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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 16, 2018 22:44:35 GMT
The helicopter was a physical model when I saw it in Edinburgh so it must have been broken the show you went.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 17, 2018 1:45:49 GMT
You’re both right. The projections used in this production CAN be used in case of lift malfunction - AND are planned to be used for smaller venues which cannot receive the lift.
It comes down simply to stage dimensions and wing space. The original tour only played a handful of the largest venues, as it was the same helicopter lift from the recently closed West End production. It was enormous and cumbersome, due to its age and technology marching on. No problem at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, but certainly no good for your average mid-sized receiving house on the road.
This severely limited the booking potential of the tour, as it could play maybe 6-7 venues (e.g Bristol, Bradford, Edinburgh, Southampton), instead of 20+ with smaller stops (e.g Woking, Norwich).
Once these large venues had a long, successful run, it meant coming back 6-9 months later and trying to do another 2 months of business. There are only so many people willing to see it in any region. If a show comes every year on the dot, business can often suffer because audiences get saturated.
So Cameron designed the second, much cheaper tour, designed with much easier to transport sets, better to load and rig in venues with smaller access and/or stage dimensions. Hence a projected helicopter sequence instead of a physical set piece made it possible to go all over the country.
This production then basically went back as the West End revival, and with a larger theatre and audience expectation of a physical effect, was readded. Laurence Connor’s second tour basically WAS the West End revival.
This third touring production is basically the same as the second, with sets brought in from the near-replica Korean production. The difference this time is, thanks to a smaller, more economical lift and set piece, it can tour on an Arctic or two in its own right (out of the 16(!!) which tour this show) and can be used at most of the venues. It is broken down into four pieces and loaded in and rigged that way, like a Chitty can on the road. If it won’t fit, they can reuse the cheaper projection effect from last time around. Finally, a lot of the time it isn’t the size of the stage, it’s physical access getting a team in to load and rig the pieces from the loading dock to the stage.
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Post by cheesy116 on Aug 17, 2018 2:12:12 GMT
When they use the projection, how does the scene pan out ? Chris hangs off the helicopter whilst shouting and looking for Kim. Does he stand on the fence instead ? Or stand on a platform in front of the projection ?
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 17, 2018 2:19:40 GMT
When they use the projection, how does the scene pan out ? Chris hangs off the helicopter whilst shouting and looking for Kim. Does he stand on the fence instead ? Or stand on a platform in front of the projection ? Sorry, I don’t remember! I haven’t actually seen this tour despite some fleeting involvement in it. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2018 6:15:32 GMT
When they use the projection, how does the scene pan out ? Chris hangs off the helicopter whilst shouting and looking for Kim. Does he stand on the fence instead ? Or stand on a platform in front of the projection ? The back wall where the helicopter is projected onto has an open section where the door would be, so Chris climbs into it but doesn’t hang out or shout. He simply gets in and the helicopter flew away. A shame really as it did lose the wow factor of the scene slightly. |
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Aug 17, 2018 8:53:29 GMT
I seem to be in the minority here but I really enjoyed Christian as the Engineer, he brought some dark humour to the role and Usher-like (the singer, not the job) smooth showmanship to American Dream. I wasn’t a fan of Red, I found him too camp and playing just for as many laughs as possible.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2018 10:45:43 GMT
I seem to be in the minority here but I really enjoyed Christian as the Engineer, he brought some dark humour to the role and Usher-like (the singer, not the job) smooth showmanship to American Dream. I wasn’t a fan of Red, I found him too camp and playing just for as many laughs as possible. Red does seem to have divided opinion. He does play it up for the laughs. I can see why he's gone over to the US to play the Eng there. The American audiences will lap it up. |
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 17, 2018 11:07:09 GMT
I much preferred Romeo Salazar to Chuck in the role in town.. shame he didn’t get the part!
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Post by theplaymirrorslife on Aug 17, 2018 11:59:47 GMT
Thanks to knowing a bod in the know...... They've always planned to not have the physical helicopter in Norwich. As others have said it is a question of the stage / wing space and physical access to get the kit in. Even in all the venues where the helicopter has been used, how it is 'blocked' - whether it comes in & out from the rear or side, depending on the stage depth and wing space - is different for each venue.
