1,349 posts
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Post by CG on the loose on Sept 11, 2019 20:25:32 GMT
I'm seeing this on Monday and praying that the weather is ok. I'm intrigued by the comments on here and cant wait to see it for myself. I didn't think i needed to see Evita again for a very long time, but peoples comments on here have got me to book, pretty much like they did for JCS. Ditto! |
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Post by lonlad on Sept 11, 2019 20:53:55 GMT
"Not to work as good" .... ??
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 11, 2019 22:58:41 GMT
Caught this tonight from a cheap seat near the back. Evita isn’t a favourite musical of mine, but it has some good songs.
This version I didn’t really take to. It reminded me so much of Jesus Christ Superstar, which I also didn’t take to. But I know I’m in the minority.
Very glad to have been at the back away from being near all the explosions. Rather on edge all night. They weren’t bad from where I sat, just unnerving. For the talk of an indoors transfer, the explosions added little and wouldn’t be missed.
I liked the choice to innovate. Some bits worked, some didn’t. Wasn’t keen on how much was sing-shouted by Evita.
Thankfully I have seen this before, but there were people near me at the end trying to work out what had happened. One person clearly had no idea Evita was meant to have died.
Glad to have had a dry night though and a well behaved audience to boot.
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4,955 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 12, 2019 6:52:53 GMT
Years ago I saw the Hal Prince production on a wet Monday night in Hull with a very tired Marti Webb and company. The whole thing was painful to watch, great production with a tired cast but its a screechy musical.
I believe in giving pieces a second chance. I still hate Evita (it has no depth and the score sounds really dated). However the production is amazing. Loved the steps, choreography, brat, iconography and the mess! But this was a mixed night!!!
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Post by tom on Sept 13, 2019 21:42:30 GMT
This was awful. It was as if it was directed by a bunch of sixth formers... I know let’s use loads of balloons and confetti, it’ll be amazing. The acting doesn’t matter! Samantha has no depth. She was shout, screech, shout a little quieter. Where was the vulnerability when required? Who hired the non-entity playing peron? The ensemble were good, che was mostly good and the theatre is lovely. That’s as far as I can go in terms of positives. I can’t believe that somebody thought this production was worthy of the prices being charged!? The audience reaction at the end said it all. A lot of people stood but it actually went quieter when Evita took her bow!
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Post by intoanewlife on Sept 13, 2019 23:59:58 GMT
This was awful. It was as if it was directed by a bunch of sixth formers... I know let’s use loads of balloons and confetti, it’ll be amazing. The acting doesn’t matter! Samantha has no depth. She was shout, screech, shout a little quieter. Where was the vulnerability when required? Who hired the non-entity playing peron? The ensemble were good, che was mostly good and the theatre is lovely. That’s as far as I can go in terms of positives. I can’t believe that somebody thought this production was worthy of the prices being charged!? The audience reaction at the end said it all. A lot of people stood but it actually went quieter when Evita took her bow! OUCH! PMSL! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2019 8:39:18 GMT
This was awful. It was as if it was directed by a bunch of sixth formers... I know let’s use loads of balloons and confetti, it’ll be amazing. The acting doesn’t matter! Samantha has no depth. She was shout, screech, shout a little quieter. Where was the vulnerability when required? Who hired the non-entity playing peron? The ensemble were good, che was mostly good and the theatre is lovely. That’s as far as I can go in terms of positives. I can’t believe that somebody thought this production was worthy of the prices being charged!? The audience reaction at the end said it all. A lot of people stood but it actually went quieter when Evita took her bow! I agree with every word of this, except the bit at the end because I hated it so much I left at the interval last night, and I wasn't the only one! I bought a ticket purely because the good reviews on here piqued my interest (I should just trust my instinct next time!). I was intrigued by the thought of a different adaptation and looking forward to hearing that beautiful score. Well, that score was utterly ruined last night. Samantha Pauly - whether it was purely her or the way she was miked I don't know, but she sounded like she was shouting the whole time and her voice was so shrill it gave me a headache. She was flat a fair amount of the time too, and her diction is abysmal. So many lyrics were rushed, shouted and lost. The principals just generally seemed to have forgotten to act at all - the only time they showed any expression at all was Samantha in the background in Another Suitcase (that number was the only good thing about this production, I thought it was very well done). The smoke and confetti and fireworks were all just pointless distractions whose meaning was entirely unclear, the balloons might have worked if the dancing was good but it was not tight at all and the steps meant that the opportunity to use the dance break of I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You to show some proper Argentine Tango to remind us of where we are supposed to be instead turned into some messy dancing on a line and dodgy lifts. The whole thing seemed rushed, off-balance and unnecessarily abstract. I thought it was a complete disaster and the only good thing was seeing Marsha Songcombe on stage again! Plenty of people around me on the way out of the auditorium at the interval who were completely confused about the storyline or just really unimpressed. This is definitely a production you will either love or hate, and for me it was definitely the latter. |
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Post by Mark on Sept 14, 2019 8:43:47 GMT
I saw it on Thursday evening where Marsha Songcome was on as Eva, and she was wonderful. I loved this whole production to be honest, the only version I’d seen previously was the BK touring version.
