Thuy is a Vietnamese man who is Kim's cousin and betrothed.
Biography[]
Thuy presumably grew up in the same village as Kim, as their families were close enough to agree on their betrothal when they were 13 years old.
During the Resistance War Against America, Thuy sided with the Northern Vietnamese Army which for Kim was a betrayal of their country. After the death of her parents during a raid, Kim resolved that her engagement to Thuy also died with them.
1975[]
Years later, Thuy hears about Kim's wedding to the American GI Chris Scott and crashes as they hold the ceremony, chastising her for being in the company of "losers and whores". He accuses Kim of betraying their parents' promise and warns her that she will be cursed for it.
1978[]
After the Liberation of Saigon, Thuy becomes a high-ranking officer of the communist government and subsequently tasks The Engineer, Kim's old boss in Dreamland to find her and so he can ask her hand again in marriage.
Thuy is Kim's nightmare
Thuy eventually finds her living in the slums, and asks her to join him now that he can provide her with a home. Kim, however, reveals her three-year-old child with Chris named Tam and Thuy becomes disgusted that she is still waiting for the return of her American husband, calling her a traitor to her own country. After she refuses his marriage proposal again, Thuy declares her son an abomination and decides to execute him in front of her. With no other choice than to protect her son, Kim shoots Thuy using a gun Chris gave her. She screams as Thuy dies in her arms.
Kim's Nightmare[]
After Kim becomes a refugee in Bangkok, she is haunted by her memories of Thuy, taunting her and blaming her for his death. Thuy's warning that Kim is "cursed" for her betrayal will soon prove to be somewhat true as she would later meet Chris with his new wife, Ellen and commit suicide herself.
Musical numbers[]
Act I[]
- Thuy's Intervention (with Chris and Kim)
- The Morning of the Dragon (with Soldiers, The Engineer and Guards)
- Back in Town (with The Engineer, Kim, and Soldiers)
- You Will Not Touch Him (with Kim)
Act II[]
- Kim's Nightmare (with Kim, Chris, John, and Soldiers)
Background[]
Unlike the other characters based on Madame Butterfly, Thuy is a composite character, corresponding in part to both The Bonze and Prince Yamadori.
Notes[]
- Thuy was originated by Keith Burns, who is Caucasian. Similar to Jonathan Pryce who played The Engineer, Burns relied heavily on prosthetic to make his appearance more Asian. Due to allegations of racism, subsequent actors who played Thuy have been of East Asian descent.
- Thuy means water ("thủy") in Vietnamese. It may also mean friendly, gentle or the pussy willow plant depending on the tone. Thuy, however is traditionally a female name.
- Thuy's casting notes read "Strong willed, aggressive and militaristic. Intensely patriotic and anti-American. Strong vocal and dramatic ability required."
Notable portrayals[]
West End (1989-99)[]
- Keith Burns (Original West End)
- Miguel M. Diaz (West End)
- Robert Seña (West End, Also Original Stuttgart, Manila, 2002-2004 UK Tour)
- Jojo De La Cerna (West End)
- Robert Vicencio (West End, Also 2001-2002 Original UK Tour, Manila and Asia)
West End Revival (2014-16)[]
- Kwang-Ho Hong (2014-2015 West End Revival)
- Christian Rey Marbella (2014-2016 West End Revival understudy, Also 2001-2005 UK Tour - understudy and 2005-2006 UK Tour)
- Ethan Le Phong (2014-2016 West End Revival understudy, Also Germany, 2017 Broadway Revival, 2018 US Revival Tour and 2023 Crucible Theatre Sheffield)
- Kittiphun Kittipakapom (2014-2016 West End Revival understudy)
- Sangwoong Jo (a.k.a. Hajime Mikumo) (2015-2016 West End Revival)
Broadway (1991–2001)[]
- Barry K. Bernal (Original Broadway)
- Yancey Arias (Broadway)
