It must have been a tremendous task for the Diablo Light Opera Company to put together a production like Miss Saigon. Not only in set design and wardrobe, but also the task of finding and casting actors of the appropriate ethnic background had to pose its challenges. Add that to the fact that they would be premiering this worldly successful musical in the East Bay, and you have to wonder, can they pull it off? And if so, can they at least come close to staging it as one would see it on an actual Broadway stage? The answer to that is, you bet they can, and did!

This flawless performance, now playing in Walnut Creek through October 1st is one you simply should not miss. Even if you’ve seen it before, it’s worth a second viewing. Miss Saigon is a story of a young Vietnamese woman, Kim, trying to make a living in war torn Saigon as a bar maid and call girl. She meets a GI named Chris, and they instantly embark on a love affair which is cut short and separated by the ravages of war. The years pass, Chris has a new life and is married to an American woman, but still finds himself thinking of the woman he left behind and if she still may be alive. Without giving more of the story away, she is alive and raising their son in Bangkok. To find out what happens next, you’ll just have to make it out to theater and see for yourself.

The cast is superb. The main actors, supporting cast, orchestra, and all the people behind the scenes who pulled together to make this production a reality, are all top knotch and deserve equal recognition. Franc-Anton Harwart who plays The Engineer highlights the show in my opinion. His great voice and acting abilities make his character leap out and grab your attention from beginning to end. The very charismatic Catherine Gloria, Kim, will enthrall you with her angelic voice. And the GI Chris, played by Dane Stokinger, brings his talent and two year experience of traveling with the Miss Saigon national tour, to his excellent performance.

There are dozens of more reasons I can give to persuade you to see this performance playing in Walnut Creek. But I won’t, it’s up to you to go and see for yourself what you would otherwise be missing out on. And you will be missing out if you don’t go see it.

So take an evening off of your regular routine one of these following weekends and take a drive to the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts. You will not be disappointed.