Evita in Concert - Drury Lane

Ticket on the Noticeboard for tonight with a tenner off face value.

Price now dropped to £25. 

ACT 1 53 minutes
INTERVAL 20 minutes
ACT 2 1 hour
TOTAL 2 hours & 13 minutes

Bodes well if this is the performance people are talking about 😂

About what time did it finish? Going tomorrow and with the reduced service, I might need to find alternative methods home because the last train leaves at 22:27!

Thanks so much 👍

I thought it was wonderful. It was lovely to hear the score played by an orchestra
I'd agree that whilst Aulii isn't a natural Eva, she gave an gorgeous performance tonight and it was fine for a concert version of the show. Loved Don't Cry for Me, it gave me chills.

Have to agree - I think it could have been better. Aulii clearly has a beautiful voice but she's not an Eva for me. I know it's a demanding role but she was struggling with some of the higher notes and seemed to be lacking confidence at times. I don't know much about her but there were moments when she absolutely shone and was exciting to listen to and watch - playing against such a dynamic Peron who exuded greater power, it was hard to believe that she could end up dominating the relationship/country...

As for Matt Rawle, well I rate him - I thought he was excellent as Martin in Martin Guerre (and last night he seemed to be channelling his inner Iain Glen with his long locks and stubble/beard - he could easily play Arnaud du Thil whenever MG gets revived). I saw Rawle as Che previously and whilst he is very charismatic, he could challenge Sheridan Smith for audience gurning at times. Vocally strong, though I struggled with his diction last night - some words were lost and vowels were strangled. Jeremy Secomb as Peron was excellent, as was Emily Lane, and it was a delight to see Nathan Amzi again who I think is an excellent singer and character actor. The orchestra was the highlight for me, with some beautiful harp playing which was mesmerising at times.

But what do I know? The audience seemed to love it. For me, at the prices they charge (or aspire to charge), the creators of these concerts need to spend a little more time and money on polishing the final product, because I have no doubt the talent of the leads on stage last night is far greater than this production allows. With better direction and more rehearsal time, it could have been much better: that isn't the fault of the actors.

I wonder if it is anything to do with the fact he was never directed to play him with the Guevara "contrivance"?  When he did it at the Adelphi, the role was firmly back to the original, pre West End, "everyman" intent.

ooh, that gives me shades of the final moment of Evita at Regent's Park, but with a different character..

I think there are 12 or 13 actors playing at the front of the stage and a choir behind the orchestra comprising probably around 16 - 20 people. The choir needs beefing up a bit for sound - more volume and better reverb would fill out the sound better in the theatre.  The orchestra sounded excellent.

Also a Matt Rawle fan for a long time (just a really lovely voice - thought he was great in Martin Guerre, Zorro, Aspects of Love and RUG Evita). To my memory he played it very similar last night to how he did at The Adelphi - though without the discipline and vision of the Grandage direction perhaps.

I do wonder if the whole "semi staged" version worked against them. As as a concert Aulii would have been fine as she has a fantastic voice. Though the sections out of time with orchestra were still suboptimal. But DCFMA was indeed sublime.

If it's semi staged you are gonna judge the acting however and as others have said, she really didn't embody Eva Peron.

Having said all that I do prefer semi staged to pure concert and thought the ensemble were sensational as were the choreographed numbers - they looked like they'd been doing this for weeks. Basically, sadly, the only one who looked a bit under rehearsed was Aulii. But then she does have the biggest task and most to learn, the productions rehearsal time's fault rather than hers I guess - and giving benefit of doubt, first night nerves perhaps?