Miss Saigon (Broadway)

See it if You want to see a near perfect production of a classic tragedy. Love. Loss. Denial. Innocence. Cowards. Heroes. Good and evil. Its all here.

Don't see it if You're looking for laughs or if you didn't like the original. This is exactly like that one only with all the staging "umphed up".

See it if I would put up there with the great classics. It has everything, great music, acting and staging. It is a powerhouse of a musical.

Don't see it if it is a period piece, it can get slow for some.

See it if Tainted review as cell phone light rudeness ruined my show. One of my faves; all must see, original version was better. Engineer was great!

Don't see it if Everyone really should, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TURN YOUR PHONES OFF!!!!

See it if Great music, dancing, and production. J.Briones as the pimp (“Engineer”) was funny and engaging. The story had some substance.

Don't see it if Dated gender stereotypes. Egocentric view of United States. Kim’s unnecessary sacrifice of herself at the end was not believable.

See it if you can get past the exploitative nature of the story to enjoy a revival that's grander, more charged & better cast than any pvs incarnation

Don't see it if you can't handle a little over-sentimentality, irksome melodrama, racial stereotyping & a histrionic (though beautiful, at times) score.

See it if wish to see a winner. Tremendous improvement in mistakes made in the original.. Powerful depiction of wartime tales. Casting imp since 91

Don't see it if you need an upbeat show, This does include many sad decisions made by the U.S and individuals. Perfection does not exist.

See it if you're a fan of romantic dramas with high stakes and a gorgeous score. The performances are superb. Eva and Jon Jon are mesmerizing.

Don't see it if you're not a fan of classic musicals, romantic stories, or happy endings.

See it if You intensely love this show or are nostalgic for grand, overstuffed, lavish, dramatic musicals from the 1990s.

Don't see it if You're not a fan of this show (this revival is nothing new, save two great leads and a few new lyrics) or other Les Miz-style musicals.

See it if Classy production with frills and thrills, great voices, score, choreography and personal tragedies of war that cannot ever be forgotten.

Don't see it if you do not appreciate sung-through musicals; you prefer an intimate theater with an intimate setting; war stories are not your thing.

See it if You want to see an all stops pulled out classic Broadway style musical. You saw the earlier B'way production, enjoyed it and want to compare

Don't see it if Melodrama is not your thing. You don't want to be visually and aurally reminded of how our military acted while in Vietnam Nam, not pretty !

See it if You like a really strong story line, astounding staging with a flying helicopter and a fun show that starts a little slow.

Don't see it if The singing has to be memorable. With the exception of one song, I don't remember any of it. Also it's a super misogynistic play.

See it if You want to see a poignant story performed in a spectacular staging of the whole Vietnam war complete with helicopter.

Don't see it if You are OK with cynical critics closing down a show with immense popular appeal.

See it if you loved the original or if you never saw it or if you didn't "get" the original. Just go see it. It is moving, exciting, magical

Don't see it if you hate musicals. This is sung through but doesn't feel stilted. Cast is brilliant. Choreo is amazing. And that score is breathtaking.

See it if You like powerhouse singers, romantic ballads, elaborate moving sets, and grand scale. You’d see Fantine’s spin-off.

Don't see it if You’re looking for fine acting and characters you can relate to (rather than tragic types in extreme situations), or a cheerful comedy

Also If you want to understand how musical theater was revitalized for a new generation after jazz hands fell out of fashion, see Miss Saigon while you can. (Ideally after Les Miz or Phantom, but prioritized over CATS.) This revival pulls out all the stops.

No warbly acoustic coffeehouse vocals here. Wouldn't have guessed our female lead, Lianah Sta Ana, was the alternate except that Noblezada has garnered so much high-profile praise. Rachelle Ann Go and the ageless Jon Jon Briones are also great. The male lead is a touch nasal. The helicopter scene does not disappoint!

The dancing wasn’t memorable but w/ one exception: pay attention The Morning of the Dragon, esp if you’re in the nosebleed seats and can see the weaving patterns from above. Being born of immigrants may make me extra sensitive on this point, but the choreographed transformation of the Saigon peasants into an armed Red march struck a chord of awe and terror that I didn’t expect in this (admittedly sappy) love story... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for a raw, raunchy emotional story. Noblezada and Briones are stunning.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to simulated sex - the scenes in the bar are quite racy. This is a fine revival.

