Miss Saigon is the emotional and compelling tale of love, heartache, separated lovers and rejected children during the final days of the Vietnam War in 1975 where seventeen year old orphan Kim escapes to Saigon after her village is bombed and her family killed.

Forced to work in a seedy brothel for The Engineer (Red Concepcion) she meets and falls in love with American serviceman Chris (Ashley Gilmour).

Following the evacuation of the American troops Kim spends the next three years looking for her man (now married with a new life) totally unaware that he has a son.

Demure, innocent Sooha Kim was outstanding - flawless vocals, the chemistry and passion with Ashley Gilmour was palpable.

Red Concepcion the sleazy Engineer was Fagin-esque like, his American Dream was splendid.

No expense has been spared on this spectacular show - striking stage sets, superb lighting, 15 piece orchestra, fantastic special effects including the brilliant helicopter scene.

The thought provoking and concentrated storyline production is not to be missed - one of my favourite and poignant parts of the show is the footage of Bui Doi shown on the big screen of the children born as a result of liasons between Vietnamese girls, usually prostitues and the US soldiers, it is estimated that 23,000 mixed-race children from the war were repatriated to America.

This show is one of the largest on tour with a magnificent cast of 38 adult members from ten nationalities.

The G.I. boy's flak jackets and helmets are all original and have been used in action.

Fabulous Miss Saigon runs until Saturday, 23rd June at the Bristol Hippodrome.