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MISS SAIGON:
Boon or Bane

By Rito P. Asilo

IT HAS been more than 10 years ago since photos of the young and triumphant faces of Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson graced the front pages of all the local dailies, heralding the end to the worldwide search of Kim, the tragic heroine of Cameron Mackintosh's big budget musical, ''Miss Saigon,'' which was scheduled to open in the last quarter of 1989.

So much has happened since then. Lea won a Tony and recorded songs for Disney, Monique performed with Vanessa Redgrave onstage and has since come home to put up her maverick theater group, New Voice.

Pride

But the two only started the avalanche of pride for Filipino talents. After them, along with the 11 other Filipino pioneers of the ''Saigon'' cast, came many more Pinoy performers.

There's the inimitable Robert Seña, who played Judas in London's ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' and the Engineer in ''Miss Saigon,'' who has successfully staged a comeback on local shores with highly applauded performances in productions like ''Rama at Sita.'' And Junix Inocian who came home for a short time last year to perform in ''The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'' to the delight of his fans.

Monique shared with us that in her London trip last week, she saw Joanna Ampil play Eponine in ''Les Miserables,'' while Gia Macuja and Imelda delos Reyes are in the cast of ''The Lion King.''

These are just a few of the many successes achieved abroad by Filipino talents. These days, to enumerate the names of actors who won the lead roles in this and that musical is no longer a sporadic thing. We have successfully broken down racial and cultural barriers in this regard.

When it was announced last year that ''Miss Saigon'' was folding, along with it came rumors that ''Miss Saigon'' might just be staged in the Philippines. Nobody knew if this were true until early this year when this was confirmed by Dong Alegre, Mackintosh's representative in the Philippines.

47-member cast

Indeed, ''Miss Saigon'' is coming to town. And with Lea Salonga topbilling!

The news has created excitement not only among Filipinos but in neighboring Asian countries as well. Reportedly, the local staging will open in October at the CCP with eight performances in six days a week, and will run till March of next year with a 47-member cast.

It is said to cost hundreds of millions of pesos, a figure that other local theater productions can only gape at. Only SK's ''Rama at Sita'' comes to mind when one thinks of multi-million-peso investment for a theater production but even that, allegedly in tens of millions of pesos worth, is comparatively small.

Will this establish a precedent, or is it just a one-shot deal? Is this a boost for the local theater industry? Some people think so. But there are others who don't, and with good reason.

We polled some theater people for their opinions on this matter, and they came up with some very interesting insights:

Isay Alvarez, actress/singer (Gigi in the original London cast of ''Miss Saigon''; ''Magsimula Ka''): It gives me great pride and joy to learn that ''Saigon'' is finally coming to the Philippines. Yes, it may be a bit expensive, but that's how much it costs in the west. Do you think Filipinos deserve any less?

Income-wise it may be a loss to the so-called ''racketeers'' (a term used for the performer who jumps from one project to the next) because the long hours of rehearsals won't allow them to do other projects. But the career mileage it'll bring them will be unparalleled. Besides, if performing for ''Saigon'' may not fill an actor's pockets (although let's hope it will), it may fulfill what his soul craves for, right?

For the industry, I'm positive this will bring in more investments. Isn't it about time something like this happen to the Philippines? Look, Singapore has to ''import'' actors like Lea Salonga to come up with big theater productions. But the Philippines doesn't need to do that because we have a lot of talents who will fill up roles in a second. The advantages more than outweigh the disadvantages.

Big boost

Tonypet Gaba, actor, Repertory Philippines (''The Good Doctor,'' ''Blood Brothers''): Really? P400M? You can use that money to stage a lot of productions. Our theater-goers are used to a one-month run, you can probably sustain that for two or three months. But of course, this is ''Miss Saigon'' we're talking about, and that may be a big boost to the industry.

That's definitely something new for us. We also have to think of the profit because that will dictate how many more productions we can do in the future. Also, if our theater artists are exposed to standards are in the west, magsisipag sila to come up with productions whose standards will be at par with those on Broadway or the West End. I just hope that if the Philippine government is willing to spend that much for ''Saigon,'' they'd also spend money on our local productions.

Dennis Lagdameo, set/ production designer (''Rent,'' ''How I Learned to Drive''): The staging of ''Saigon'' means there will be more jobs for local artists. Culturally, ''Saigon'' put the Philippines on the map, so it was nice of Mr. Mackintosh to bring it here instead of Singapore or Hong Kong.

On the business side, it's hard to predict if they can recoup the production cost. But you have to weigh the tangible benefits that we can get from it. We have to look at the bigger picture--this may be good for tourism, so hopefully, they get enough publicity to market the show abroad and around the neighboring countries. ''Miss Saigon'' will make or break the possibility of future local stagings of foreign productions of this magnitude.

