Key Points
- Seann Miley Moore plays the Engine-queer (Engineer).
- Laurence Mossman takes on the role of Thuy.
- Miss Saigon is in Melbourne until December 16 and will stage in Adelaide next year, 2024.
Homecooked meals fuel the soul
Abigail Adriano as Kim, the Engineer played by Seann Miley Moore, and Laurence Mossman as Thuy have developed a friendship beyond the stage. The eight weeks they spent together before opening night in Sydney have not only helped them prepare for nearly three hours of performance on stage but also helped them create a bond that fuels the energy on and off stage.
'Every now and then some of my relatives would visit Melbourne and bring food cooked by my mom' Abigail Adriano. Miss Saigon cast at SBS Studios in Federation Square, Melbourne. From left, Seann Miley Moore, Abigail Adriano and Laurence Mossman. Credit: SBS Filipino
‘My mom would prepare boxes and boxes of home-cooked food and she’d put them in shopping bags for me to share with the cast during rehearsals’ shares Abi. ‘Oh, the tinola! To die for’ says Seann Miley Moore. ‘We spend three hours on stage almost everyday so all that carbs we eat from the kanin (rice) will be burned by the end of the show’ adds Seann.
Abigail Adriano plays Kim. Credit: Daniel Boud
The movie in my mind
As a young girl Abigail and her sister would sing the song together and having the chance to play the lead role, Kim was a dream come true. Having performed the song ‘The Movie in My Mind’ was a dream come true. Did the song have a different meaning this time around? ‘Everyday we all had to bring the best part of ourselves to grow and nurture those songs but we had to make them our own. From the time I first did my interview with you, I could say that I have definitely grown so much.’ shares Abigail. ‘Yes, it does have a different meaning for me. Kim has taught me what it is to be a strong woman.’
‘Iconic Filipino men have played this role and they have paved the way for me to bring something new and fresh; that’s exciting.’ Seann Miley Moore on playing the engine-queer Credit: Daniel Boud
Seann Miley Moore interrupts ‘I never thought this role was for me, it was never on my radar. I always wanted to be Gigi, I used to listen to The Movie in my Mind on repeat with my sister.’ With a cheeky smile, he adds ‘I got the role of the engineer. It’s definitely a different engineer, the engine-queer. I guess I’m injecting more of Seann Miley Moore into the role. It's all in the American Dream when he sings fat like a chocolate eclair, it's cheeky it's sexy, fierce, I just let the words do the talking and injected all that is me and Cameron Mackintosh loved it.’
Laurence Mossman has worked with Leo Valdez who previously played the Engineer during his six years in the Philippines. He returned to New Zealand when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. Credit: Daniel Boud
The antagonist
‘I never actually thought of being in that role (Thuy), I wanted to play Chris’ shares Laurence. Playing the role of the antagonist isn’t new to Laurence, having played the kontrabida billionaire Mr. Mossman in the television series Dolce Amore in 2016.
The Filipino-Kiwi relocated in the Philippines in 2014 and lived in Tutuban; ‘ it was an experience I'll never forget; waking up to the roosters crowing and hearing the man call out taho in the morning. It was very different to New Zealand, where it was quiet and conservative, life over there was the complete opposite. There was a little bit of culture shock at first but I got used to it. The tabo and cold water were perfect on hot days.’
The years he spent in Manila allowed him to work with celebrities like Leo Valdez, Martin Nievera, Nyoy Volante and Paolo Ballesteros, in television, film and theatre. After nearly two years of performing at Resorts World Manila with the trio Primo, he found himself performing in a musical ‘Fun Home’ with Lea Salonga.
He has always wanted to be a part of Miss Saigon, ‘almost all my friends have been a part of Miss Saigon in Germany in Holland, I was the only who hasn’t been and to get the opportunity to play the role in Australia, it’s incredible.’ Having experienced life on stage in the Philippines, Laurence Mossman knows ‘it’s the puso, the heart that every Filipino gives into their role’ that makes the Filipino shine.
For Seann Miley Moore, it's about time the Filipinos take center stage, ‘The Filipino power and pride and just the Asian cast we have is just so fierce and unapologetic on stage and we worked together to bring Miss Saigon.’
‘The Filipino power and pride and just the Asian cast we have is just so fierce and unapologetic on stage.' Seann Miley Moore Credit: Daniel Boud
One thing is for certain, it’s the Pinay mother’s love that has nurtured the talent behind Abigail Adriano, Seann Miley Moore and Lawrence Mossman who all share the role of being the bunso, the youngest child. ‘I have to say I’m a bit spoilt, my mom does everything for me inside the home.’ Seann’s energy can be traced from all his titas (aunts) who are a big part of his life.
Miss Saigon will be in Adelaide in 2024.
LISTEN TO
Dream come true for Filipina-Australian, Abigail Adriano as she plays the next Kim
SBS Filipino
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