I would think the helicopter will definitely be used in Bradford, as the Alhambra is used to housing the very big tours. And prob Sunderland as well, as it rebuilt and increased it's stage / flytower in recent years.
So looks like Norwich will be the only venue without!
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Aug 17, 2018 12:02:47 GMT
Thanks to knowing a bod in the know...... They've always planned to not have the physical helicopter in Norwich. As others have said it is a question of the stage / wing space and physical access to get the kit in. Even in all the venues where the helicopter has been used, how it is 'blocked' - whether it comes in & out from the rear or side, depending on the stage depth and wing space - is different for each venue. I would think the helicopter will definitely be used in Bradford, as the Alhambra is used to housing the very big tours. And prob Sunderland as well, as it rebuilt and increased it's stage / flytower in recent years. So looks like Norwich will be the only venue without! *cough* ;-) |
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Post by tf on Sept 21, 2018 3:16:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 6:40:44 GMT
So he’ll be our Engineer in Sunderland? Hopefully he’ll be doing matinees because that’s what I’m going to. Hoping to catch Joreen too.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2018 10:37:37 GMT
So he’ll be our Engineer in Sunderland? Hopefully he’ll be doing matinees because that’s what I’m going to. Hoping to catch Joreen too. That is good news. I am going to the final weekend in Sunderland and CRM's Engineer just doesn't do it for me sadly! |
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Sept 21, 2018 13:30:20 GMT
I have videos of Leo as the Engineer from London and Manila and I REALLY didn’t like him, everything’s played for laughs and he spent half the show gurning at the audience
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2018 10:29:38 GMT
Anyone here who knows the Sunderland Empire well?
I'm seeing the show but I haven't bought my ticket yet. I've only been to this theatre once, but I was a bit towards the front left. The only tickets I can really afford for Saigon are the £35 ones at the edges of the stalls marked as Restricted View. If you sit further back in these seats (i.e. Row J or K), is the view slightly better?
Or, if I go for the £20 seats at the back of the stalls marked as "elevated scenes may not be visible", will I still be able to see the helicopter?
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Post by undeuxtrois on Sept 23, 2018 13:11:49 GMT
Saw the matinee yesterday and it was amazing.
Engineer- Christian Rey Marbella
Kim- Aynrand Ferrer
Chris- Ashley Gilmour
Ellen- Elana Martin
John- Ryan O'Gorman
Thuy- Gerald Santos
Gigi- Kristine Diaz
Sat in stalls K4 and the view was great- only missed a little bit of the stage. Audience was nearly full and everyone clapped after every song and gave a standing ovation at the end.
Surprisingly cried at Maybe, Elana Martin was an amazing Ellen. Aryand Ferrer was a great Kim and she's such a good actor. People might hate me for this but I don't think Ryan O'Gorman was that great as John but I'm not sure why.
Marbella had the audience in the palm of his hands and I really enjoyed his performance.
Such an amazing show the actors were great and the scenery/lighting/visuals were great, especially Dreamland, Bangkok, Nightmare scene and American Dream. The Alhambra theatre felt intimate but £5.50 for a cup of wine was a bit much. Definitely worth seeing this show 10/10
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Post by tsxmitw on Sept 23, 2018 21:33:04 GMT
Saw the matinee yesterday and it was amazing. Engineer- Christian Rey Marbella Kim- Aynrand Ferrer Chris- Ashley Gilmour Ellen- Elana Martin John- Ryan O'Gorman Thuy- Gerald Santos Gigi- Kristine Diaz Sat in stalls K4 and the view was great- only missed a little bit of the stage. Audience was nearly full and everyone clapped after every song and gave a standing ovation at the end. Surprisingly cried at Maybe, Elana Martin was an amazing Ellen. Aryand Ferrer was a great Kim and she's such a good actor. People might hate me for this but I don't think Ryan O'Gorman was that great as John but I'm not sure why. Marbella had the audience in the palm of his hands and I really enjoyed his performance. Such an amazing show the actors were great and the scenery/lighting/visuals were great, especially Dreamland, Bangkok, Nightmare scene and American Dream. The Alhambra theatre felt intimate but £5.50 for a cup of wine was a bit much. Definitely worth seeing this show 10/10 Aynrand Ferrer is one of the best Kim’s I’ve ever seen. |
