Televised musical numbers with the original 1989 London cast of "Miss Saigon": Lea Salonga (Kim), Simon Bowman (Chris), Claire Moore (Ellen), Jonathan Pryce (Engineer), and Peter Polycarpou (John ).
Lea Salonga is still the best Kim ever . Her singing and acting has not been surpassed after 30 years . Eva is a very close second , almost as great ! 👍👍👍👍👍Simon Bowman too ! The best Chris ! The 25th anniversary remake was SUPERB !!!!!!
I was lucky enough to be a dresser on the original run of Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. I can’t count the number of times I heard this score (8 shows a week for nearly two years) and yet it still gives me chills. I never tire of hearing the music - takes me straight back to standing in the wings watching the cast work their magic. Thanks for sharing this video - so wonderful to see Peter Polycarpou’s Bui Doi.
Hi Clare, I had a chance to watch at Drury Lane in Dec 1992. Re Bui Doi. It was one touching moment seeing real video of Bui Doi's. The other one was Ellen on spotlight to sing I Still Believe. Both are painful experiences in this life. By the way, the late Junix Inocian played the role of The Engineer. He happened to be a close friend of my cousin. I'm glad to read your experience.
I went to the first night with my wife in London, Drury Lane, Covent Garden. My wife at the end was in tears, as were many other people in the audience. Lee Salonga made the show what it became all over the world. A very precious memory for us.
Others say Lea is the best kim because of her voice & acting but for me aside from all those things, her youthful purely innocent face as if she really came down from a remote village who knows nothing outside of her village is how i imagine what kim would really looked like and Lea's is the most prettiest who ever played kim imo
I went all the way to London from the Philippines just to watch this! I ended up watching it twice and many other shows like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables etc….
We saw this Chris … they are both amazing I went to see this every year for my birthday with hubby .. and saw the 25th production which was filmed … the writers were there also .. all cast amazing … makes me sob everytime… beautiful and stunning
I watch them in NYC first night they debut on Broadway and since them left an impact of the show and sheer talent , gave me chills and to watch them here again made me tear up . What a memorable night and what a talent and treasure to see Lea Salonga !
I first saw this on Broadway in New York City when my mom took me when I was 16 years old and when I was an adult off Broadway at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. My heart breaks every time I see the ending as it brings me to tears. When John sings Bui Doi, it is a scene I also will never forget.
I have seen this show six times; once in Cleveland, once in Chicago, once in Toronto, twice in NYC. My first time was in London with the original cast. Each time I see it I have ugly cried. Now I'm watching it on this youtube video and I am still ugly crying! This show is like no other I have seen. Thank you for sharing this!
Stephanie, we're in the same boat. I saw it 7 times. First time I flew to NYC from my home in Chicago and saw Lea and Willy Falk as Chris. I was so overwhelmed I came back the next day and scored a single orchestra seat. Price? $65. I can't imagine what the price for an Orch. seat is today. When it came to Chicago I saw it another 3 times and then years later I saw it in the round at the Lincolnshire Marriott outside of Chicago. I am crying my ass off looking at this video. I did the same thing with their next musical Les Miz.
What I wouldn't give to have been old enough in the 80s to experience the original casts of those stupendous, revolutionary mega-musicals - especially Les Mis and Miss Saigon - before the 'cookie-cutter' effect set in.
I'm in awe at the chemistry between both leads. If they were able to reproduce that everynight, wow, it must have been incredibly moving to experience that sweetness live. The "other woman" vocal skills are also mindblowing. Sharp, precise and potent. Didn't know the show, don't know why I clicked on it... But I'm HOOKED!
Claire Moore is a superstar in my book, she was also the Christine who took over for Sarah Brightman in London's Phantom. She was also Mary Magdalene in the 20th Anniversary cast album of Jesus Christ Superstar. I listened to that endlessly as a kid.
Still one of the most thrilling nights I’ve ever had in a theater - I know people now think the show is “problematic”, but the score truly soars and those original performances both in London & New York left you speechless. Thank you so much for posting Spiderwoman - great to have you back!
This has to be my favorite score. I’ve only seen it on stage 4 times. Original and 25 th anniversary casts in London. On Broadway. And touring company at the Kennedy Center. I still tear up when listening to the music.
@@princepeterwolf I don’t believe it is - but a growing number of people object to the way it depicts Asians. Eva Nobalez who was Kim in the last revival says it’s shouldn’t be performed anymore. Again - I totally disagree - it’s what happened unfortunately, but that is whats out there now.
@@christopherbush9027 I don't really get that either, but fine if she doesn't want to perform it or see it anymore that's her choice, but saying it should never be performed again seems a little bit drastic. It seems in today's world everything is problematic, we are creating such a censorship on everything it won't take long before we won't be able to say or enjoy anything
I didn't understand why my mama was crying during the show (because she lived through it and understood it a tad better than my 12 yr old self.) THEE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCORE IN THE WORLD. thank you for all making this MASTERPIECE
It must've been very emotional experience for your mom to live through the war so it was probably a cathartic experience for her and you . I know this musical hasn't aged well and is relevant than ever because of the stories like this still happening and mostly how those stories get used as sterotypes speaking from an asian american myself. But miss saigon is truly a tragic and emotionally masterpiece of theater.
