EVITA Question

[teh_pretty]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 7:51pm

I've got a question about some EVITA staging. The montage has always seemed to be a difficult thing to stage effectively, so I was wondering how you've seen it done/how it's been done on Broadway (and in the current London production).

Thank for any input!

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 8:27pm

In the current London production, Eva is seen lying on her death bed, and the bed is spun around rapidly, turning back the clock to when Eva has just arrived in Buenos Aires. She is swept off her hospital bed by Magaldi, and moves straight into the tango of 'I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You', dancing with Magaldi and other men, before being held up by the male chorus as the music turns into 'A New Argentina.' She stands on the bed waving to the crowds around her, reliving her glory days. As the music moves into 'The Money Kept Rolling In,' she lies on the bed, and the bed is spun round so that the audience can no longer see her. Peron is then seen on the balcony singing a small section of 'You Must Love Me.' Then 'Santa Evita' is sung by the ensemble, with Che singing 'Sing you fools, you got it wrong... she's not coming back to you,' at which point the bed is spun round, now empty. The covers are unfolded to reveal the Argentinian flag. The flag drapes over the bed to suggest Eva's coffin, and 'Lament' begins. Warm lighting is used throughout the scene, except for Peron's speech from the balcony, where most of the stage is dimly lit, with a spotlight on Peron, and then a spotlight on Che.

Hope that makes sense, and is somewhat helpful.

Mary P x

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 8:35pm

That sounds awesome, thanks for posting.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 8:38pm

that sounds awesome!
is that the way the show was done on Broadway, or is a new thing?

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 8:40pm

In the original staging, if I remember correctly from the tour I saw in February, Eva stays in a chair downstage left and the montage happens around her. There is an Eva double that moves around the stage in costumes fitting the scenes portrayed, but any vocals were always done by the actress in the chair.

It's been since February since I've seen it, so I could easily be wrong. Someone with a better/fresher memory than mine might have more input.

[timote316]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 9:25pm

Wow, that sounds stunning, Practically.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/30/06 at 10:19pm

I've also been wondering how the current West End Evita stages "The Art of the Possible"... is the rocking chairs bit out?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 12:04am

CATSNY, I think they do a sort of "face-off" challenge instead. Michael Bennett discussed it a month or two back.

Practically Perfect, in the "Montage" did they take out the "High Flying, Adored" bit? The original used snippets of "Oh, What A Circus," "Eva Beware Of The City," "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You," "A New Argentina," "High Flying, Adored," and "Santa Evita" (in that order). If Eva dies during the course of the "Montage," does she still perform "Lament"?

Also, how do they stage "You Must Love Me"? I understand that it comes after "Waltz For Eva And Che" and right before "She Is A Diamond." Isn't it a bit awkward inserting the song in there? Does she just segue into "You Must Love Me"? Please, explain.

Updated On: 8/31/06 at 12:04 AM

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 5:41am

bwayondabrain - it is a new thing for the West End Revival - 'Montage' has been re-written slightly (see below), and is staged in a very different manner to the original production, which was the way Wonderwaiter described it.

CATSNYrevival - the rocking chairs are out of 'Art Of The Possible' - it is staged as combat between army members, including Peron. One person fights another - the winner then fights another etc. until the victor is Peron. I think it's a very weak scene in the new production.

StageManager2 - 'High Flying, Adored' has been cut from 'Montage'. It starts with "She had her moments, she had some style, the best show in town was the crowd outside the Casa Rosada, crying 'Eva Peron!' But that's all gone now!" Then Magaldi sings "Eva, beware, your ambition," before lifting her off the bed. Then the tango starts as Eva sings "It seems crazy, but you must believe there's nothing calculated nothing planned. Please forgive me if I seem naive, I would never want to force your hand..." Then 'A New Argentina' starts as Eva is carried towards the bed, which she stands on, waving to the crowd. This then segues into "Rolling, rolling rolling", and into Peron singing "Where do we go from here, how can I be any use to you now? Give me a chance and I'll let you see how nothing has changed." This then segues into 'Santa Evita' and Che singing "Sing you fools, you got it wrong." The bed is then spun round, now empty. Phew!

"You Must Love Me" is now sung by Eva to Peron. It's a beautiful moment, and Elena sings it so well.

Mary P x

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 6:19am

Having seen the new production, I must say The Montage was done wonderfully on the stage. Very effective.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 11:31am

thanks for the explanations, practically perfect!
i might get the new West End EVIVA cd so I could hear how the new "Montage" sounds, and so i can hear Elena
:)
sounds cool from what ive heard!

[Londonskyguy]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 11:50am

It may just be me but I didnt like the spinning bed thing, to me it didnt have the impact of the Hal Prince staging, It felt more like the Joseph Mega mix. When she appeared on the balcony I swear I was looking for wires for fear she was gonna fly in the air or something,, Thank god though she didnt!

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 8/31/06 at 2:49pm

I found it a bit akward, since in that way, when she sings Lament from the balcony, it is clear she is dead and she reflects upon her life, not dying, like in the movie.

But I was so pleased that the second verse of Lament is finally included in a production. So far it was only on the concept album.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 9/1/06 at 1:16am

I thought the spinning bed business was brilliant. And having Quast sing a snippet of "You Must Love Me" during the montage was amazingly effective.

And the staging for "Art of the Possible," with the soldiers appearing in the foggy doors, was devestating. A real coup de theatre.

The only disappointments, for me, in the new London staging, were "Rainbow High" (those stacked suitcases were not very effective), and I missed the Prince business with the Ascot Gavotte section ("things have reached a pretty pass...").

Otherwise? An amazing staging, IMO.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 9/1/06 at 6:07am

'I thought the spinning bed business was brilliant. And having Quast sing a snippet of "You Must Love Me" during the montage was amazingly effective'.

I agree that was one of my favourite moments from the show, along with 'Tango for Eva and Che' which has always been one of my favourite moments.