- Michael K. Lee (2nd US National Tour and Broadway)
- Bonifacio T Deoso Jr (Broadway, 2nd US National Tour)
- Jason Ma (Broadway)
- Welly Yang (Broadway)
Broadway Revival (2017-18)[]
- Devin Ilaw (2010 Toronto Cast, 2013 North Shore Music Theatre and 2017-2018 Broadway Revival)
- Ethan Le Phong (2017-2018 Broadway Revival, Also Germany, 2014-2016 West End Revival understudy, 2018 US Revival Tour and 2023 Crucible Theatre Sheffield)
US Tour[]
- Allen Hong (1st US National Tour)
- David Kater (2nd US National Tour)
- Michael K. Lee (2nd US National Tour and Broadway)
- Bonifacio T Deoso Jr (Broadway, 2nd US National Tour)
- Johnny Fernandez (2nd US National Tour)
- Mario Tadeo (US National Tour)
- Ethan Le Phong (2018-2020 US Revival Tour, Also Germany, 2014-2016 West End Revival understudy, 2017-2018 Broadway Revival and 2023 Crucible Theatre Sheffield)
- Jinwoo Jung (2018-2020 US Revival Tour)
UK Tour[]
- Robert Vicencio (2001-2002 Original UK Tour, Also West End, Manila and Asia)
- Edward Briones (2001-2004 UK Tour understudy)
- Robert Seña (2002-2004 UK Tour, Also West End, Original Stuttgart and Manila)
- Sebastian Tan (2004-2005 UK Tour)
- Makakilo Ancheta (2004-2005 UK Tour understudy)
- Christian Rey Marbella (2001-2005 UK Tour - understudy and 2005-2006 UK Tour, Also 2014-2016 West End Revival understudy)
- Romeo Salazar (2005-2006 UK Tour understudy, also Austria)
- Ariel Reonal (2005-2006 UK Tour - understudy)
- Gerald Santos (2017-2019 UK Tour and also 2023 Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Alistair So (2017-2018 UK Tour understudy)
- Carl Jae-Suk Sohlberg (2017-2018 UK Tour understudy and also 2023 Oslo)
- Young Joo Park (2017-2019 UK Tour understudy)
- Joaquin Pedro Valdes (2018-2019 UK Tour understudy)
Japan[]
- Yukio Yamagata, Atsushi Yamamoto and Akira Tomemori (Original Japanese Cast)
- tekkan and Katsumi Toi (2004 Japanese Tour)
- Yohei Izumi (2004-2014 Japanese Tour)
- Kazuaki Ishii (2008-2009 Japanese Tour)
- Kyohei Kanda (2008-2009 & 2014-2022 Japanese Tours)
- Masaaki Fujioka (2016-2017 Japanese Tour)
- Taiki Nishikawa (2020-2022 Japanese Tour)
Others[]
- Charles Azulay (1992 Original Toronto, Original Dutch Cast, Complete Symphonic Recording)
- Darren Yap (Australia)
- Sean Ghazi, Dexter Echiverri, Jojo Urquico, Steven F Eng (Stuttgart)
- Gábor Lengyel (Original Hungarian Cast)
- Romeo Salazar (Austria and 2005-2006 UK Tour understudy)
- Charlie Panapa (New Zealand)
- Thomas Flores (Sweden)
- Arvin Quirante (Netherlands and Manila)
- Jaagup Kreem, Kristo Leier (2002 Tallinn Cast)
- Kok-Hwa Lie (2002-2004 Switzerland, 2011 Dutch revival)
- Rommel Singson (Stuttgart, 2004-2005 Gothenburg Cast and 2013 Malmo Cast)
- Sami Uotila, Gary Revel Jr. (2004 Helsinki Cast)
- Devanand Janki (2004-2005 Gothenburg Cast)
- Ha Ji-Won and Kim Myung-Jun (2006 Korean Cast)
- RJ Rosales (Australia)
- Mauro Sousa (2008 Brazil)
- Lee Kyung-Soo (2010 Korean Cast)
- Miklós Máté Kerényi (2011 Hungarian Cast)
- Park Hyong-Kyu (2011-2012 Korean Cast)
- Robin van den Akker (2012 Dutch Revival)
- Lerwit Sungsit (2012 Bangkok Cast)
- James Park (2021-2022 Vienna Production)
- Vincent Bueno (2021-2022 Vienna Production – understudy)
- Jiho Hwang (2021-2022 Vienna Production, 2024 Manila Production and 2024 Asian and International Tour - understudy)
- Oliver Poulin (2023 Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Trung Tong (2023 Oslo)
- Carl Jae-Suk Sohlberg (2023-2024 Oslo, Also 2017-2018 UK Tour understudy)
- Laurence Mossman (2023 Australian Production, 2024 Manila Production and 2023-2024 Australian, Asian and International Tour)
- David Ouch and Shannon Cheong (2023 Australian Production, 2024 Manila Production and 2023-2024 Australian, Asian and International Tour - understudies)
Gallery[]
