Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/12
It's not her understudy, its the alternate.
There is no right or wrong, as neither woman is making all audiences think, "wow". I think this shows that the problem is in the direction, and not necessarily the actress.
I saw Elena Roger about two weeks ago and I found her performance to be phenomenal - my third favorite of the season. Her take on Eva Perón is a more sentimental one, so you may end up feeling for her by the end of the show. I'm not sure that was the original intent of the musical's creators, but she does very well by this production. To sum up, see Elena.
Updated On: 5/16/12 at 01:11 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
I saw Christina deCicco and thought she was quite good...and could sing.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
@elena_roger
"pronto tendre fecha de mis vacaciones pero no seran en Junio seguro. Abrazo"
Then "Querida gente, tengan una hermosa semana. Pronto confirmaré mis vacaciones. Gracias a todos por sus mensajes Amor, paz y luz per tutti"
The mention of June had me thinking end of June as Ricky is out first week of July. And peace, light and a hug.
Updated On: 5/16/12 at 03:08 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
I saw it again for the third go round and the show and everyone involved have improved from the first time I saw it.
I think Elena is doing a great job...I also get a kick at all the spanish words being pronounced correctly. I wince every time a gringa playing Evita mispronounces Rio de la Plata, Florida, Corrientes, Nueve de Julio near the end of "Buenos Aires" or when a gringo playing "Che" mispronounces "Peron" as Pear-on. Ugh. THANK GOD they got some latin people up on that stage!
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
Saw the matinee and was very underwhelmed. Elena is fully committed, but her vocals and diction have not improved since that atrocious London cast recording. I couldn't understand 60% of her lyrics and neither could my friend. She does dance well and has good energy.
Ricky was so one note. He only had about two expressions and used the same hand movements in every damn song. He was nice to look at though, and sung well enough.
Cerveris was certainly the strongest of the leads.
Rachel Potter was out. The understudy had a lovely voice.
Updated On: 5/16/12 at 05:52 PM
Stand-by Joined: 11/27/11
Saw it this afternoon. It's a good production, but I've come to the conclusion that I just don't like the show. Ricky Martin is a horror, but I enjoyed Elena Roger's shriek-singing. If you listen to recordings of Eva Peron she used to stand on the balcony and scream.
Edit: Forgot to mention that aside from the songs I know I couldn't understand a damn thing Roger said.
Ricky is out the first weeks of July and August. I'm going to go back then. As hot and charismatic as he is, it's a nuance-free and literally one-note performance.
While Elena's voice is more raspy than I recall from the West End production, I still think she is a sensational actress and does the role proud.
I hope to get a chance to see the Evita alternate. I've heard some wonderful things about her. As far as Miss Roger is concerned, I saw...I heard... I was underwhelmed. I thought Elena was channeling less Evita and more Edith Piaf (whose music I adore.) I'm not being a snob... I'm just being honest. from RC in Austin, Texas
I haven't seen her alternate, but I recommend seeing anyone but her in it. She ruined the show for me, she can't hit the notes and her voice is not pleasant at all.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
All you Elena detractors - your dreams will come true later this summer:
Elena Roger @Elena_Roger
"Friends, I won´t perform in Evita from July 12th til 19th and August 13th til 19th. Big hug"
On Sat August 11th I´ll perform the matinee instead the evening show. Sábado 11 de Agosto haré la matinee en vez del show de la noche.
But you will miss being able to sit in the audience with people like this (your loss)
Who Elena Roger Greets Backstage at Evita
Updated On: 5/17/12 at 10:47 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
I saw Evita this past Monday. Couldn't understand a word Elena was shrieking. Neither could my 2 friends I was with. If I wouldn't have known the words from various other times I heard it I would have been lost. One of my friends though it was all in Spanish(that's how bad Elena's diction was)
Would love to see DeCicco or the other understudies and enjoy the show without having to cringe or rip the arms off my chair everytime Eva sang.
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