Miss Saigon School Edition

This was my first visit to the Brindley and to CODYS but I have to say that I will definitely be back after watching this staggering performance. All the way through I had to keep reminding myself this was a youth performance so well rounded was the cast. The sets were fabulous and every change was seamless and I attended on opening night so this is no mean feat. The lighting plot worked beautifully and the props and costumes really fitted the period of 1970’s Vietnam. The real beauty of this show was the cast. Every single one of them! The chorus parts had a number of different roles but played each one with the character they had been given or created. The youngest, little Harlie - Joy Bundy played Tam so sweetly. She never put a foot wrong so the rest of the cast had a lot to live up to with a performance like that from a 4 year old. And live up to it they certainly did. Hannah Phillips as Gigi danced and sang and opened the solos with “The Movie in my Mind” and did it with so much passion. And all this on opening night. Greg Fryer as Thuy was sinister and scary and again with great vocals. Amy Dewsnip as Ellen sounded fabulous in her solos and created a very likeable character who is caught between two worlds. Nick Gartland played John absolutely brilliantly. This role is so key to the show being the conscience of the GI’s who go home and this young man is only 15. I defy anyone to believe young people aren’t capable of the depth required for a role such as this after this performance. Nicks vocals on Bui-Doi were stunning and apart from the subject matter bought me to tears and took my breath away. I see great parts for this young man in the future. Daniel Richter was utterly fantastic as the Engineer. This part is really difficult to pull off as it needs comic mixed with sinister and that’s hard to produce. Daniel commanded the stage every time he was on it and I loved “The American Dream” and “Bankok” which were both audibly and visually stunning. Celia Dick did a wonderful job as Kim the young girl who falls in love with a GI and dreams of a better life in the USA. The range of vocals needed in this role is vast and Celia was more than a match for them. She played the part with a serenity and innocence that was lovely to watch. I totally believed in her love of Chris her GI. Chris was played expertly by Ben Cupit who has so much stage presence and super vocals. His acting is so natural that I was immersed in his performance and forgot his youthful age of 17 which didn’t detract from the emotional part he was playing. His vocal performance suited the role brilliantly and never once did I feel he was out of his depth. A more than memorable performance. The whole cast and production team should be congratulated on such a well rounded, beautifully staged, vocally brilliant show which I absolutely loved and I will remember for being as good as any professional version of this show I have ever seen. Finally I know the society will miss Nick Cupit who directed this show and has made this society what it is but I would like to thank Gemma Thorniley for her hospitality and wish her all the best as the new Chair of CODYS.

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