Choreography was fantastic and the lighting design was just incredible.
Interesting how divided the opinions are!
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Post by xanady on Sept 14, 2019 9:44:49 GMT
^Not sure if leaving at the interval gives you the full picture of any show and I always worry that when the cast(who are following the creatives’ choices) are aware that the audience has scarpered it must have a negative effect on them.I am sure that most people who saw the whole of Falsettos instead of bailing in the interval would agree that it was definitely a game of two very different halves in terms of mood and impact and the second half was really worth sticking around for,but hey ho,each to their own...you pays your money,you makes your choice.
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19,659 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 14, 2019 10:25:50 GMT
I think not liking something by the interval is one thing, but hating it or feeling actively annoyed by it is definitely another. If it’s the latter you’re better off scarpering.
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Post by xanady on Sept 14, 2019 11:21:33 GMT
As I come to the debate from a performing/directing/writing/Drama teaching background,rightly or wrongly,I think that I more often than not empathise with the creatives rather than the audience and no creatives want to see walk-outs as it is soul-destroying,but I agree that if having to sit through something that is absolutely crushing you inside then to leave would be the best option...felt that way about the recent Joseph(bye bye) in London and the hideous Rock Of Ages on tour, but managed to hang on...just!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2019 12:22:51 GMT
^Not sure if leaving at the interval gives you the full picture of any show and I always worry that when the cast(who are following the creatives’ choices) are aware that the audience has scarpered it must have a negative effect on them.I am sure that most people who saw the whole of Falsettos instead of bailing in the interval would agree that it was definitely a game of two very different halves in terms of mood and impact and the second half was really worth sticking around for,but hey ho,each to their own...you pays your money,you makes your choice. I chose not to spend another hour making my headache any worse. I'm not sure any of the cast would have noticed my empty seat, but I also don't see why anyone should feel any obligation to stick around if they're not enjoying something - life is too short. It doesn't affect whether the cast get paid or not, and maybe it does send a message to the creatives (I doubt it unless half the audience walks) so I really don't see the problem. I've stuck out shows to the end before and regretted it as they didn't improve, and the sound was so awful last night that I didn't think this one would either, so I made my decision on that basis. It just felt to me that I was seeing a completely different show to the raves that have appeared on here. Maybe whoever was on the sound desk had an off night, I don't know, but whether it was deliberate or not it really ruined it for me. |
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Post by xanady on Sept 14, 2019 13:00:21 GMT
^Fair enough 😀
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Post by northernhomo on Sept 15, 2019 15:22:35 GMT
I saw this last night and I just adored it. Evita is one of my all time favourites, and to see a refreshing take on it was brilliant. A few odd direction choices, such as the underwear and the paint. But the choreography was incredible.
This has to transfer, or tour, because i have got to see it again!
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316 posts
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Post by ABr on Sept 16, 2019 8:54:38 GMT
Seeing this tonight! Never seen Evita so will be great to go in with such a fresh pair of eyes, and having it be such a split of people liking/not liking it, I'm really intrigued! Just hoping the weather holds out, gonna prepare and wrap up!
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Post by winonaforever on Sept 16, 2019 18:21:07 GMT
It's interesting that lots of people don't think much of Sam Pauly's performance. I saw Marsha Songcome last time and she was excellent, but I will be seeing Sam on Saturday (I did see her yesterday at The Other Palace and she wasn't at all shouty or screechy, but then it was only one song!)😂
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 22:43:28 GMT
What a mess.
How can a production that obviously set out to achieve so much, achieve so very little. You can throw all the confetti, smoke, streamers and flames at it, but it added absolutely nothing to the production.