I went to just the 3rd preview, a matinee performance that overran, I think by over an hour! I had no idea of the storyline. It was a stunning, beautiful, beyond moving experience. Afterthought inevitably lengthy applause, the audience left the theatre in silence, no-one daring to speak until we were outside. We looked at each other, in absolute wonder.
That score!!! That cast!!!!!!!! Simon Bowman! Peter Polycarpou! Clair Moore! LEA SALONGA!!!!!! They are all truly flawlessss (and besides the very very problematic casting, Jonathan Pryce is also outstanding!) THANK YOU for posting this!!!!! xo
I watched this repeatedly over and over again when I was in my teenage life, it's kind of emotional two people who's really feel inlove with each other .😍🤩
Oh WOW!!! I missed this masterpiece in the theater, this is the closest I can get now. Hearing some of these moments for the first time is incredible! Thank you for uploading!
I went to see the Dress rehearsal for the original cast, this was so lovely to see. Love the channel. My jaw dropped when I first watched I still Believe. Something went wrong in Bui Doi and they had to stop and start it again. Thank you
I remember these being aired on BBC1's Wogan show. I was 14 yrs old and had to see the show. I sat right up in the nosebleeds. I did.t know the story of Madame Butterfly so when it got to the end, it utterly DEVASTATED me! I was totally in love with Simon Bowman as Chris and Leaas Kim in these roles. Claire Moore as Ellen was an absolute powerhouse , and Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer both creepily funny and intense. It was the first "serious" musical that I'd seen in the theatre. It haunts me to this day 300+ years later. Thanks for sharing these clips! MWAH!
We're there only clips of different scenes that were recorded for promotional purposes, or is there a COMPLETE RECORDING that the producers decided not to release.
Not just one of my fav musicals that came out in the 80's. But one of my fav musicals ever As you know was part of the Mega Musical line up from the 80's era with the likes of:42nd Street, Cats, Starlight Express, Les Mis, Dave Clark's "Time, Chess, Mutiny, Phantom, Metropolis etc
I was seeing a girl that was in the cast from 1993/1995 never been to a show ever, iwas converted took my mates 4 grown men to see it all balling at the end and it's still awsome 👌
Can we please bring back the beautiful Disney mix voice that musical theatre performers had in the 80s-90s. That is why Lea Salonga still sounds the same over 30 years later. The current trend of contemporary scream belting makes me sad
Brings back wonderful memories. Me in my student years travelling to London to see all those incredible shows (at affordable student prices). ♥️ My friends used to supply me with videos of the Wogan shows where those shows were advertised to get excited and return asap😂. - Thanks so much, spiderwoman.
@@ryanlaskey6184 True, lol, but, tell you what, I used to get the best seats in the house as a student... those are now VIP seats now, sold for outragous amounts.
@@DanielRuf Yup. Box seats at Drury Lane for £10 20 years ago - amazing views too. Top-price back then was £27.50 across the West End - horrific when you see the prices now.
I love the original cast of Miss Saigon; with Lea Salonga and Simon Bowman, I wish they can put the whole play in video or cd so I can buy it. Does anyone know where I can get the full play of the original Miss Saigon? I regret not able to see them when the show went to Broadway. Thank you for sharing!
@@Mari_MyBeautiful_Life There is a full recording of the show with Lea, but it isn't the original production or cast. It's from the Manila production at the end of 2000. Besides Lea, the original Gigi (Isay Alvarez) is in it and a couple of ensemble members from the original London company have roles as well - Robert Sena as Thuy and Jon Jon Briones as the Engineer (a role he shared with someone else).
I am pretty sure they have recordings of everything hidden somewhere in Cameron Mackintosh's office 😅 The quality may not be great but with the power of AI, I am sure anything is possible. Please release it. I will buy!
Saw the original Broadway cast. Great show. It gets a bit of a bad rap because it was the follow-up to the composers' Les Miserables. It would be hard for almost any show to follow that one. Thanks for this!
I loved these! From the 'Wogan' show. I recall they had quite a few special episodes that showcased a new musical opening in the West End, dedicating the whole show to it. Any chance you have the Moby Dick! episode in this amazing quality?
Holy elephant snot!! This is the Hope diamond in a Cracker Jacks box! Again, thou art an ocean of benevolent wonder. Aurora S, if enrichment has a financial assessment, i owe you several banks. GRAZI !!!!! Peace be with you, Queen Thespis...Lukerdog
So the character of John was originally played by a Caucasian? The subsequent ones have been people of color. And all those kissie kissie, haha, must have been tough for Lea and Simon to concentrate on singing.
Sana nauna pa sya Kay Nora aunor na maging nat. Artist.anong basihan Kay Nora bakit sya naging national artist? Dapat si LEAH ANG naunakay Nora Kasi kalevel lang ni Nora c Vilma. Bakit c NORA dapat LEAH.
Kasi si Nora ay hindi lang tunay at multi awarded aktress at singer, but an inspiration to the Filipino masses. Lalo’t Hindi siya Maputi at mestiza. Ika nga, nakikita ng masa ang sarili nila kay Nora. Hango sa hirap pero pwedeng maging successful. Nora gave them inspiration and Hope sa buhay especially during Martial Law era.
