Cover Steve Balsamo as Jesus and Joanna Ampil as Mary Magdalene in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Lyceum Theatre
Steve Balsamo as Jesus and Joanna Ampil as Mary Magdalene in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Lyceum Theatre
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'Miss Saigon' reimagined: the sweet and naive Kim has lived long enough to be the villain; she slips her feet into the shoes of The Engineer and manufactures a brand new nightmare on stage
It only takes a pinch of wickedness for Joanna Ampil to turn from Miss Saigon’s epoch-making heroine to its sleazy antagonist, The Engineer. In the reimagined version of the play, the Filipina West End star is no longer a damsel in distress as she is now the one to forge a streak of bad luck for the ladies in Saigon.
Ampil admits she was in a state of “shock and confusion” when the news was delivered to her the first time—after all, no other woman has taken on The Engineer’s role before.
“I was invited to a meeting with the artistic directors of Sheffield Theatres. When Anthony Lau, the co-director, mentioned that I was called for Miss Saigon, I truly did not know what role they wanted me for. In my head, surely they would not want me for the 17-year-old Kim because that will be pushing it too much,” the actress bares in an interview with Tatler.
“He [Lau] must have seen the look on my face so he immediately followed it with ‘we want you to play The Engineer’s role.’ It took a while for the news to sink in. After a moment, I confidently suggested that we need to update the show for new audiences, tackle the criticisms of the musical and somehow shift the storytelling perspective.” she adds.
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Above 'Miss Saigon' (as Kim in the 10th anniversary poster London)
Above 'Ang Larawan' movie (as Candida)
'Miss Saigon' (as Kim in the 10th anniversary poster London)
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On Humble Beginnings and Most Challenging Role Yet
Having been in the industry for almost 30 years, Ampil is very much familiar with Miss Saigon; in the past she played Kim in the original Australian production, London West End, original UK and Ireland Tour, and again on the show’s 10th-anniversary performance.
At a young age, the singer had always known that she was meant to be in front of a large crowd. “Growing up, I loved singing. I was always open to new music,” she discloses. “When I was 16, I saw my first stage musical and was introduced to the world of theatre. . .that’s exactly when I realised I wanted to sing songs that tell stories. The stars aligned and things just started to happen.”
More from Tatler: Filipino Set and Costume Designer Clint Ramos Shares His Perspective of Fame and Broadway
Ampil, who also essayed the iconic Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables and Grizabella in Cats, has quite an impressive approach when it comes to preparing for her roles. Oftentimes, the star would go as far as injecting nuances that make her character “more human”.
“It all starts with the text, and usually in my case, the book of the musical. Then I take down notes on how I see the character and his or her objectives. I create a detailed backstory, then I add little things to make him or her more human—nuances, habits, and mannerisms,” she explains. “The rehearsal period also helps as it allows me to apply and experiment with all these nuances to layer my character and collaborate with the cast and creatives in telling the story.”
Above South Pacific (as Bloody Mary london)
Above Cats (as Grizabella international tour)
South Pacific (as Bloody Mary london)
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"When you finally reach that point you’ve been waiting for in your career, the hurdles and trials never stop but don’t let these things make you any less grateful"
Among the roles that she had given life on stage, Ampil says that her most challenging performance was the Bloody Mary in South Pacific. “Of course, The Engineer will definitely be a challenge and an exciting one at that; but out of the ones I have played so far, Bloody Mary from South Pacific is probably the most challenging,” she reveals.
“Her physicality and big vocal [requirement] is a challenge in terms of speaking and singing in a different tone than what I am used to. She is a larger-than-life character with different personalities and it allowed me to tap into my core and discover something I never thought I could unlock. It is a privilege as an artist to reimagine Bloody Mary, a character beloved by many.”
Related: Cover Story: Lea Salonga on the State of Philippine Arts And Culture
Author's note: below is a clip of Ms Joanna Ampil's performance as Grizabella in Cats. Here she takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as she tears up while singing Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn's 'Memory'.
Above Filipina West End singer Joanna Ampil tears up as she sings Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn's 'Memory' from the hit musical 'Cats'
Meant for the Limelight
Ampil’s magic happens when she belts out a note that almost lulls the most furious of hearts. Transforming herself as the antagonist for this reimagined Miss Saigon will not be easy, but someone with her talent is always expected to power through.
See also: World Theatre Day: Here are Plays and Musicals We Can't Wait to See
For her new stint as The Engineer, Ampil hopes to provide an avenue for Asian narratives and perspectives.
“I know that this is the first non-replica production with a female engineer that’s been sanctioned by Cameron Mackintosh and the original creators. I do hope that this new staging will champion the Asian perspective and answer some of the racist and misogynistic overtones. Musically, I am pretty sure that the keys to The Engineer’s songs will be changed to a female key,” the artist discloses.
Above 'Les Miserables' (as Eponine)
Above 'Jesus Christ Superstar' (as Mary Magdalene meeting King Charles in the backstage, London)
'Les Miserables' (as Eponine)
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For Ampil, the beauty of theatre arts is in the way it makes audiences remember a brief time in their lives when they just sat down, pondered, and loved. As she concludes the interview, the singer makes the world know of her unyielding love for her craft.
“My motivation will always be rooted in the love of craft, of performing arts. The best inspiration comes from the people who tell me they were moved by my performance. When you finally reach that point you’ve been waiting for in your career, the hurdles and trials never stop but don’t let these things make you any less grateful."
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Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
