London Theatre Review: Evita

Have you seen Evita before? Many will have watched previous West End runs and know the story well, but this new production comes with a twist that that has made headlines and resulted in huge media coverage. Given that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s show is directed by Jamie Lloyd this time, I suppose a twist was inevitable.

It stars Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler (Disney’s Snow White, West Side Story, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) in the lead role and the 24-year-old American actress did not disappoint in her stage debut, enchanting audiences with powerful vocals and an expressive performance. 

The show features an iconic score, including Oh What A Circus, Another Suitcase in Another Hall, and the Oscar-winning You Must Love Me; whilst the most famous number, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, is performed by Zegler on the theatre balcony of the London Palladium to a sizeable onlooking crowd outside.

Inside the auditorium we see the crowd gathered outside for the performance on a screen and the novelty of this is quickly becoming an attraction in itself, with people flocking to Argyle Street to catch Zegler in her leading role.

The staging choice by Jamie Lloyd is a daring one. By having Zegler perform the emotional song to onlookers outside the theatre, Lloyd attempts to recreate the Casa Rosada presidential balcony in Buenos Aires in real time, with onlookers taking on the role of the poor Argentines that adored their First Lady.

Back inside the theatre, the cast and ensemble delivered a faultless display, featuring sultry and passionate Argentine tangos, energetic full-ensemble dance routines and musical numbers. 

Set in Argentina between 1934-1952, Evita tells the story of Eva Perón and her rise from poverty to become an actress and later, the most powerful woman in Latin America and a symbol of hope to many Argentines.

Aaron Lee Lambert’s presentation of Agustín Magaldi was delivered with comedic timing, whilst James Olivas provided an understated performance of President Juan Perón. Diego Andres Rodriguez delivered a memorable performance in his West End début as Che, serving as the narrator and a representation of the working class. One of his final scenes is something that audiences in attendance will certainly not forget.

Later in the show, the leading lady brought the house down with a heartbreaking rendition of Eva’s Final Broadcast with tears rolling down her cheeks, as the audience watched on in awe at the actress on stage and her close-up on the screen behind. 

The individual performance of Rachel Zegler was powerful and she, along with her supporting cast, were given a lengthy standing ovation by the entire theatre, including loud cheers and ‘bravos’ from a group of Argentines sat in front of me, clearly impassioned by the story of the ‘Spiritual Leader of the Nation’.

Jamie Lloyd has created a spectacle inside and outside the London Palladium and with a limited 12-week run, there will no doubt be high demand for tickets.