Wartime love story crosses borders

The sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, "Miss Saigon," will be playing at the IU Auditorium throughout this week. Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, who composed "Les Miserables," "Miss Saigon" is one of the few theatrical musicals that tells a story in a modern setting -- in this case, the Vietnam War. It gives a perspective of the war and the life of the soldiers not often seen in America.\n"We're really excited to have this show here," said Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium. \nCynthia Tomm, who plays Fifi in the chorus and an understudy, said the musical gives a different perspective of Vietnamese life. \n"It is sympathetic to the Vietnamese, depending on the way it was directed," said Tomm. "It shows the brutality of the Viet Kong and the Americans on the natives."\nTomm is a 2001 graduate of the IU School of Music, with a bachelor's degree in voice and theater, Booher said. \n"It is definitely a viewpoint that is under told," Booher said. "One of the things that was compelling about ("Miss Saigon") is that it combines the political aspects, the reaction of the folks at home to our servicemen, and it has a love story."\nAccording to www.miss-- saigon.com, the story was inspired by Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" and a photograph of a young Vietnamese girl leaving her mother to go live with her American father. \nBesides the political statements it makes, "Miss Saigon" , is about an American soldier, Chris, who is stationed in Saigon, the capital of Vietnam, in April of 1975. While at a bar, he meets Kim, a young Vietnamese prostitute, and soon falls in love with her. They move in together, despite Kim's looming pre-arranged marriage to her cousin. \nChris fathers a child with Kim, but before the child is born, he is ordered out of the country when North Vietnam takes over. When he leaves, he marries someone else because he believes Kim to be dead. He later learns Kim is still alive, and has given birth to his child. \n"It is a love story on many different levels, with every definition of love that you can think of -- love between man and woman, love of a child, love of a country and even love of fellow man," Tomm said.\n"Miss Saigon" is a highly technical show. Featuring helicopters, military vehicles and numerous settings, not all performance venues can accommodate a show of this technical magnitude. However, Booher said he is up to it.\n"It is one of the strongest and biggest shows to come to the Auditorium. I'm definitely looking forward to a challenge," Booher said. \nBooher said the Auditorium was under renovation and reopened again in 1999 for the purpose of being able to show such technical shows. \n"Folks in this town have high expectations in the entertainment they see, so we had to make alterations," he said. \n"Miss Saigon" is a modern show, approaching modern issues, with modern music, Booher said. Booher also said, although it isn't as socially relevant as a show like "RENT," which came to IU last month, "Miss Saigon" transitions the gap between the modern musicals and the more traditional musicals in the style of Rodgers and Hammerstein.\nBooher said the music and storyline appeal to younger audiences because of the controversial era in which it takes place. He said it appeals to them because they have heard so much about it. \n"The music is something that could be heard on the radio today. 'RENT' couldn't be possible without shows like 'Miss Saigon,'" said Booher. "This show and its peers bridged the gap. It transitioned the music, featuring a powerful driving beat with rock instrumentation. Not to the extent of 'RENT,' but it has the same kind of appeal."\nTomm said she has enjoyed working on the show and being surrounded by all of the other actors and actresses. \n"It is a fun show to do because it is a yobesides the political statements it makesung show," Tomm said. "It is the kind of show that college performers would look into doing. There is no one old in the show -- we are all around 30 or younger. It also holds younger appeal because it is racy." \nBooher said tickets are still available, but he encourages students to buy tickets early. Prices range from $17 to $39, depending on the location and performance date. The show began at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the IU Auditorium and plays through Sunday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. \nCall the box office at 855-1103 for more information.\n-- Contact staff writer Andy Welfle at awelfle@indiana.edu.