892 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Feb 27, 2016 22:34:16 GMT
Heard from a friend who is there tonight that the cameras were out in force, filming everyone, the queues, interviewing audience members about how many times they had seen the show etc.
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Feb 27, 2016 23:19:39 GMT
Hope anyone who was there had a wonderful night, bet the atmosphere was electric. Being in the audience for the 25th Anniversary Gala will always remain one of my greatest experiences inside the theatre!
Will be interesting to see who is cast for the Broadway/UK Tour productions!
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Feb 27, 2016 23:28:31 GMT
These are the muck-ups & changes I can remember from the matinee:
- In Backstage at Dreamland Marsha (Gigi) shoved Eloisa Tan (Yvette) on the floor when all the girls came in bickering
- When Christian (Engineer) went “a virgin will give them a treat” one of the bargirls said “virgin my ass!”
- All the GIs took their shirts off in the Dreamland sequence, Kurt Kansley started it right near the start then Aaron Lee Lambert and by the end of it all of them were shirtless
- In Movie in My Mind one of the barmen got some… pleasuring from Denise Baaij (Mimi)
- After Sun and Moon the applause went on longer than usual so Chris and Tanya (Kim) had to keep kissing
- In Dju Vui Vai Eloisa started taking Tanya’s shoes off her while she was still wearing them, then went “ugh, they stink!” when putting them in the bag. Also one of the bargirls/men took a photo of the barman on the far right eating his noodles.
- In Morning of the Dragon when Ethan Le Phong and Romeo Salazar (both ensemble) brought Christian out they shouted their instructions in English rather than Vietnamese: “move it!”, “kneel down!” etc.
- Tanya did a lovely little riff at the end of I’d Give My Life For You
- At the start of What a Waste when Romeo (club owner) comes through to yell at the club promoters he said to Christian “do something about your hair, you look like a hairdresser” which prompted Christian to say “what an asshole!”
- Sooha Kim (street vendor) was being overly pushy about selling her food and repeatedly spinning the tray on her hand, then David Kar-Hing Lee (club promoter) pulled her back from the crowd by her plait
- After Eloisa’s ping-pong trick a tourist lay down underneath her to look at where it’d come from, also 2 ensemble guys kept grabbing on to Eloisa’s hand and not letting her go back up the stairs afterwards
- By the time the scene transition to Too Much For One Heart 2 of the Moulin Rouge dancers were wearing 2 of the boys' tourist hats and one of the boys had got onto the platform and started dancing as well
- After TMFOH and Romeo comes in he did a flouncy little backbend on “Sir! Would you like a massage?” which Hugh (John) imitated when he responded “No thanks it’s not my scene”
- Chris did a huge Spiderman-style jump from the top of the embassy stairs at the start of the Nightmare
- Marsha plays her Nightmare character as Gigi recognising Kim so just before the helicopter appeared she and Tanya had a lovely little moment together before Tanya ran off
- Christian said sh*te instead of sh*t at the end of American Dream
- The ensemble boys hi-fived each other while running downstage for their bows, and all the ensemble clapped too when Natalie (Ellen) & Tanya came out for their bows
- When Christian did the standard “bend down and point to the right” for Tam’s bow, instead the standby Tam ran on in costume from the other side for a bow then the actual Tam came on from the right with flowers for Tanya
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2,276 posts
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Post by richey on Feb 27, 2016 23:47:26 GMT
Just back from seeing the final show. What an incredible atmosphere. The cameras were indeed out in force, filming everyone before the show started.
All the cast sounded amazing. So glad I made the effort to see it again even if I did have the worst seat in the theatre!
And fantastic news about the cinema release
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Feb 27, 2016 23:49:44 GMT
Some hints from Cameron Mackintosh at the curtain call!
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Post by danielwhit on Feb 27, 2016 23:57:17 GMT
I wonder if that's what the filming last month was about - getting additional footage to what they achieved on the Gala night to create a full "cinematic" performance?
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Post by Jon on Feb 28, 2016 0:04:32 GMT
I assume Universal and Working Title will be behind the eventual Saigon movie much like they were with Les Mis.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Feb 28, 2016 0:09:25 GMT
I wonder if that's what the filming last month was about - getting additional footage to what they achieved on the Gala night to create a full "cinematic" performance? I'm not sure how this will really work, given the cast changes etc. I thought Cameron was a little unclear in his speech, and the cheering covered some of his message |
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527 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Feb 28, 2016 0:12:59 GMT
I wonder if that's what the filming last month was about - getting additional footage to what they achieved on the Gala night to create a full "cinematic" performance? I'm not sure how this will really work, given the cast changes etc. I thought Cameron was a little unclear in his speech, and the cheering covered some of his message From reports on here (or the old forum - can't remember which) it seemed to be old cast members were coming back for filming in the days. I'm speculating on the final product though - but there was definitely several accounts of seemingly extensive filming in January. |
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Post by stageyninja83 on Feb 28, 2016 0:23:12 GMT
So glad I was there on the front row one last time tonight. I think that's the best performance I've seen of the show, they were feeding off the electric atmosphere. Going to miss this show and can't wait to see the 25th recording in the cinema in the autumn.