See it if you're looking for a dramatic musical with lush melodies, terrific singing and elaborate production design. Production is a big spectacle.

Don't see it if you might find the melodrama of it all tiresome or the story with American exceptionalism dated. Some mature content and sexual themes.

See it if I am not sure I can come up with a reason. The choreography is primitive this is just ugly.

Don't see it if You have seen a gentler more light handed version. If you have never seen it. This just doesnt work on any level.

See it if you are interested in Vietnam war storylines, and on the history around the destiny of children born from war and their parents.

Don't see it if you want a happy story, are bodered by war stories or are not interested in romance between soldiers & locals and their children.

See it if the tour comes to you & you’ve never seen it. The memorable score lifts uneven material. Briones, Noblezada & Ilaw gave great Bway turns.

Don't see it if you’ve seen it before. The changes made to the libretto since its original London run have lessened the show rather than improved it.

Also In particular, the song changes have weakened, not strengthened the material. Ellen’s realistic, fierce London throwdown “It’s Her or Me” became the more conciliatory “Now That I’ve Seen Her” in the OBC run, and is watered down further still into the ridiculous (in this context) new song, “Maybe” - completing Ellen’s devolution from a strong “I’m fighting for my marriage” character to a not believable “I’m willing to give up my husband based on incomplete information I learned three minutes ago from a stranger” pushover. Just, nah.... Read more Read less

See it if A flawed & powerful indictment of the Vietnam pullout, stolen from Madama Butterfly. My 30-year-old seatmate had a history lesson & was...

Don't see it if ...shocked by the seamy portrayal of Saigon/Bangkok nightlife, but what was not true? I cried just as occurred 25 years ago & at Puccini.

See it if you want to feel something profound while also being taken by an unexpected romance; don't mind tragedies. Go to see Eva Noblezada amaze.

Don't see it if you don't like unhappy endings, are bothered by some sexy and salacious scenes (and song lyrics), need something more contemporary and new.

Also This mostly-sung-through musical set mostly in 1970s Vietnam balances a delicate story about the effects (psychic, moral, physical, familial, social, and romantic) of war upon men and women alike; and the romantic love stories that so many people seek in a memorable musical. What I appreciate about this particular production of Miss Saigon is the strength of the singing and the set-design and sound (the helicopter moment is one for which I was waiting, and my expectations were more than exceeded). But even more, I appreciate that this is not a neat-and-tidy story. It has tensions, lapses in morality, human error and lack of judgment, and ambiguous moments where difficult choices have to be made. Lives and loves alike are threatened and I daresay that the most invested theatregoer does not leave The Broadway Theatre unscathed, nor do the characters in the play. A day later, I continue ruminating upon the musical. N.B.: Leave younger kids at home--sights and lyrics alike skew mature.... Read more Read less

See it if Wonderful acting, singing, sets, special effects. Real chemistry & emotion btw. actors; I was an emotional puddle by the end. Loved it!

Don't see it if You don't like big, intense, lavish musicals. I was not familiar with the original & was completely swept up by the story & blown away.

Also Kudos in particular to Eva Noblezada, who was absolutely luminous. I was stunned to see this is her Broadway debut!... Read more Read less

See it if you are longing to see a Broadway show from the 1990's.

Don't see it if you are longing for a singer as surprising as Lea Salonga was in the title role.

See it if you never saw the original (Lea Salonga was the whole show then). In this lavish revival, The Engineer is the whole show and he's excellent.

Don't see it if you saw the original. Same 2-3 pretty songs, the helicopter is still cool (if it works), but still one of THE worst bdwy-show endings EVER.

Also Could have done without the new jokes added: Book of Mormon references, the male-stripper, etc.

Our night the helicopter malfunctioned, and the show stopped for 18 minutes. Merde occurs and you have to go with the flow. It was excellent for regular theater-goers who'd never experienced something like that, but jarring for newbies (tons of teens) splashed all over the audience.

The show is still BIG, epic, loud, with some pretty music and a handful of magical numbers. Otherwise it's messy, EXTREMELY predictable (which is what especially disappointed me about the original almost 30yrs ago) and sad as hell.... Read more Read less

See it if You have or haven't seen the original classic musical. Themes, music and lyrics are still powerful.Cast gave great performances.

Don't see it if You are expecting the duplication of the terrific performances given by Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga.