Throughout the history of theatre, compelling works of art have been produced on stages all around the world. From heart-wrenching tragedies to hilarious comedies, many shows have inspired our society to treat people with more respect and to see the perspectives of different communities. The Broadway musical “Miss Saigon,” written by playwrights Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, does this to a new level. From its tear-jerking musical numbers to its intricate set, “Miss Saigon” contains every single element of an amazing show that teaches audiences to see the world in a new light. 

Miss Saigon takes place in the city of Saigon, at the time of the Vietnam War. The two main characters, Kim and Chris, are played by actors Emily Bautista and Anthony Festa. Kim is a young Vietnamese woman working as a prostitute and Chris is an American soldier. They meet at a bar called Dreamland when Kim is forced by her boss to be intimate with Chris. After just one night of knowing each other, Chris and Kim fall in love and fight to stay together through the hardships of war. Their struggle is portrayed seamlessly through heartfelt love ballads, powerful solos, and climactic songs that build upon hope and hopelessness. Although the ending isn’t a fairytale ideal, it accurately portrays the adversity that the Vietnamese faced during the war leaving audiences thinking about how they can make the world a better place. 

Seeing this show is a jaw dropping experience. Firstly, the actors have incredible talent and make the experience of seeing the show feel real. Also, the musical composition of this show is done with great skill. For instance, songs such as “The Movie in my Mind” and “Bui Doi” have amazing orchestral buildup and tremendously tell the story of the show through music. The set of this show is a very accurate depiction of Vietnam in that time period, and has very realistic details. All of these elements in the show enhance the appeal of “Miss Saigon.” 

To tie everything together, “Miss Saigon” is a breathtaking work of art that also accurately portrays the world of its characters. Unlike other shows made in the past, it realistically represents a group of people and their struggles. For instance, “West Side Story” did a mostly accurate representation of the Latinx struggles in America, but has many inaccurate stereotypes embedded in it’s dialogue. 

In addition, “Miss Saigon”  brings to light important issues about racial prejudice, violence and treatment of women. Seeing the actual show made me think about these issues and appreciate the life I live. Because of “Miss Saigon” I feel more tolerant and all around more thoughtful of the things that people go through on a daily basis.