Evita

It's not me if you're wondering I think it's a new Evita fan I can confirm it's not me as a couple of the recordings are from the middle of March in Cardiff and I didn't see the show in Cardiff

Yep, it's touring until at least the end of the year.

Just booked a ticket for Munich. Didn't even know they were visiting ze best country in ze world, so thanks Theatreboard

I know, I'm not exactly Emma's biggest fan, but, as I haven't seen Evita yet, I can at least tick it off my list.

She is miles better in this than her attempt at Wicked, I think you will enjoy it at least. My personal problem was just the show itself, I spent a fair bit of it confused, there is alot that goes on, which naturally happens with a musical covering a whole persons life. But Emma really turns it out, it must be said.

As it happens I'm reading Patti L's memoir at the moment and in the chapters about Evita she basically says that this is the reason why it was "dismissed" by NY press. She says that in order to engage with the show you have to already know something about the story of Eva, or at least read the programme notes "and who does that?". She says that her and old Mandy P had to basically drag the audience with them through the story. No comment on how Elaine dealt with things in London other than that she told people to "shut up" every time in rehearsals some said "Elaine did it like thi...." 

I was trying to understnd what was going on, and for the most part I did, but it did spoil some of the enjoymenrt for me, having to focus as much as I did. I felt moments were lost for me because of that but after watching, I read a proper synopsis and that filled in the blanks and thats fine now. I dom't feel the need to go back to Evita ever again though unless casting drew me.

The beauty of modern technology means if you're confused about a show's plot you can pull your phone out at the interval and google it

Some highlights from the Munich Premiere! 

I don't think Hal Prince created the idea of Che being specifically Che Guevara. On the original White concept album there is a subplot where Che is developing an insecticide. This is something that the young Che Guevara did, amongst several outlandish entrepreneurial schemes that failed.

The song cut from the stage show 'The lady's got potential' (different lyrics when later restored for the film) had Che sing:
"My insecticide's going to be a best seller.... I'm shaping up successful capitalist wise".

And when Eva finally dismisses Che with "whip up your hate in some tottering state" it sounds exactly like what Guevara did next after leaving Argentina. That lyric survives of course.

So, oddly, Prince cut some lines that most clearly refer to Guevara, but visually made it crystal clear. Perhaps more than Rice was advocating as essential.

Che's role as narrator is the main thing of course; and began as Eva's hairdresser in Rice's early conception of who that Narrator would be.

This month i reckon, same as the Wicked announcement!

This reminds me actually, I was at a show the other week (I forget which one) and just after the announcement said "please switch off your mobile phones", someone's Siri very appropriately said "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that". Impeccable timing.