Theatre: Review: Miss Saigon

There can be no such thing as a joyous war. Ergo, it figures that there can never be a joyous musical show with war at its core.

Miss Saigon is such a show. It's gritty, grim and, at times, heart-wrenchingly sad, just as war and the aftermath of wars, such as the Vietnam conflict will always be.

To tackle such a production is a mightily ambitious undertaking by any company, be it Broadway or the West End, yet the Rotorua Musical Theatre has embraced its technical and acting demands with enthusiasm.

Remember, these are amateurs, home-grown talent who have collectively thrown their hearts and souls into presenting a show of which they, and Rotorua, can be assured of a job well done.

Again having the advantage of Robert Young as their musical director has given the Rotorua company an edge over other, less fortunate troupes. Young's touch has turned what could have been a lacklustre dirge by a bunch of novices into a production of impressive standard.

His cast hasn't let him down. Kimberley Chapman as leading lady Kim, the teenage newbie bar girl who gives herself in love to United States Marine Chris (Alasdair Hay), was cast well. She has the waif-life figure of a Vietnamese that belies the mixture of poignancy and power her versatile voice delivers.

Hay, more frequently seen in non-musical roles, was an ideal foil. As the father of the son Kim bears, and which he subsequently reclaims, he played the part with conviction.

But neither were opening night's standout performer. That accolade goes to Christopher Traill as The Engineer, the French-Vietnamese owner of the sleazy Dreamland club where, in the show's opening scene, Chris wins Kim in a raffle.

A programme note tells us Traill has already played the role in Tauranga's Miss Saigon staging. It's an experience that's given him a definite edge, acing the part, his voice bolstered by his acting ability. Elvis may have left the building but he lives on in Traill whose gymnastic gyrations steal the show.

Well, almost. Perhaps that distinction should go to 6-year-old Zcah Hall replicating Kim and Chris' illicit 3-year-old offspring. The staying power of this wee lad in such a way-beyond-bedtime show is impressive. He'll be alternating the role with his year older brother Luke.

Miss Saigon is a colossal production with a large cast, supporting crew and orchestra so to single out so few is unfair. The sets and costumes, on loan from the Wellington Musical Theatre, are outstanding and who could not be impressed by the helicopter noisily hovering above stage as the last Americans are evacuated? This is special effects par excellence.

If there is one first night criticism it's that the sound system needs a tweak. From the fifth row of the stalls it was, at times, too loud, distorted and hard on the ears. Regardless, the company's three-month rehearsal period deserves to be rewarded with full houses.

Miss Saigon runs until August 11 at the Civic Theatre.

What: Miss Saigon by Rotorua Musical Theatre.

Where: Rotorua Civic Theatre.

When: Friday night.