Ogunquit's 'Miss Saigon' Pulses with Urgency of Life and Death

Presented by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh; music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; lyrics by Richard Malty Jr. and Alain Boublil; adapted from the original French lyrics by Alain Boublil; additional material by Richard Maltby Jr.; orchestrations by William D. Brohn; set design, Michael Anania; lighting design, Richard Latta; sound design, Jeremy Oleksa; costumes coordinated by Brent Bruin; production stage manager, Jinay L. Reitze; hair and make-up design, Emilia Martin; costumes provided by Costume World; scenery originally designed and built for Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, American Musical Theatre of San Jose and Paper Mill Playhouse; music direction, Ken Clifton; choreography, Robert Tatad; direction, Paul Dobie

Cast: Engineer, Raul Aranas; Kim, Jennifer Paz; Chris, Gregg Goodbrod; John, Nik Walker; Thuy, Austin Ku; Ellen, Amanda Rose; Gigi, Ya Han Chang; Mimi, Gyu Jin Lim; Yvette, Amanda Galang; Yvonne, Anna-Lee Cappodona; #66, Jim Becker; Marine, Bradley d. Gale; Assistant Commissar, Kevin Schuering; Soldier, Sam Simahk; Soldiers 1-6, Kavin Panmeechao, Glen Llanes, Christopher Shin, Kevin Schuering, Gary Thomas Ng, Sam Simahk; Tam, Yamilah Saravong, Sarah Deherrera, Zak Burgess; Delegates, Bradley d. Gale, Sam Port, Gyu Jin Lim, Lora Nicolas; Club Owner, Gary Thomas Ng; Hustlers, Kavin Panmeechao, Christopher Shin, Glen Llanes; Tourists, Travis Artz, Jim Becker, Bradley d. Gale, Sam Port, Kevin Schuering, Matthew Skrincosky; Moulin Rouge Girl, Carol Angeli; Go-Go Girls, Anna-Lee Cappadona, Katie Lee Hill, Amanda Galang; Vendors/Moulin Rouge Girls, Ya Han Chang, Gyu Jin Lim, Lora Nicolas; Captain Schulz, Sam Port; Embassy Workers, Travis Artz, Jim Becker, Matthew Skrincosky; Officers, Bradley d. Gale, Travis Artz, Jim Becker, Kevin Schuering, Matthew Skrincosky; A Vietnamese, Sam Simahk; Another Vietnamese, Glen Llanes

Performances: Now through October 23, Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main Street, Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; tickets available through Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787, Patron Services at 207-646-5511 or online at OgunquitPlayhouse.org

In director Paul Dobie's personal program notes, he makes no bones about the fact that the Ogunquit Playhouse's current revival of Miss Saigon resonates with the immediacy of the long, drawn out wars in which America is currently engaged. Indeed it does. This riveting production strips away the fuzzy television filter through which we watch the news of the "conflicts" in the Middle East and penetrates our emotional core with a devastating urgency that leaves us shaken and breathless. In a word, it is flawless.

From its tremendous cast to its brilliant design team, this Miss Saigon demonstrates that regional companies don't need Broadway budgets to create stirring and memorable theater. All they need is talent, vision, and a leader at the helm who holds everyone up to a standard of excellence that is unflinching and uncompromising. In Executive Artistic Director Brad Kenney, Ogunquit Playhouse has found that leader. Under his watchful eye, Ogunquit productions through the past several years have become increasingly more entertaining and exciting. This current revival of Miss Saigon is unequivocally the best one yet.

Jan Nargi is owner and creative director of JMN Publications, a marketing and public relations firm based in Boston, Mass. She provides consultation, communications, and writing services to clients in the health care, entertainment, financial, retail, manufacturing, non-profit, and sports industries. As a freelance writer, Jan has had hundreds of articles published in business and high-tech magazines. Theatrically, she has reviewed, written, directed, acted, produced, sung, danced, managed publicity, pounded nails, and designed lighting and sets. Jan has even acted in the occasional B-movie, playing a zombie, a psycho shrink, and a clueless news reporter. You may visit her on the web at www.jmnpublications.com.

More Articles by This Author...