Saw the the original (Cameron Mackintosh) production twice, and I did see the 'no-fly' version one of those times!
If the helicopter didn't make it in, the staging extended a "runway" upstage center, then off toward the wings (offstage right, if I remember correctly)... and during the fall of Saigon, the cast members gestured toward the wings as if the helicopter was waiting there. I think they even had the big fans blowing for some wind effects.
A friend who was in the cast at the time had said that this happened somewhat frequently, though he may have been exaggerating a bit so I wouldn't feel so bad.
- GMB |
