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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Speed bumps abound in
‘Road to Saigon’<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT size=3>Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Times </I>papers
6/3/10</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>While I was in Los
Angeles, I had the opportunity to review the world premiere of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Road to Saigon</I>, which will soon be
touring major U.S. cities, including Cleveland. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>When we last left Kim,
the 17-year-old Vietnamese waif from the hit Broadway musical <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Miss Saigon</I>, she was sacrificing herself
for the welfare of her Asian-American child as U.S. troops—including the baby’s
father—pulled out of Saigon. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Kim has been brought back
for an encore in <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Road to Saigon</I>,
currently playing at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles and, soon
after this world premiere engagement, on tour in northeast Ohio.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In fact, Kim has been
brought back in triplicate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
play-with-music, conceived by East West Players’ artistic director Tim Dang and
developed by director Jon Rivera, features Joan Almedilla, Jennifer Paz and
Jenni Selma, who either performed the role of Kim on Broadway during its
1991-2001 run or in one of the national tours.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The inspiration for this
production was that each of these women followed a humble and distinctive path
to this powerful and provocative play that changed their
lives.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The essence of this
production is that each woman plays herself and tells her own story, interwoven
with musical numbers that reflect key memories and significant
moments.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The plan is that their
respective stories are as powerful and provocative as the original production
itself.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>After all, the play—a
loose adaptation of the <SPAN style="COLOR: black">Puccini opera </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Madame Butterfly</I>—is set during the most
devastating and morally dubious military action in American history.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Miss Saigon</I> opened amidst controversy,
when an Anglo actor was hired to play a key Asian role.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Surely these three Filipino actresses
should have much to say in a production staged in the playhouse the <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">New York Times</I> dubbed “the nation’s
pre-eminent Asian American theater troupe” and whose very mission is to “give
voice to the Asian Pacific American experience.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>They do not.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, these contrary Kims merely sing
and dance their way around issues of social significance and and do little more
than offer fond memories, unremarkable personal milestones and gossip-laden Kim
confessionals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Political context is
circumvented by endearing but superficial recollections.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In addition to lacking a
social conscience, this production is short on artistic integrity.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Kims are absolutely phenomenal
singers, belting every number with the same honed skills and dynamic
personalities that landed them on the professional stage in the first
place.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, the songs they sing
are either popular standards like Billy Joel’s “A New York State of Mind” or
tunes from the American theatre catalog that merely hint at the stories being
told. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In fact, the running
narrative offered by Ms. Almedilla, Ms. Paz and Ms. Selma serves as mere fodder
to justify a song and to segue from one song to another.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their respective stories are delivered
in disruptive, piece-meal fashion, with one Kim offering a bit of back story
before being interrupted by one of the other competitive Kims and a segment of
her story.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This makes for
convoluted and rather random storytelling.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>More cabaret than the
theatrical production pitched in its promotional materials, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Road to Saigon</I> resembles a cocktail
lounge act in the Catskills.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kay
Cole’s stagy choreography and musical accompaniment limited to piano and drums
reduces these professional performers to showgirls. Scenic designer John Binkley
does his best to bring some theatrics to this production. He has created a
curvaceous set piece that softens the atmosphere and pushes all the action
toward the audience to generate an immediate sense of intimacy.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Perhaps the biggest
letdown is that not a single song from <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Miss Saigon</I> made it into this
production. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Even Mitzi Gaynor, long
past her prime and doing three shows a night in Atlantic City, sang her money
song from the original <EM>South Pacific</EM>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The lure of former Kims
will surely draw Clevelanders familiar with <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Miss Saigon</I> to the theater. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, audience members are bound to be
disappointed once the novelty wears off and the star dust dissipates, and will
wonder whether any of the other 200 Kims who graced the stage have better
stories to tell.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">Reader freedback is welcome. Go to: <A
href="http://www.chagrinvalleytimes.com/contact_us.php">www.chagrinvalleytimes.com/contact_us.php</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>