There are few Broadway musicals with scenes that are a part of
“how did they do that” theatre lore — iconic moments that live beyond the stage and become a signature image or set piece. In “The Phantom of the Opera,” it’s the chandelier. In “Wicked,” it’s Elphaba defying gravity. And in “Miss Saigon,” it’s the helicopter.
As someone who loves musicals and has seen her fair share of them, I had never seen “Miss Saigon” before the tour’s opening night at the Wharton Center Tuesday. I only knew it was based on “Madame Butterfly,” my grandma loved its music, and it featured a helicopter descending upon the stage. I reveled in the opportunity to finally see it and hear the songs that —while unknown to me before — seemed altogether familiar when I saw the show.
“Miss Saigon,” though deeply sad and heavy, soars with its incredibly talented cast and dreamy orchestrations. The darkness of its subject matter and even its set design is brightened by the actors’ strong, clear voices and brief sprinkles of humor. The national tour of the 30-year-old musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, the team behind “Les Miserables,” will play at the Wharton Center through Sunday, March 17th.
Continue reading “Review: “Miss Saigon” heats up the Wharton Center”