Samantha Pauly has neither the acting nor vocal range for Evita and it felt like a high school performance.
Only once did i feel the production come alive and that was 'And The Money Keeps Rolling in' but that was way too little, too late. 'The Art Of The Impossible' just dragged on and on and some numbers like 'High Flying Adored' just stopped the already slow show.
Can someone explain to me why Che (in a Che Guevara tshirt! - really??) stripped down to his pants and got covered in paint and confetti and then just sat freezing on stage??
The worst part, i was just bored. Really bored. Act 2 was a complete snooze fest and the direction, bad ideas and all, just disappeared.
Half way through the second Act, i was thinking, just die already!
Not recommended.
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Post by alicechallice on Sept 16, 2019 23:09:25 GMT
Well, I thought it was fab!
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Post by Lemansky on Sept 17, 2019 8:13:39 GMT
Well, I thought it was fab! Me too! I'm very glad I got to see it again. The weather held too which was handy. |
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Post by freckles on Sept 17, 2019 8:41:28 GMT
What a mess. How can a production that obviously set out to achieve so much, achieve so very little. You can throw all the confetti, smoke, streamers and flames at it, but it added absolutely nothing to the production. Samantha Pauly has neither the acting nor vocal range for Evita and it felt like a high school performance. Only once did i feel the production come alive and that was 'And The Money Keeps Rolling in' but that was way too little, too late. 'The Art Of The Impossible' just dragged on and on and some numbers like 'High Flying Adored' just stopped the already slow show. Can someone explain to me why Che (in a Che Guevara tshirt! - really??) stripped down to his pants and got covered in paint and confetti and then just sat freezing on stage?? The worst part, i was just bored. Really bored. Act 2 was a complete snooze fest and the direction, bad ideas and all, just disappeared. Half way through the second Act, i was thinking, just die already! Not recommended. Harsh, but this production is certainly dividing people.
I liked it. I felt some scenes made more of a connection that I've ever seen before - for me, Evita has always been a one dimensional representation and I liked the younger, stripped back portrayal.
However, some bits were baffling - can't help you with the bit where Che was shivering in his smalls, I wasn't sure what was going on there either! Not that Che makes much sense at all, really, I have often wished he were just called The Narrator. Even so, didn't "get" that part and spent the last few minutes and the bows wishing someone would give the poor guy a towel.
I wasn't at all bored though.
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Post by theoracle on Sept 17, 2019 9:33:31 GMT
Finally going to this on Thursday evening. It seems Sam Pauly has been dividing opinion too. As the lynchpin of the piece, is she singing in key or is she really just “shrieking” as some others have opined. I personally think Evita is one of the best female roles out there, giving actresses the chance to showcase their vocals so is she not doing the score justice?
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543 posts
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Post by freckles on Sept 17, 2019 9:42:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2019 9:50:05 GMT
Finally going to this on Thursday evening. It seems Sam Pauly has been dividing opinion too. As the lynchpin of the piece, is she singing in key or is she really just “shrieking” as some others have opined. I personally think Evita is one of the best female roles out there, giving actresses the chance to showcase their vocals so is she not doing the score justice? She is singing, and i think shrieking is a little extreem, though there are parts that don't seem to fit within her range naturally and she does seem to think that singing louder means she is acting more
For me it was all a bit one note. There were no thrilling moments from her performance. Rainbow High was a dud.
just my humble opinion, of course.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2019 9:55:38 GMT
This is kinda what I mean.
I LOVE it - but there is considerably more than a handful of people that really didn't like it. Unlike Jesus Christ Superstar which was (almost) universally liked.
Hence makes me think this production isn't gonna return and tour, at least not to the extent JCS has/is.
I am keeping fingers crossed for a one off Barbican season though. Would be a real shame (I think) if this production were not seen again.
As for Samantha Pauly and Trent, I think they smash it. The symbolism of Che half naked until the end is that that is what has happened to Argentina under the Peron's - it is naked and broken with nothing left. For me it's a very powerful image.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2019 10:26:45 GMT
The symbolism of Che half naked until the end is that that is what has happened to Argentina under the Peron's - it is naked and broken with nothing left. For me it's a very powerful image. Ok, that makes sense to me, hence them using the colours of the Argentinian flag. Nice catch. Also, because they never actually met in real life, the fact that Eva and Che played agaisnt each other all night in this production, made it seem like he was more than just an 'everyman' figure of the country.
I wish this was another JCS. I went in with such high hopes too!
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