Costume worn by Jonathan Pryce as The Engineer in Miss Saigon
Costume
1989 (made)
1989 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume consisting of red suit worn by Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in Act 2 of Miss Saigon designed by Andreane Neofitou, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1989.
Miss Saigon, a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by John Napier (set), Andreane Neofitou (costumes) and David Hersey (lighting), was produced by Cameron Mackintosh at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. It opened on 20 September 1989 and ran for ten years. Jonathan Pryce created the role of the Engineer in London and controversially (since he was not Asian) when the production transferred to Broadway.
Miss Saigon transposed the narrative of Madame Butterfly to the final stages of the 1955-75 Vietnam War. In designing the costumes Andreane Neofitou drew on documentary sources, photographs and film footage, and worked closely with costumiers, Bermans and Nathans, who made all the non-uniform costumes. The Engineer, Tran Van Dinh, was a half-French, half-Vietnamese greasy and engaging pimp, the owner of the Saigon bar and brothel 'Dreamland', catering mostly to American GIs. Pryce's performance was highly praised, with Michael Coveney noting in his review of the production in the Financial Times (21 September 1989), that the Engineer was: ‘coruscatingly well played by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce has several big moments as he hitches his escape to the dollar democracy like some oleaginous, limber-limbed hood-eyed emcee from Cabaret.’
The Act II costume is worn by the Engineer when he is working in a night club in Bangkok, his eagle-motif belt buckle revealing his continued wish to obtain a US visa and his persistent belief in 'The American Dream'. Photographs showing Jonathon Pryce wearing both costumes appear in the original souvenir programme of Miss Saigonat Drury Lane.
Miss Saigon, a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by John Napier (set), Andreane Neofitou (costumes) and David Hersey (lighting), was produced by Cameron Mackintosh at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. It opened on 20 September 1989 and ran for ten years. Jonathan Pryce created the role of the Engineer in London and controversially (since he was not Asian) when the production transferred to Broadway.
Miss Saigon transposed the narrative of Madame Butterfly to the final stages of the 1955-75 Vietnam War. In designing the costumes Andreane Neofitou drew on documentary sources, photographs and film footage, and worked closely with costumiers, Bermans and Nathans, who made all the non-uniform costumes. The Engineer, Tran Van Dinh, was a half-French, half-Vietnamese greasy and engaging pimp, the owner of the Saigon bar and brothel 'Dreamland', catering mostly to American GIs. Pryce's performance was highly praised, with Michael Coveney noting in his review of the production in the Financial Times (21 September 1989), that the Engineer was: ‘coruscatingly well played by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce has several big moments as he hitches his escape to the dollar democracy like some oleaginous, limber-limbed hood-eyed emcee from Cabaret.’
The Act II costume is worn by the Engineer when he is working in a night club in Bangkok, his eagle-motif belt buckle revealing his continued wish to obtain a US visa and his persistent belief in 'The American Dream'. Photographs showing Jonathon Pryce wearing both costumes appear in the original souvenir programme of Miss Saigonat Drury Lane.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Title | Costume worn by Jonathan Pryce as The Engineer in Miss Saigon (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silk jacket, chiffon shirt, synthetic trousers and leather belt |
| Brief description | Costume consisting of red suit, black shirt and belt worn by Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in Act 2 from the production Miss Saigon, designed by Andreane Neofitou, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1989 |
| Physical description | Costume consisting of red suit worn by Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in Act 2 from the production Miss Saigon, designed by Andreane Neofitou, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1989. The entire costume consists of a red silk jacket, black trousers made from a synthetic fabric, black chiffon shirt, a spare black shirt and a black leather belt with eagle-head motif. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Re:Imagining Musicals, 15 October 2022 - 4 February 2024
Costume for The Engineer in Miss Saigon
1989
The producers of Miss Saigon, a musical set during the Vietnam War, attracted controversy for the casting of white Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce as The Engineer, a Eurasian character in the original West End production. While praised in the role, protests from the Asian community and support from Actors’ Union Equity ensured that the character has since been portrayed by performers with Asian heritage.
Designed by Andreane Neofitou
Silk
Museum no. S.3672:1-2015
Given by Jonathan Pryce(2022) |
| Credit line | Given by Jonathan Pryce |
| Summary | Costume consisting of red suit worn by Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer in Act 2 of Miss Saigon designed by Andreane Neofitou, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1989. Miss Saigon, a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, directed by Nicholas Hytner and designed by John Napier (set), Andreane Neofitou (costumes) and David Hersey (lighting), was produced by Cameron Mackintosh at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London. It opened on 20 September 1989 and ran for ten years. Jonathan Pryce created the role of the Engineer in London and controversially (since he was not Asian) when the production transferred to Broadway. Miss Saigon transposed the narrative of Madame Butterfly to the final stages of the 1955-75 Vietnam War. In designing the costumes Andreane Neofitou drew on documentary sources, photographs and film footage, and worked closely with costumiers, Bermans and Nathans, who made all the non-uniform costumes. The Engineer, Tran Van Dinh, was a half-French, half-Vietnamese greasy and engaging pimp, the owner of the Saigon bar and brothel 'Dreamland', catering mostly to American GIs. Pryce's performance was highly praised, with Michael Coveney noting in his review of the production in the Financial Times (21 September 1989), that the Engineer was: ‘coruscatingly well played by Jonathan Pryce. Pryce has several big moments as he hitches his escape to the dollar democracy like some oleaginous, limber-limbed hood-eyed emcee from Cabaret.’ The Act II costume is worn by the Engineer when he is working in a night club in Bangkok, his eagle-motif belt buckle revealing his continued wish to obtain a US visa and his persistent belief in 'The American Dream'. Photographs showing Jonathon Pryce wearing both costumes appear in the original souvenir programme of Miss Saigonat Drury Lane. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.3672:1 to 4-2015 |
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| Record created | December 22, 2015 |
| Record URL |
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