It featured a huge cast of 40, a large orchestra, and the famous helicopter which landed on stage yes there is a helicopter here. I recall when Baltimore was planning a new Broadway house, there was the clarion call for a theater where a helicopter could land. What a different experience I had at Signature's MAX Theatre where since I was sitting in the second row on the side, I could have literally reached out and touched the actors.
How did that happen? I had the pleasure of meeting lyricist. See my review elsewhere on this site. Schaeffer has assembled a "Broadway Ready" cast. GI Chris meets a naive young Kim at a bar where the "Miss Saigon" contest is being held among the prostitutes.
Chris is immediately stricken with Kim,and attempts unsuccessfully to take her home to the U. Chris later marries Betty back in the states. Three years later, when he is informed he has fathered a child with Kim, he flies to Bankok to look for her and his son. The Engineer rules the nightclub where the "girls" entertain in Saigon and is the perfect slim ball. His goal is to achieve "The American Dream" and somehow get the visa necessary to travel to the U.
Whenever Sesma is on stage, you cannot keep your eyes off of him. He is quite the performer in a role initiated by Tony-winner Jonathan Pryce. The show is on his shoulders as he opens the evening with "Opening Act One" and the classic "The Heat is on in Saigon". And at the end of the show, he has his 11 o'clock number, "The American Dream" which he nails.
What a performance. Playing the role of Kim is the incredibly talented Diane Huey. What a sweet voice she has and her duets with Chris are just beautiful. Gannon O'Brien plays Chris after Jason Michael Evans had to leave the cast due to physical problems with his voice and O'Brien shines in his low-key portrayal of Chris.
