Isay to Rachelle: Enjoy this experience of a lifetime

MANILA, Philippines - For two years, the Gigi character in Miss Saigon has become like second skin to Isay Alvarez, in a scene from the musical who originated the role at the Theater Royale Drury Lane in London’s West End.

Asked what she found challenging about the role, Isay told Conversations: “Gigi gave Kim (the character originally played by Lea Salonga) an insight into the real world and the realities she is faced with in order to survive. Gigi already experienced all these as she says it in the song Movie In My Mind” (which Miss Saigon producer Cameron Mackintosh described as Gigi’s “big moment”).

Besides Lea, Isay was among the first to tweet congratulations to Rachelle for bagging the role.

Said Isay, “I told her that it’s going to be an experience of a lifetime and for her to enjoy it.”

What further pointers could she give Rachelle?

“She already has the capacity to do the role,” assured Isay. “I guess that she only needs to be strong when she’s there. She will be missing home and the kind of work that she does here. The best thing to do is for her to take as much of what London has to offer.”

To beat homesickness and boredom between performances, Isay advised Rachelle to study.

“Whatever her interests are, she should pursue them. When I was in London,” recalled Isay whose husband, Robert Seña, was in the same cast with her playing Thuy, Kim’s jilted Vietnamese soldier-lover, “I spent my free time taking dance lessons, to the point of doing it between shows. I went to see museums, shows and castles there. I think Rachelle is spiritually strong so she already has what it takes to survive there.”