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Post by ali973 on Feb 28, 2016 0:23:44 GMT
It was indeed filmed. Alistair and Rachelle Ann were brought back. Typing before I shut off and sleep before an early flight tomorrow! Terrefic two show day. I filmed the entire curtain call and speeches from my first row seat (wasn't stopped and everyone was doing all sorts of filming and picture taking!) and will try to upload it..somewhere..? I also caught the very last ping pong ball! Landed straight into my Whole Foods brown paper bag  |
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Post by d'James on Feb 28, 2016 1:16:37 GMT
What do you reckon is the smallest Theatre this show could work in?
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Post by ncbears on Feb 28, 2016 4:16:03 GMT
I also caught the very last ping pong ball! Landed straight into my Whole Foods brown paper bag Ha! I caught the very first ping pong ball! At the first preview. I still have it. Alas, I could not get it signed! |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 28, 2016 9:13:31 GMT
Arts theatre. I'm glad it's gone. It was a perfectly fine touring version of Saigon, but it was a waste of one of our finest west end theatres. What do you reckon is the smallest Theatre this show could work in? |
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Post by crunchemhall on Feb 28, 2016 9:36:04 GMT
Looks like twas a fantastic night for everyone.
Speeches have already been uploaded on Youtube.
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2,276 posts
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Post by richey on Feb 28, 2016 10:11:37 GMT
Arts theatre. I'm glad it's gone. It was a perfectly fine touring version of Saigon, but it was a waste of one of our finest west end theatres. What do you reckon is the smallest Theatre this show couold work in? And how do you feel about the use of it with the show that's replacing it? |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 28, 2016 10:26:35 GMT
I saw this for the first time last week and thought it was a spectacular show. I have seen people say it's a stripped back version and moan about the sets/production but i can't see where they are coming from. I thought it was a visually stunning and spectacular show with great sets and set pieces. It seemed worthy of the stage/theatre to me.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Feb 28, 2016 10:28:35 GMT
I saw this for the first time last week and thought it was a spectacular show. I have seen people say it's a stripped back version and moan about the sets/production but i can't see where they are coming from. I thought it was a visually stunning and spectacular show with great sets and set pieces. It seemed worthy of the stage/theatre to me. I hear that too but I thought the staging was one of the big highlights of the show and the entire Kim nightmare sequence is one of the most memorable theatre moments I've ever seen. Does anyone who saw the original know how the two versions compare? |
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Post by Dave25 on Feb 28, 2016 10:39:29 GMT
Thanks for that amazing clip!
So Cameron is talking about 2 different projects, the cinema release (25th Gala performance with the additional footage recorded last month) and an actual feature film version.
Both projects are extremely exciting.
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Feb 28, 2016 11:37:05 GMT
Arts theatre. I'm glad it's gone. It was a perfectly fine touring version of Saigon, but it was a waste of one of our finest west end theatres. What do you reckon is the smallest Theatre this show could work in? It would be interesting to see the helicopter scene in the Arts theatre... |
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Post by loopyjohn on Feb 28, 2016 12:01:57 GMT
What do you reckon is the smallest Theatre this show could work in? I've wondered about that too. I can't see any reason why this piece couldn't be staged in a small theatre, even a fringe space. It's a love triangle with many scenes involving a small number of actors. Productions so far have used a large ensemble (a bit less on tour) to give some scale to the bigger scenes - bar, This is the Hour, nightmare scene and so on. But that could all be scaled back. The piece might even benefit from it. I know the last helicopter leaving is an important historical point, but there's no reason we have to see the helicopter. Sound & light can sometimes do a better job of creating an image in the mind. The Watermill has done a great job of tackling shows that have played big theatres - Sunset, Martin Guerre, Witches of Eastwick. I'm not sure I'm ready for the actor-musician version of Miss Saigon just yet, but I can see a small theatre tackling it some day. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2016 12:05:43 GMT
I didn't think being in the 25th Anniversary Gala audience could be topped. I stand corrected. What a buzz! What an audience! This show will be missed!
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 28, 2016 12:07:08 GMT
Well id rather something else but I'm not the one booking the shows!! At least there is a scale and spectacle to Aladdin Arts theatre. I'm glad it's gone. It was a perfectly fine touring version of Saigon, but it was a waste of one of our finest west end theatres. And how do you feel about the use of it with the show that's replacing it? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2016 12:57:44 GMT
The final curtain call speech... |
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Post by stageyninja83 on Feb 28, 2016 13:21:56 GMT
I didn't think being in the 25th Anniversary Gala audience could be topped. I stand corrected. What a buzz! What an audience! This show will be missed! I thought exactly the same but last night topped it! |
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