Nearly 40 years on from its debut this revival of Miss Saigon offers a stunning production of a tale that remains controversial.
Based on Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, but transposed to the Vietnam war, the story of brief love, betrayal, and tragedy offers a clash of cultures that is no less glaring than during the conflict.
US marine Chris meets the innocent Kim at a Saigon showbar, and after his friend buys her for him for the night the two fall in love. But the collapse of the American invasion leads to a hasty withdrawal and a three year, eventful, gap before they meet again in Bangkok.
This production highlights the satirical aspects of the story more than the love story with Kim’s pimp – known as the Engineer – right at the centre. Camp, opinionated, and not a little unpleasant, he drives the show with a standout version of the American Dream. It’s a stunning moment of stagecraft, that sits alongside the evacuation of Saigon – complete with helicopter and winches to the sky – as stellar pieces of theatre.
Seann Miley Moore is outstanding as the Engineer, though his bravado makes things difficult for Kim (Julianne Pundan) and Chris (Jack Kane) – supposed main characters but with under-written and under-directed parts. Their main duet – The Last Night of The World – is sweet enough, but there isn’t much emotional charge.
Andrew D Edward’s set and costume designs are stars in their own right in this slick production, with moveable cages and a central turntable making for quick changes, married with George Reeve’s production designs for some stunning transformations; the boat exodus is especially neatly handled.
The show’s original casting received criticism because of its ethnic balance and while this has been largely addressed in the intervening years with a much broader talent pool, the story remains somewhat problematic in its approaches to Vietnamese and Thai culture. That is counterbalanced by heavy leaning on the more ironic references to America.
The production outpaces the book, however. As purely a visual spectacle this show – especially in the second act – is hard to beat.
- Miss Saigon continues at Norwich Theatre Royal until 23 May 2026, tickets £25-£87.80, then touring nationally.
