lea salonga

I have always loved Musicals. I grew up with my mom, introducing me & my siblings to The Orphan Annie, Sound of Music, The King & I, etc. I grew up in the time when Lea Salonga was chosen as the lead role of Kim in the Broadway Musical, Miss Saigon. Every little girl like me wants to be like her when they grow up. I knew all the songs in that play. Lea Salonga was my ultimate idol! If I wasn’t going to be doctor, I wanted to be a Broadway performer. In school, I got lead roles in plays and solos in concerts. I am just in love with musical plays and their songs. I longed to watched a musical play ever since. I eventually did get to watch my first Broadway show 3 years ago with my sister. I also wanted to bring J to a musical play too. I want to share with him the magical experience of attending a Broadway musical. It is like introducing my first love to my last love. J is also a stage performer himself so he is familiar of what happens during and behind the shows. He used to be a recognised cultural dancer in his college. He even got an award for his contribution of his talent when he graduated (proud wife, right here.) So, on one of our date night, I though it would be nice to add in a night of Broadway Musical after our dinner. After our Italian dinner at Supply & Demand, we went to Esplanade Theater with our tickets on our hands to watch Les Miserables.

It is crucial not be late in watching plays because you can only come in the theater in a particular time or else you will disturb the performers if you go in & out. So make sure you take care of business before entering the theatre. Also don’t forget to turn off your phones. We were lucky that we secured great seats for the show, We were so near, we can see them sweat and spit (yes, we saw that too!).

I was disappointed to know that Rachelle Ann Go is not part of the play but either ways, the show was amazing and the cast was superb.

The actor, Simon Gleeson who played the lead role of Jean Valjean gave a very stellar performance. He gave a convincing portrayal of the hero of the play. The role of Fantine which was also played by Pinay singer, Rachelle Ann Go, was played by the angelic Patrice Tipoki. Her rendition of the I Dream A Dream was heart-wrenching. My favorites were the funny Thenardier and Madame Thenardier. I also love the actors who played Jean Valjean’s archenemy, Javert and the hopeless in-love, Eponine. Kerrie Anne Greenland who played Eponine gave a beautiful effortless rendition of the all-time favorite, On My Own. I was not really into the actors who played Cosette and Marius.

During the recess of the play, we got to go out and shake our legs. We saw the beautiful costumes of the performers displayed outside. My hubby got to enjoy a beer.

We got back to finish the rest of the spectacular play. The production designs were ingenious and costumes designs were lovely.

It was a beautiful night to remember of stories of success, perseverance & forgiveness and songs of different types of love- unrequited love, romantic love, of friends, of father & daughter, of mother & daughter, of country.

Tickets from Sistic

I grew up witnessing how Lea Salonga rise up and became a star on the West End. She wowed the world when she played the young Kim in “MISS SAIGON“. Miss Saigon is a story of a young innocent Vietnamese prostitute name Kim who had fallen in love with a GI during the war. Lea Salonga brought pride to the Filipinos. She later played roles as Eponine in Les Miserables. She won Tony Awards for both her role in Miss Saigon and Les Miserables. She played Oona in the Little Tramp. She lend her voice to Disney Princess, Jasmine of Alladin and Mulan.

In my elementary years when Miss Saigon was getting popular in Broadway, I too was busy with solo singing parts and roles in school shows/plays partly because Lea Salonga was every girl idol. If I didn’t purse my medical career, I would have struggled to try my luck in Broadway.

Now, Rachelle Ann Go, another Pinoy, is again is making waves in Broadway and making Filipino proud as she played the feisty prostitute, Gigi.

Recently, Miss Saigon celebrated their 25th Anniversary. Watch the awesome performances as the original and recent actors of the show merge on stage and sang the songs of Miss Saigon. I am particularly spellbound when Lea Salonga and Rachelle Ann Go sang “Movie in my Mind”. I was also giddy with excitement when Lea Salonga and Simon Bowman sang “The Last Night of the World” and later joined by the new Kim and John. Watch as Lea Salonga shared tender kisses with both original and new John. Enjoy!

A NIGHT OF LES MISERABLES

MISS SAIGON 25th ANNIVERSARY GALA