Evita (Dir/J.Lloyd) -OAT 2019 / Barbican ‘20 / Palladium ‘25

[Boob]

I know this show back to front and, even then, I had no idea what was going on in the OAT production.

[kit66]

Oct 25, 2024 11:17:09 GMT tom said:

I hated the OAT production. It may even have been the worst thing I've ever seen - even worse than The Sound of Music snore fest with Connie Fisher!!! I can't understand why it is so difficult to get a decent production of Evita. I have preferred the film version to any production of this I have seen which is never true for any other musical for me.

Connie Fisher wasn't in the OATRP Sound of Music but perhaps you didnt mean that?Just SOM in general?

[AddisonMizner]

I’d like to see Rachel Zegler as Eva. Wasn’t she rumoured for a potential Broadway production? I can imagine her fitting in with Lloyd’s aesthetic.

[theatrefan62]

She was, although I'd hope for someone a bit more dynamic personally. I find her a very bland actress. Not sure she would sell out the Palladium either, unless Snow White does a complete turn around and becomes a massive box office hit.

[lotster]

So, realistically, who do we think might play Eva. Any rumours?

[Phantom of London]

Age blind casting with Elaine Paige.

[danb]

Maybe a different Pussycat doll?

[unseaworthy]

Just watch it be somebody like The Vivienne...

[tom]

Oct 25, 2024 16:37:11 GMT kit66 said:

Oct 25, 2024 11:17:09 GMT tom said:

I hated the OAT production. It may even have been the worst thing I've ever seen - even worse than The Sound of Music snore fest with Connie Fisher!!! I can't understand why it is so difficult to get a decent production of Evita. I have preferred the film version to any production of this I have seen which is never true for any other musical for me.

Connie Fisher wasn't in the OATRP Sound of Music but perhaps you didnt mean that?Just SOM in general?

Sorry yes, I meant at the Palladium. Just comparing the two shows I have found the worst of my theatre trips.

[nomoretalkofdarkness]

Ariana DeBose if I was to Guess

[distantcousin]

Oct 25, 2024 18:29:15 GMT nomoretalkofdarkness said:

Ariana DeBose if I was to Guess

"Che Guevera did a THING!..."

[dr]

I would definitely guess Ariana DeBose... from a quick Instagram sleuth, she follows both Jamie Lloyd and Fabian Aloise (original choregrapher at OAT/Sunset collaborator of Lloyd) - could easily be coincidental, but they've never worked together. Plus one of those Twitter accounts suggested an "MT return" - Ariana DeBose has not done musical theatre since the film West Side Story.

[lotster]

Oct 25, 2024 19:31:30 GMT dr said:

I would definitely guess Ariana DeBose... from a quick Instagram sleuth, she follows both Jamie Lloyd and Fabian Aloise (original choregrapher at OAT/Sunset collaborator of Lloyd) - could easily be coincidental, but they've never worked together. Plus one of those Twitter accounts suggested an "MT return" - Ariana DeBose has not done musical theatre since th

[Being Alive]

Oct 25, 2024 18:29:15 GMT nomoretalkofdarkness said:

Ariana DeBose if I was to Guess

Good guessing I'd say - certainly the vibe I imagine it's going for 🤷🏻‍♂️

[alece10]

I saw her London concert and thought she was amazing and I didn't really know much about her. Great choice if true.

[theatrefan62]

Guess they have a name for Che then

[Boob]

Oct 25, 2024 18:13:17 GMT unseaworthy said:

Just watch it be somebody like The Vivienne...

She will take over for the tour.

[theatreloverlondon]

Ooooop. I would love Rachel Zegler just to hear that voice 😍 but Debose would do a much better job all round.

[SuttonPeron]

DeBose cannot sing this, duty or not.

[BVM]

Oct 25, 2024 14:40:38 GMT singingbird said:

For what it's worth, I also thought the OAT production was superb. Visceral, unique, and also nothing like Lloyds's Sunset Boulevard.

Agreed was nothing like Sunset. It had some of the same things (barefoot and Eva in one plain dress) but made amazing use of colour with ensemble costumes, the lighting, the flares, the New Argentina streamers. And no video at OAT. The main shade of blue they used was gorgeous.

It was also very clear on Eva - most productions leave the saint/sinner issue somewhat vague but here she was portrayed as rough, social climbing, selfish, narcissistic, using others for her own gains only. The vision at the end with the classic traditional visual appearance of Evita being something created after her death and not representative of her life was a stroke of genius.

As I've said before when a director makes you think differently about a show you know backwards and challenge yourself (I am old enough and lucky enough to have seen all commercial UK productions of this show) that's something very special.  

[BVM]

I guess it will be a different production for The Palladium and am sure much will change.

If it was gonna be the exact OAT version I'd say Palladium is the wrong theatre for it. Real shame Barbican never happened as would have worked really well there I think.

Also a shame that will need a "name" - though I do agree with everyone saying this. The OAT version was perfectly cast for me; all MT pros right for their role and not a household name in sight!

Nonetheless - thrilled this is happening. And I am already hoping for a cast recording ;-)

[BVM]

Oct 25, 2024 11:25:35 GMT erik24601 said:

Oct 24, 2024 21:13:12 GMT BVM said:

Rachel Tucker on Mondays.
Tom as Che. Thaxton as Peron. Grace as the Mistress.

GaGa on Saturday matinees.

So I said it flippantly lol but having thought about it, it would be dream casting. 

[A.Ham]

Oct 26, 2024 11:08:55 GMT BVM said:

Oct 25, 2024 11:25:35 GMT erik24601 said:

GaGa on Saturday matinees.

So I said it flippantly lol but having thought about it, it would be dream casting. 

Wasn’t there a rumour a while back that Gaga was doing this?

[lolaluffneggle]

I mean she isn’t going to be touring her new album in 2025…

[Mark]

Oct 26, 2024 12:01:41 GMT lolaluffneggle said:

I mean she isn’t going to be touring her new album in 2025…

She isn’t? That’s the rumour