Pheona Paras, actress (''The Blue Room''; ''Sleeping Beauty''): Every Filipino wants to watch Saigon and he doesn't have to go abroad to see it. It means there will be jobs for a lot of theater people for six months.

Disadvantage

But its staging may be a disadvantage to other theater companies because it would be hard to compete with something this grand and popular. If people have to choose between ''Miss Saigon'' and another well-made locally-produced musical, which do you think would they prefer?

My concern is: should a good, quality production cost this much? I really don't know. But if most of the hundreds of millions of pesos go to the salary of the actors, then that's fine, especially if that is going to change the standard salary rates of our home-grown stage performers (laughs).

Sheila Francisco, actress (''The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe''; ''Joseph the Dreamer''): These are exciting times for Philippine theater, exciting for everyone; for the performers and production people alike. It's a great opportunity to showcase the Filipino talent in an international musical of this magnitude. I think it will be very good for the Filipino talent to be exposed to Broadway's standard of discipline and training.

But I'm concerned that it might affect how local productions would fare. And because we really don't have enough facilities to stage this mammoth production, it has to be at the CCP, which means this will kill off so many of the other smaller shows that are not necessarily of lesser quality.

But let's face it, Filipinos have a lot to be thankful for to ''Miss Saigon.'' Because of it, the Filipino performer is now regarded as world-class. Let's see if ''Saigon'' does well despite an unnaturally long run (by Philippine standards). We have a very limited audience. Most of our shows run for just a month, and you can really see the attendance dwindling towards the end of the run--yun pa kayang six months? Let's hope it does well.

Strong reservations

Ricardo Abad, artistic director, Tanghalang Ateneo: I have strong reservations about the ''Saigon'' performances in Manila. I wouldn't mind it so much if a touring company came over, ran shows for a month or two, then packed up and moved on.

I also wouldn't mind if they made ''Saigon'' into a movie and showed it in cinema houses with Dolby stereo equipment.

I wouldn't mind it, too, if a Filipino director and designer deconstructed ''Saigon'' the way our directors have adapted Verdi operas to suit the Philippine situation.

The thing is, these don't apply to the forthcoming ''Saigon'' performances in Manila. What we have instead is a western musical, designed and directed by western minds, a hit of the western stage, and with Filipinos acting singing and dancing in it.

It's the classic colonial model of little brown brothers performing to the tune of western instruments, very much like the way our great grandparents donned Elizabethan clothes and staged Shakespeare in the manner the colonial powers wanted it staged.

And just when you thought that the colonial presentational style has gone passé, here comes ''Saigon'' to assert colonialism's monstrous head and with some of the finest talents we have produced in this country. With tremendous hype and hoopla.

And, for God's sake, with a six-month run at the CCP, which is supposed to be vanguard of Filipino performing arts!

Ilang productions ang binangga nila doon at mawawala, especially on an important month like December? Like shows by Ballet Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Can you imagine that? Why should you deprive these groups of performing when they are the ones that are really shaping Philippine theater? It just doesn't ring right. Nakakahiya na yata!

Creativity

The performances may make the producers wealthy and the singers more famous, but they don't contribute much to the growth of Philippine theater. They do not foster Filipino creativity in the areas where musical theater needs it most--in the book, the design, the direction, and the music. They don't provide a deeper understanding of Asians. ''Miss Saigon'' in Manila, if you want to be harsh, and we do not want to, is simply an entertainment spectacle for the vain and the status-seeker.

Rosanna Ordoñez, actress (''Nasaan si Hesus?'' ''Paglayang Minamahal''): To be part of this celebrated production would look good on the resumé of any actor, and because of that the auditions for it will be among the busiest, most competitive in years. For the Filipino theater-goer, the ''Saigon'' experience will be a visual treat and a source of pride. So they better make the tickets affordable because if the middle class won't be able to afford them, then you defeat the purpose of bringing it here in the first place. And you say they need a cast of 47? Naku, let's hope hindi ganoon karami ang yayabang! (laughs).

Pinky Marquez, actress/singer (''Magnificat''; ''Rama at Sita''): I am glad the people responsible for bringing it here were able to thresh out problems that prevented it from getting staged here. This will open doors to more talented performers who want to be given a chance to do the show for their countrymen.

Influx

I don't see any negative side to it. These people are not crazy to bring it here if they knew they'd lose a lot of money. On the contrary, this may lead to an influx of foreign patrons who will come to the Philippines to see for themselves how talented Filipinos really are. From them, we may find producers who may be willing to invest in us.

