Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Miss Saigon Review: Haddonfield Plays and Players

I attended the opening night of Miss Saigon at Haddonfield Plays and Players (HPP) on July 18th, 2014. Going in I had no prior knowledge to this show, just that it had to do with The Vietnam War and the people of Saigon.. Literally! Personally, I always like when I do not have any prior knowledge of a show because I feel like I have nothing to compare it to, which is always a good thing! Let me first start out by saying that I' am always impressed with the shows that HP&P performs, and the quality of their shows as well. They are a very small intimate theatre, which only house about 130 people and you really feel like you are right in on the action of the show! Some of the amenities they offer to their patrons is tons of leg room, and the theatre (a once barn at one point in the past) is also very much handicap accesible as well! They always do a 50/50 raffle during intermission, and a snack and beverage stand (no alcohol folks, it’s a dry town!). Tickets for their shows are very reasonable, and for the quality of show you’re getting, very good as well!

Now to the show... The show is a operetta- which means the show is mostly singing with little speaking involved. Here is a brief Synopsis of the show for anyone who wants to know more about it! Miss Saigon, which was adapted from  the story of Puccini's Madame Butterfly- is  set during the Vietnam War. As the war turns against the Americans, villagers are rushing to Saigon for refuge. One of them is Kim, a 17-year-old girl whose family was killed in the war. She becomes a stripper at the Dreamland club where she meets a young American GI named Chris. The two quickly fall in love and move in together. However, when Saigon falls Chris is forced to evacuate from order of his unit. Thinking he would never see Kim again, he marries an American woman named Ellen. However, in a strange twist of things it just so happens that two years later, Chris's friend, John, informs Chris that he has fathered Kim's child that she has named Tam. After Ellen meets for the first time in Bangkok, Kim gives up the child, leaving us with an ending we did not see coming.. I will not give away the ending SORRY!! 

This is a strong singing show as previously mentioned, and there were quite a few songs that I thought were performed magnificently! The hit number which has become familiar to all of us "The Heat is on in Saigon" was one I enjoyed very much. Vocally, it was a well mix with males and females. It was also a very big dance number.(Oh, and before I go on, this musical I DO NOT recommend for young children as there is strong language, and sex situations throughout the show).  This number takes place in Dreamland, an underground Prostitution night club where the men choose what woman they want to take home with them. Next, "The Movie in My Mind" which was made famous by Lea Salonga was absolutely fabulous as well! Samantha Pruna who plays the leading lady Kim (She also made it to Hollywood week on American Idol Season 4, beating out nearly 15,000 other contestants), did such an amazing job on the song. Her belting and emotion combind really made you feel the song, and grasp the meaning behind it. "The Morning of The Dragon", which was done using red lights throughout the stage, and Vietnamese banners was visually the best! I think the best number though for me, and the number that made the hairs on the back of our necks stand up and made the audience cry, was the touching song "Bui-Doi". This is the opening number for Act II and is amazing! It starts out with the GI soldiers singing the chorus acapella which goes "They're called Bui-Doi, the dust of life, conceived in hell, and born in strife", then music slowly starts playing as the character John played by Matthew Weil begins to sing. This takes place at a Sunday morning mass, as John is recalling the war, and the tragic events he saw while fighting. This is also a big belt song for a male, and was done VERY WELL! Best song of the show for me!

The show was led by and incredibly talented cast, with some unique individuals from the Tri- State Area! Some other notable leads to point out are: Bryan M. Pitt (Engineer), who is no stranger to the stage and HP&P, and once again delivered an outstanding performance, while keeping the audience involved.  Stephen McBride (Chris) the leading man of the show was phenomenal and incredible with a strong voice! Other cast members include: Eileen Ashley, Antonio Baldasari, Charles L. Bandler, Mallory Beach, Dawn Bellows, Brian Burke, Kayla Carnation, Jordan Dobson, Devon Duffin, Jonathan Edmondson, Samantha Gammill, Jonathan Greenstein, Ken Hellings, Wes Hopkins, Megan Jones, Dakota Judge, Jenn Kopesky, Kat Lee, Tyler Lee, Brooke McCarthy, Josee Matela, Jessica Money, Jeremy Noto, Adriana Pillot, Mason Romeo, Emme Renbjor, Michael Thor Vilhauer, Sara Viniar, Harrison Webb, Kahlil Wyatt.  The creative team behind this show, who had a vision and made it happen onstage consists of the following: Pat DeFusco (Director), Pat did a wonderful job directing this masterpiece, he has also been seen on the stage as the leading man in favorites such as Les Miserbles, Fiddler on The Roof & many more! Erica Paolucci (Choreographer), Kate Brown (Music Director), Ed Doyle (Tech Director), Sue Stein (Producer), Kim Blood (Stage Manager) and Rebekah Macchione (Lighting Designer) I have seen shows they have worked on before, and they NEVER dissapoint! These people deserve a lot of credit for their work and dedication to the show!! Great job to BOTH the cast and all the crew!

 Miss Saigon runs from Jul.17th- Aug 9 at HP&P, for tickets, visit their website at www.haddonfieldplayers.com or contact the Box Office (856)-429-8139. I recommend everyone take a night, and go see this magical gem onstage before it closes! Also- I received word this weekend from a source who says that the show is currently running back in London, if it does well it could POSSIBLY come back to Broadway!