother in the audience must have been distraught; it’s almost too much to bear, yet something you need to see.

Ashley Gilmour as her GI, Chris, is every inch the handsome, hot-blooded soldier with a voice to die for, which is essential as his solo, Why God Why? and his part in the duets with Kim, Sun and Moon and Last Night of the World are exceptionally challenging vocally, while his natural dramatic ability offers such a sense of reality within the situation he finds himself, that you can only surmise he has experienced heart-break in his personal life.

Together the pair make short work of Schonberg and Boublil’s exceptional score, supported by an outstandingly talented cast of international performers from across the globe and a rousing orchestra under the instruction of James McKeon.

Red Concepcion brings a very different interpretation of The Engineer, one of the most coveted roles in musical theatre, with an outrageously sleazy vibe but desperate air. Although you hate him, you cannot help but love him too! This extraordinary performer is without doubt the best “Engineer” of the three other versions of Miss Saigon I have seen.

The American Dream in which he dreams of leaving Saigon to start a new, extravagant life, is certainly a highlight of the show, complete with Lady Liberty, furs, diamonds and show girls and boys in sparkles and spangles, stage effects which are only beaten by, the embassy scene in which, and I cannot believe I am writing this, a life-size helicopter lands and takes off on stage!

I don’t want to spoil the effect but let’s just say you hear it before you see it and it is quite remarkable. My mouth dropped open and I had already seen it in rehearsal, so imagine the effect it had on the rest of the audience!

Bruno Poet’s lighting effects totally capture the dark, sordid world of Dreamland, the desperate escape from the embassy and then in contrast, the dazzling showbiz feeling of the American Dream, while Bob Avian’s musical staging of the show is nothing less than spectacular.

The set moves seamlessly and the movement of props by the actors ensures the whole production floats from scene to scene without any effort whatsoever.

There is a stunning rendition of “Movie in My Mind” from the beautiful Marsha Songcome, who plays Gigi, who reminds us just how the bar girls cope with the horrors of prostitution, while Zoe Doano is sweet and kind as Ellen, Chris’s wife. Her performance somehow makes you sympathise with her and the position she finds herself in. Usually Ellen is seen as “the other woman” but Zoe managed to bring out her kind side which really draws your attention to her plight.

The exceptional strong ensemble of the show presents The Morning of the Dragon with authority and military precision. not only visually, but vocally too and the opening of Act Two, Bui Doi, executed to perfection by Ryan O’Gorman as John and again this stunning ensemble, is nothing short of shocking, disturbing and unsettling and yet so important to within the context of the story. I wanted to look away, but couldn’t, such is the power of the scene and their performances.

The finale is heart-breaking and yet the absolute assumed conclusion of this mighty tale and is guaranteed to send you home with a new-found admiration for those involved in this period of history which is still relatively recent and indeed Sir Cameron for reminding us.

In short, unmissable, unforgettable and unbeatable.

For tickets visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0844 338 5000.