Book: Alain Boublil & Claude-Michael Schönberg
Music: Claude-Michael Schönberg
Lyrics: Alain Boublil & Richard Maltby. Jr
Director: Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy
A true juggernaut of a musical, Miss Saigon has been performed in more than 25 countries around the world since it premiered in London in 1989. This new production by Michael Harrison Entertainment in association with Cameron Mackintosh uses the tagline ‘The Legend Reborn’ and it truly is. The show follows the same plot, but has been given a fresh look and has had some of the more problematic language updated. The changes are unlikely to upset fans of the show and are generally subtle. They help to make it more accessible to a modern audience and their sensibilities without dismissing the original shows values.
From the moment we are invited into ‘Dreamland’, we are surrounded by wonderful and overwhelming levels of spectacle. In a country on fire, we’re introduced to 17 year old Kim (Julianne Pundan) who has been devastated by the destruction of her village and deaths of her family. She is swept into the world of The Engineer (Seann Miley Moore) to work as a bar girl at his club where his nightly ‘Miss Saigon’ competition takes place. The Engineer sells the girls for the night to American soldiers with little regard for their safety or comfort. There she is bought for the night for a despondent Chris by his friend John. In one night they form a deep connection and vow to stay together. Tragedy upon tragedy ultimately prevents their ‘happily ever after’.
Pundan is making her professional debut as Kim in this production. She is extraordinary in this role. Giving a powerful and mature performance throughout, she navigates the complex emotions and musical ability required for Kim with apparent ease. Playing her love interest Chris is Jack Kane. Bringing a much more subtle performance to his role, he plays Chris with stunning vulnerability. The stand out performance comes from Seann Miley Moore as The Engineer. He dazzles on that stage. His largely solo performance of ‘The American Dream’ is a masterclass in storytelling through song and dance.
These wonderful performances are enhanced by the stunning set (Andrew D Edwards) and lighting choices (Bruno Poet) made throughout the show. Edwards Set impressively transforms from Saigon, to Ho Chi Minh City, to Atlanta and lastly to Bangkok. Some of the moving set pieces were a little clunky however, it all has wonderful visual depth and attention to detail. Projection is used throughout to display images of war and to situate you in time and place and an honourable mention has to go to the helicopter scene.
Miss Saigon has endured for over 35 years. This production breathes new life into it. It’s a tragic spectacle from beginning to end and you just can’t take your eyes off it.
Reviewed 16th Jan 2026.
