Protests Aside, ‘Miss Saigon’ Show Goes On

Befitting its stormy journey to Broadway, “Miss Saigon” opened Thursday amid the taunts of demonstrators, followed by generally positive reception from critics, including defenses of the show’s controversial casting.

About 250 protesters had gathered across the street from the Broadway Theater by the time the curtain rose shortly before 7 p.m.; they wanted to register their anger over the show’s characterizations of Vietnamese.

“No more Suzie Wongs, Butterflies, Dragon Ladies,” read a placard that summed up the demonstrators’ complaints that “Miss Saigon” perpetuates racist and sexist stereotypes of Asians.

“They talk about it being an opportunity (for Asian actors), but what’s this? They’re now playing Vietnamese hookers, and the myth of Madame Butterfly is being played out again,” said Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “There’s not a lot of variation on the theme.”

Members of the 30 groups in the “Heat Is on Miss Saigon” coalition said the fact that the show went on doesn’t put an end to their protests. One tactic the coalition might employ is to prevail upon civic organizations that have arranged “Miss Saigon” theater parties to cancel their plans.

The Vietnam War-era musical has proven to be a lightning rod for racial controversy, with allegations that the show’s lead roles should be played by Asian-American actors. Last summer, the Broadway run was threatened when Actors Equity barred Jonathan Pryce from portraying a Eurasian pimp in the New York production (as he had done on the London stage). The actors union reversed its decision under pressure from its members, but later contemplated not allowing Filipina actress Lea Salonga to recreate her lead role of Kim.

However, Salonga was allowed to perform, and most critics praised both her and Pryce’s performances.

Michael Kuchwara of Associated Press said Pryce “is an essential part of the show. Maybe indispensable. He demonstrates that (producer Cameron Mackintosh) was right to cancel the American production unless (Pryce) got the opportunity to play the character.”

The New York Post’s Clive Barnes also said Mackintosh’s actions were “justified,” calling the show “a triumph for its cast.”

The New York Times’ Frank Rich said: “For all that seems galling about ‘Miss Saigon’--and for all that is indeed simplistic, derivative and, at odd instances, laughable about it--this musical is a gripping entertainment of the old school.”