The Story About Miss Saigon 1. How did the characters portray their role? Did they justify the role they portrayed? 2. What did you observe with the setting of the play? 3. What sound and music were used in the play? 4. Was the play spectacular? In what way? Points that you encountered previously. Now work on the activities that await. Good luck! What’s More Activity 1: Let’s Play! With the given link below, watch an excerpt of Miss Saigon then identify how elements of arts are incorporated by answering the questions that follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwB3Zxh2gSE Essay Questions: What elements of arts were used in this scene? Briefly explain each. How did the characters deliver their lines? How did the characters portray their role? Did they justify the role they portrayed? What did you observe with the setting of the play? What sounds and music were used in the play? Was the play spectacular? In what way? Co Q4 Arts 10
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Answers
- Character portrayal & justification
In the excerpt “I’d Give My Life for You,” the leading character, Kim, embodies fierce maternal devotion. Her voice swells from a lullaby-soft whisper to a full, pleading belt, mirroring her emotional arc from tenderness to iron resolve. Every movement—cradling the child close, then standing defiantly—is grounded in her back-story as a war-scarred teen mother, so her performance wholly justifies the role’s pathos. (YouTube) - Setting observations
The scene is staged in a dim, war-torn Saigon room. Sparse furnishings, rough wooden walls and a hanging mosquito net create a claustrophobic space that amplifies Kim’s isolation. A cool, steely palette dominates, while a single warm spotlight tracks her, separating hope from surrounding ruin. - Sounds and music
A chamber-size orchestra opens with hushed strings and a pentatonic inflection evoking Southeast Asian timbres. As Kim’s vow intensifies, brass and percussion enter, building cinematic volume before resolving back to a gentle lullaby cadence. The dynamic scoring underscores her emotional peaks without drowning the intimacy of the solo vocal line. - Spectacular qualities
Although Miss Saigon is famed for the later helicopter spectacle, this quieter scene is spectacular in a subtler way: the raw vocal virtuosity, meticulous lighting cues that follow every emotional shift, and the seamless swell of orchestrations combine to create an unforgettable, breath-holding moment for the audience. - Elements of art employed
Line & Shape—angular shadows from slatted walls frame Kim, guiding the eye.
Color—monochrome greys punctuated by the soft white of her blouse emphasize purity amid chaos.
Texture—rough wood and frayed cloth add realism.
Space—down-stage placement and tight blocking heighten intimacy.
Lighting—a moving special and low side-lights carve depth, sculpting her figure against the drab set. - Delivery of lines
Because the musical is sung-through, “lines” are melodies. Kim’s diction is clear, vibrato controlled, and phrasing elastic; she lingers on “life” and “you,” making promises feel eternal. Subtle Vietnamese-accented English also roots the character culturally without hindering intelligibility.
Together, these artistic choices knit a scene that is both truthful and theatrically gripping, epitomising Miss Saigon’s blend of spectacle and human storytelling.
