Evita

Well. We didn't get Emma Whatsit but we got the understudy, Natalie Langston. However if you'd told me that dear old Gemma Craven had made a comeback at the grand age of 67 then I wouldn't have argued with you. I'm not so sure about Eva Peron but she does play it as Jane McDonald auditioning for 'Mary Poppins'. Which is entertaining enough in its own way.

I admit that I love 'Evita', it's got some of The Lord's best melodies hidden in there for my money but this version isn't great. The score sounds like it's been slowed down a bit and poor old Natalie/Gemma gives a lot of the high notes a miss. Kevin Stephen-Jones has a good bash as Juan and Gian Marco Schiaretti looks great as Che. I'm pleased to say that the shirt comes off and we get a bit of red vest and bare arms action which is nice. He also gives 'And The Money Kept Rolling In' some wellie too. He has some strange phrasing going on but I put that down to him being all Italian-like and occasionally his voice veers into Peter Jöback but on the whole all Che does is lots of walking around and looking at the audience and GM does that really rather well.

The orchestra sounds a little bit like an elevator music version of 'Evita' and I swear the little girl singing 'Santa Evita' was miming. I think even she gave up half way through. The end does drag a bit and you do often end up wishing that she'd just get on with it and die.

There is a lot of stair action for those who like that kind of thing though. Thank God they didn't ask Glenn Close to do that much in 'Sunset Boulevard', she'd have passed out in the first act.

Bring Back Patti LuPone.

The woman is 68. 

I think the chance of La LuPone doing anything related to The Lord again is as likely as Bruce Forsyth hosting another series of 'Strictly'.

Agreed.
Granted, I don't think it would be that grating in the Hal Prince staging as opposed to the recent revivals, as it's a bit more minimalistic and abstract.
I realise the notion of her doing it again is a bit ridiculous and chances of it happening are very slim. However, if it were to happen, it would be EPIC.
(And after a quick image search, I don't think Patti looks THAT much older than Tina Arena. She's not as fit though).

^^^^ when this happens remember it was my idea.

Oh go on then.... let's cast it. 

And for those like me who missed it, it's on again on Saturday at 13:10.

Saw it last Wednesday. Definitely felt a smaller version of the Dominion production 3 years before, but obviously still had the really good elements of it - just on a lesser scale.

I was disapppointed with La Hatton. Especially after all the good reviews. She got a lot better in Act II but I found her mostly grating in Act I. Lacking subtely, not playing "15" very realistically at all, and vocally just not that impressive. Especially when she wimped out of doing the high bits of A New Argentina - and sung in the lower octave - unforgiveable! Act II brought out much more well rounded acting though.

However she could not hold a candle to Madelena Alberto. Gian Marco was LOADS better than Pellow! He was very alluring, though didn't seem to have too wide a range of facial expressions!

I don't think it's Emma's call to miss the lower notes - isn't she musical directed to sing them at a lower octave (as a gay man, the lowering of octaves in musicals, especially in Evita, is highly offensive).

Re: Abi..a high paying singing gig is probably a lot more stable, high paying, and less exhausting than being a West End performer. Who is she backing up for?

Father Ted fans may remember Father Liam Deliverance ("shoddy, shoddy, shoddy!"). He'd have had a field day at this Evita.

It wasn't all bad; "And the Money Kept Rolling in and Out" was entertaining and "You Must Love Me" was strong.

But it was mostly bad.

Despite the sub par performances from the limited - and tiny - cast, the production itself did nobody any favours.

From "Perón" being consistently spelt wrong throughout, to several lighting states failing to cover the entire stage, the entire thing felt third rate.

The band of eight made one of Lloyd Webber's best scores sound like musak. Not their fault, but woefully underpowered. As were the vocals, thanks to the "streamlined" company.

I thought this tour (it's a tour with a stop in the West End - if it's a West End Evita then I'm an Argentinian revolutionary - couldn't get worse after the Pellow Affair but this proved wishful thinking.

Don't get me wrong - I've seen much worse shows. But to do so little with this material is shameful - every corner is cut. The (half full) Saturday night audience were largely apathetic too, which didn't help the vibe.

As an Evita fan I am regrettably more often than not, doomed to be an optimist when going to see the show. Double when it's this same Kenwright production. But even after last time (larger band, bigger cast but Marti Pellow) this hit a new low and absolutely doesn't deserve to be still going.

From the second you enter the foyer (even on a Saturday night, you don't exactly have to fight your way through the crowds) it all feels cheap and nasty. The tacky logo, the crappy merchandise still from the original tour of this production - everything screams desperation.

A word on the cast; the male chorus is exclusively comprised of Mormons. Tallish, handsomeish with black hair. All of them.
They're all very young.

Emma Hatton is okay as Eva, especially towards the end. Probably in the top ten Eva's I've seen live. She basically does an Elaine Paige impersonation, which is tolerable if unoriginal.

Gian Marco Schiaretti is hit and miss as Che. He looks great - buff and handsome. His singing is VERY Jerome Pradôn. Would not recommend.

The rest of 'em were in keeping with the low rent nature. Passable. Good enough to avoid people asking for refunds, not good enough to recommend the show to anyone.

Cheap, nasty, cash grab.