Miss Saigon

A total knockout is the only way to describe the first Brisbane community theatre production of Schonberg and Boublil’s classic Miss Saigon by Ignatians. I have rarely been as moved by a community theatre production as I was by this stunning interpretation of the sung-through work based on Madam Butterfly. The piece has some of the most emotional music in the modern music-theatre canon, which was fully realized by a top-flight cast. Kimie Tsukakoshi showed with her performance of the innocent, vulnerable Kim that she could walk into any professional production of the show tomorrow. She was stunningly good. Bradley McCaw was a very believable Chris, giving a natural performance, especially in the dialogue-set-to-music sections of the score, and delivered on his big moments “Why God, Why?” and with Tsukakoshi in the show’s hit duet “Last Night of the World.” John Peek sang well as John. His “Bui-Doi” was outstanding. Andrew Scheiwe scored all the laughs as the oily and manipulative Engineer, and Natasha York was a strong Ellen, particularly with her second act solo, “Now That I’ve Seen Her.” Big kudos to Shane P. Rodwell for sets, which even included a terrific helicopter effect, and Ingrid Cameron’s choreography. Kat Henry’s fluid production never missed one emotional beat (the inclusion of a couple of ladyboys in the Bangkok scene was a nice touch of authenticity), and was helped and underscored all the way by Steven McKay’s solid musical direction.
Peter Pinne