theatre
The entrance was just under the marquee, and there were stores all along the block. When I walked in the lobby was straight ahead, but the theater itself was BEHIND all the stores along the sidewalk. It took up the whole block! Inside, the ceiling was about 50 feet high with intricate Chinese carvings and tapestries all over the walls. The stage was the whole front of the theater, with the tall curtain . I wanted to get pictures of it all , but of course no cameras were allowed inside, And I did not want my camera taken away, so I behaved. The was no light to sneak a picture either.
Walking up to the Restaurant, we looked right at this building. Now mind you, we live in Earthquake country, and my first thought was "Crikey!! I would not want to be in that building during one!!" I was told, that it could withstand a 9.0 earthquake. Well I wouldn't want to risk it!! It was a great use of air space though. Not much room on the street, but the air was empty!
We ate right across the street from the theater, at this Benihana restaurant. All of the tables were the tepanyaki tables, and the chef puts on this really cool show with his chatter, and tall red hat, and two implements. A spatula, and one really sharp knife. He cooked it all right there in front of us. At the end, he took a slice of onion, and separated the rings, stacked them from large to small on the grill, right on the hot spot, poured some magic water into the center of it and lit it off. Looked just like a mini-volcano right on our table!! COOL!! He then brought out a blue bottle of Bombay Gin and cleaned the grill, before he left us to eat our meal. That was a show in itself. And GOOD GRIEF the prices!!!! I had the chef's choice which was prawns and a sirloin steak, and it was 27.99 US DOLLARS!! The sushi menu was brought after we ordered, so we got an order to split between us, and 4 pieces of YUMMY Sushi was 4.75! Now that is what I was really looking for, SO next time I go, I hit the sushi bar and eat there, MUCH cheaper!! The food was great, and the atmosphere was worth it, but this is not something that one does every month!!
We walked across the street to the theater, and the most amazing experience of my life was about to begin! Miss Saigon is a musical, about the fall of Saigon, and the life that the Vietnamese were subjected to by our service men. It was a love story, Chris and Kim meet and fall in love, and are separated when Saigon Falls and he is evacuated and she misses the last helicopter out. Fast forward 5 years, Kim is now in Bangkok, Chris is in Atlanta, and married to Ellen, when he finds out that Kim has a Son. Chris and Ellen and John (the friend from the army) all go to meet the Boy, and Kim meets Ellen, gives the boy to Chris and kills herself.
A simple story, patterned after Madame Butterfly, but the music, and the set, and the story of the Vietnamese Army and the staging and especially the dancing and the special effects, made this one extraordinary! The helicopter actually comes down out of the ceiling, right on the stage, and takes Chris and John up and away from the American Embassy. The director has made this production so different from any other one. The Lady I went with, Karol, said this one was absolutely the best she had ever seen. It was an experience in sense overload. The lighting designer took this simple story, and together with the orchestra and the choreographer and turned it into the most unique experience. BRIGHT vivid reds and yellows and blues, all swirling around, creating the mood of the scene. I so wanted to go backstage and see how the sets were moved on and off, and how the helicopter worked, and to see their light board. However, I am sure they did not want me back there.
I have talked about the staging of the story and have not mentioned the best part of the whole play, and that was the very talented actors that told the story. Miss Saigon, is really an opera. It is all sung, no speaking, and the play went on in two acts for 2 1/2 hours! Emy Baysic played the part of Kim. She also was in the Broadway production. Louis Hobson was a Seattle actor, and their voices blended together beautifully! The other two main characters were the Engineer and John, who were also from Seattle. This production is going to be touring, and if it comes your way, DO NOT MISS IT!! It cost me 50.00 for the ticket, but we had excellent seats, cheaper ones can be purchased. I am Hoping they go to Vancouver, and you can bet your bippy that if it does, I will be there.
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