Jon Jon Briones: from Magno Rubio to The Engineer (again)

BRIONES. Photo by RUBEN NEPALES

LOS ANGELES—Fresh from his acclaimed performance as the fictional version of the late Dr. Haing S. Ngor (Oscar winner for “The Killing Fields”) in “Sweet Karma,” a play staged in Burbank, California, Jon Jon Briones is posed to return next year to the West End in Cameron Mackintosh’s revival of “Miss Saigon.” Based in LA, where his TV credits include “The Mentalist” (he portrays Mr. Lam) that airs in the US on Dec. 1, “Bones” and as Asian Elvis in “Sons of Anarchy,” Jon Jon as The Engineer may earn a new round of honors and other breaks when the musical opens in May.

We watched Jon Jon portray the title role in writer-director Bernardo Bernardo’s Tagalog production of “The Romance of Magno Rubio,” Lonnie Carter’s stage adaptation of Carlos Bulosan’s seminal short story, at [Inside] the Ford in Hollywood, California. Below are excerpts of our interview with Jon Jon:

Congratulations again! How did you learn about the good news?

I was offered the part three weeks ago through e-mail. I woke up that morning, made myself coffee, brought my daughter to school and then read my e-mails when I got back. I read the e-mail from Cameron’s executive producer and all I could say, while I was reading it, was “Yes!” over and over. It was a great morning.

What were Cameron Mackintosh’s words to you?

He said that he believed I was the person who should lead the company into the new era of “Miss Saigon.”

When do you move back to London?

I will fly to London in the first week of March and we start rehearsals on the 10th of March.

You’ve played The Engineer in the West End and in a UK tour. What do you think would be different this time around?

There are always so many ways to tell a story. I’m just so excited to be the one involved in the process.

You were in the original company and had the privilege of watching Jonathan Pryce create the role. What do you remember most about him?

It was like watching a master class. I learned so much just watching him at rehearsals.

In portraying The Engineer all over the world, what were some of your most interesting experiences and memories?

Doing the role in Germany…in German. You can never improvise if you forget your lines. Yikes!

What were your standout memories of being in the original production? What do you remember most about Lea Salonga during that time?

I was young and it was my first time outside the Philippines. The world was my oyster. My dream was to be on stage 24 hours a day and doing “Miss Saigon” eight shows a week was the closest thing.

Lea was 17, sang like a nightingale and kicked some major behind. I was very impressed.

What were your own memories as a young man who plunged into this unusual experience in London for the first time?

To tell you the truth, I was just happy to be there, did my gig well and fell in love (a few times). Life was good for this young man.

Any new developments, TV- and film-wise? Is your Asian Elvis role on “Sons of Anarchy” a recurring one?

I shot an episode of “The Mentalist” last month and I also just finished shooting an episode of “Bones,” both as a guest star. I was not a recurring role on “Sons of Anarchy” although I wish I was. I love that show.

What are you looking forward to and hopes about being back in London? And how different are you from that young man who went to London for the first time?

I’m looking forward to working with my director and the rest of the cast in exploring new things about this wonderful story. I guess I’m not that different from my young self back then. I’m still learning by watching other people’s work, but I have better tools in telling stories now.

You earned favorable reviews as Vichear, the fictional counterpart of the late Dr. Haing S. Ngor, who won an Oscar for “The Killing Fields,” in the play, “Sweet Karma.” What was that experience like for you?

It was a wonderful learning experience for me. I was so worried about playing this iconic character, the first male Asian actor to win an Academy award (for a supporting and debut performance) who is so well known. So, I just told his story, not even worrying about how I don’t look like him or sound like him.

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