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Cameron Mackintosh’s new production premiered at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in March, 2007 and ran for a further 15 months nationally, receiving unanimous critical acclaim.
Starring David Harris as American GI Chris; Laurie Cadevida as Kim; and Leo Tavarro Valdez as The Engineer, Miss Saigon – one of the most successful musicals in the world – is set during the dying days of occupied Saigon and the Vietnam war. It is a tragic tale of love of a young and innocent Vietnamese girl, Kim who falls in love with an American GI, Chris only to be cruelly separated by circumstances.
David gained Best Actor Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his performance which was heralded as “the year’s most truthful and moving stage portrayals” (Sydney Morning Herald).
REVIEWS
“The pairing of lovely-looking, soaring soprano Cadevida and handsome, clarion-voiced Harris works wonders…” – Variety (full review)
“David Harris and Laurie Cadevida are superlative leads who know when to temper open-throated emotion. Their final scene is deeply affecting.” – The Herald Sun“
There are some magnificent performances. As the lovers at the heart of the story, Cadevida and Harris really turn up the heat. You believe every moment of their love, snatched from the jaws of a tropical hell, and evoked through a series of fabulously pure yet sensuous duets. The tragic resolution is made more devastating by their compelling chemistry.” – The Age (full review)
“David Harris, one of Australia’s leading performers in musical theatre, in the role of Chris was simply electric. Not only can this man sing but he can act – a combination so often lacking in musical theatre performers where often one talent is so much strong than the other. Harris brings a real masculine strength to the role which wins the hearts of the audience right from the start.” – ABC Brisbane (full review)
“The cast is exemplary…David Harris excels as the American soldier Chris. Their passion and rapport afford great truthfulness and intensity. They persuade the audience to care about the couple’s fleeting union and plight …Miss Saigon pulses along and finds reverie in its ballads and love duets, notably Sun and Moon, and Harris’s spirited and thrilling interpretation of Why, God, Why?” – Sydney Morning Herald
“David Harris is becoming Melbourne’s newest leading male star. He excels here as the angry and conflicted American GI… Harris handles the difficult and conflicted Chris with both charisma and boundless energy.” – Australian Stage (full review)
“… an impressive David Harris… powerful duets Sun and Moon and The Last Night of the World.” – The Australian
“David Harris confirms the leading man potential he displayed in TPC’s Thoroughly Modern Millie last year. Looking tall and masculine, he sings angelically and makes the most of the slightly underwritten role of Chris” – Theatre People
“Chris played and sung with unrestrained passion by David Harris” – Geelong Advertiser
“David Harris captures the essence of what can be a difficult role of Chris” – Daily Telegraph
“Without exception, this is an outstanding cast. From imports Laurie Cadevida and Leo Valdez to locals David Harris, Sophie Katinis, Christina Tan and RJ Rosales. These singers are passionate storytellers….David Harris is becoming Melbourne’s newest leading male star. Earning his stripes with wonderful performances in The Full Monty and Thoroughly Modern Millie, he excels here as the angry and conflicted American GI. Harris handles the difficult and conflicted Chris with both charisma and boundless energy…While vocally Miss Saigon is a joy, it is the quality of the acting that prevents the production from lapsing into melodrama – The Australian Stage
“Sun and Moon…delivered with a poignant beauty by David Harris’s Chris and Laurie Cadevida’s Kim…The loud applause and cheers he received at the end from the Sydney audience showed the strength of his performance” – Newcastle Herald“David Harris is a performer of stature” – Stagenoise (full review)
“The excellent cast sing superbly. David Harris is hugely charismatic as the thoroughly decent Chris” – Sunday Telegraph
“The lead performer make it a must-see. There is real chemistry between lovers, Kim (Laurie Cadevida) and Chris (David Harris) – their passion in the kissing scenes borders on the pornographic. Sexing up their relationship makes it all the more real and underlies the tragedy of their circumstances” – Bnews
“Cadevida and Harris sizzle together. Their duet, Last Night Of The World, is especially beautiful but they also find great depth in their conflicted characters” – West Australian
“Harris and she have an evident chemistry and their voices blend beautifully and passionately with some of the show’s most beautiful ballads” – News.com (full review)