But let's hope the Filipino actor will be well-compensated for the nine months that they will be working on ''Saigon.''

Belinda Panelo, MTV VJ/actress (''Etiquette for Mistresses''; ''Beauty and the Best''): I really don't care how much they spend to stage it here. What I know is I am looking forward to watching it, as most Filipinos are.

Of course, we worry that the local theater scene is unlike that in the US where people from all parts of the country flock to Broadway just to watch these musicals. But ''Saigon'' might change the face of theater here.

This can lead to more jobs, better materials for us to work on. If there's a disadvantage that I can think of, it's that I am not in it. Not even as part of the chorus or part of the set! (laughs) I don't sing that well but I could still fill up space on stage, di ba?

Brando Ortega, stage manager, New Voice Company (''Classical Monique''; ''The Lost Child''): Everybody's excited that it's finally coming over, 10 years after it opened in London. Excited ako na mapanood kaya lang--maa-afford ko kaya? I hope so, because this is one show that every Filipino should watch. I'm sure this'll make money, especially with Lea around. I doubt if we can come up with another production that is as big as this.

Original cast

Isa pa, sana ang mapanood ko eh ang original cast ng Saigon para mas exciting kasi sila talaga ang hahanapin ng mga tao, 'di ba? Sina Monique Wilson, Junix Inocian, Cocoy Laurel, Pinky Amador, Michael Williams, Jenine Desiderio at iba pa.

JM Rodriguez, actor (''Rent''; the soon-to-open ''They're Playing Our Song''): It's an advantage to the Philippines because there are some people who can't afford to go abroad to watch ''Saigon.'' Plus, this will give them a chance to watch Lea, the original Kim, who will reprise the role that catapulted her to international stardom.

I think it's worth all the money that they're going to spend for it because they are going to make sure it will look exactly like the Broadway and London version. Another advantage is that it'll be an interesting tourism tool for us.

On the negative side, however, it might not give an opportunity for actors who haven't played it because most of the people who did it abroad who are back home might be prioritized. The ones who have done it already will still want to do it again, but there are so many talents here who want to do ''Saigon,'' too.

Para Isidro-Genuino, choreographer (''Rent''; ''Let's Go To The Movies''): There are not a lot of foreigners who visit the country to watch our shows. I imagine, this time they will. And the fact that Lea's doing it should attract foreign audiences.

Will it be good for the Filipino performer? I think so. But I hope they'll get me to choreograph it! (laughs) Just kidding. Seriously, I hope the producers will really put their hearts into it so that they can fully explore the richness of the Filipino talent.

My only concern is, if they can't market this in neighboring Asian countries, and solely depend on the Filipino audience to patronize it, how can they see the return of their investment? Let's hope they succeed.

Affordable tickets

Lou Veloso, actor/comedian (''Walang Sugat''; ''Paglayang Minamahal''): Let's hope they're true to their word that tickets will be affordable, because that's the best way to promote theater to the masa and the middle class.

And let's hope the government will provide financial support to more Filipino productions. I think there's an audience for a musical of this magnitude. When we did ''Rama at Sita,'' we had to turn away people because there were not enough shows, and it was a disappointment for them kasi a lot of them came from the provinces.

Although, I believe we can still come up with quality shows that are not quite as expensive. For a lot less, buhay pa rin ang teatro.

Andrew Vergara, actor (''The Fantasticks''; ''The Mouse Trap''): I don't see it as a disadvantage for other theater companies. If they stage it, all the other theater companies will benefit from its staging. If that much money is what it costs to put it up, that's what it costs to put it up. There are some things you can't put a price on.

Is it worth that much to give the Filipino people a chance to see something that spectacular? Yes. Because they've never seen it before, especially for people who have not gone abroad.

Precedent

Amparo Sietereales, actress (''Once On This Island''; ''Rent''): It can attract foreigners, and if it succeeds in doing so, that'll be a boost for the theater industry. If we come up with as good a production as ''Miss Saigon,'' people from around the world may no longer single out Singapore or Hong Kong as the Broadway of Asia. Its staging just might establish a precedent, 'di ba?

For the whole run, however, other theater companies will suffer, and if that happens, actors who are not in the cast of ''Miss Saigon'' will also suffer, because there'll be less projects to work on.

And all the big sponsors will of course go to Saigon because that'll be more publicity and exposure for their companies.

''Saigon'' may have a hard time selling its week-day shows because our audiences are not used to week-day performances. But in the long run, it'll be a boon for the local theater industry.

What about other Filipino artists? We want to hear from you, too. And what about you, dear reader? What do you think?

from: The Philippine Daily Inquirer May 6, 2000