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Post by cheesy116 on Sept 23, 2018 22:07:34 GMT
Saw the matinee yesterday and it was amazing. Engineer- Christian Rey Marbella Kim- Aynrand Ferrer Chris- Ashley Gilmour Ellen- Elana Martin John- Ryan O'Gorman Thuy- Gerald Santos Gigi- Kristine Diaz Sat in stalls K4 and the view was great- only missed a little bit of the stage. Audience was nearly full and everyone clapped after every song and gave a standing ovation at the end. Surprisingly cried at Maybe, Elana Martin was an amazing Ellen. Aryand Ferrer was a great Kim and she's such a good actor. People might hate me for this but I don't think Ryan O'Gorman was that great as John but I'm not sure why. Marbella had the audience in the palm of his hands and I really enjoyed his performance. Such an amazing show the actors were great and the scenery/lighting/visuals were great, especially Dreamland, Bangkok, Nightmare scene and American Dream. The Alhambra theatre felt intimate but £5.50 for a cup of wine was a bit much. Definitely worth seeing this show 10/10 I think we're in the minority of liking Christian Marbella! I loved him, more so than Red but he seems to get a hard time on here and various other reviews for some reason. |
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Post by SageStageMgr on Oct 2, 2018 3:40:43 GMT
Re: Leo, he was provisionally booked for the West End revival to replace Jon Jon, but it closed before he took over.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 10:01:56 GMT
Cameron keeps announcing in interviews that this will be the last time Miss Saigon is seen in the UK. Which is a bit upsetting! Not sure if he means it or if it's a sales pitch to make people buy tickets for Bradford and Sunderland.
He seems very definitive. Sure, it's done for now and the tour sold well but not well enough to do return visits to venues. But in 10-15 years time won't there be the appetite to do it again? As with most of the big musicals!
Anyway, do hope this isn't the end of the road for Miss Saigon!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 10:50:09 GMT
I initially wasn’t going to see this, but the announcements of “last chance to see in the UK” made me panic buy a ticket for Sunderland. Pleased to hear of Valdez’s return as I’ve heard mixed reports of Chuck as the Engineer.
I’ve booked a Saturday matinee, so does that mean I’ll have Joreen as Kim?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 11:01:49 GMT
I initially wasn’t going to see this, but the announcements of “last chance to see in the UK” made me panic buy a ticket for Sunderland. Pleased to hear of Valdez’s return as I’ve heard mixed reports of Chuck as the Engineer. I’ve booked a Saturday matinee, so does that mean I’ll have Joreen as Kim? So if it is a sales tactic it's working :-) Sure you'll love it! Yes Chuck as the Engineer doesn't cut it for me (have seen him a few times over the years) so will be good to see someone new (to me). I've thrown caution to the wind and am going to the final three performances in Sunderland. Never been to Sunderland before! Will stay in Newcastle though... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 11:11:28 GMT
I've thrown caution to the wind and am going to the final three performances in Sunderland. Never been to Sunderland before! Will stay in Newcastle though... Sunderland Empire theatre is lovely, but the town centre is a depressing hellhole. Newcastle is the better city but Sunderland gets better shows. Mackintosh productions tend to go to the Newcastle Theatre Royal now, but I guess they'd booked into Sunderland before they could really consider Newcastle. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2018 11:59:27 GMT
The marketing says Last chance to see this production in the uk. i'm assuming that it wont tour in this form again in the uk as it's not as big as the original tour but much bigger than the tours and productions that have opened or toured in later years.
if it goes around again it will either be a smaller tour with different sets, lighting direction etc.
i may be wrong.
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Post by justfran on Oct 6, 2018 13:36:23 GMT
I agree, the marketing seems to be saying last chance to see the full production, meaning future tours would be scaled down. It’s not the kind of show to go round every year or 2 but I can see this touring again in a different form in the future.
With regards to Sunderland - the city centre has been developed and improved so much over the last few years, no doubt helped by events such as running for capital of culture and being part of the Tall Ships. The Empire is the best part of the city and a beautiful theatre. Hope you enjoy your visit there Dom 😊
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