EVITA: Mandy Patinkin or Antonio Banderas as Che?

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:54pm

Which one? I personally can't stand Mandy on the OBCR. He is just so annoying. He is better doing Sondheim (Sunday in the Park, anyone?) I think Antonio is better, less annoying, though I know I'm in the minoritory here.

So which do you prefer?

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:00pm

MANDY. His voice is so outrageous, not in a bad way. I lvoe it and would be so happy if I had his voice
Plus he is on Dead Like Me, which officially makes him one of the coolest people out there. His work is just never a let down

Updated On: 1/12/06 at 09:00 PM

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:06pm

Totally Mandy Patinkin. Banderas does not have a great voice, and he doesn't come close to the sarcasm and cynicism that Patinkin acheives. Patinkin's voice has a great range and a perfect sound for Che's part.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:12pm

The only thing I have ever enjoyed Mandy Patinkin in was Sunday in the Park with George.
So I will have to go with Antonio Banderes.

[IWannaDance!]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:19pm

Mandy Mandy Mandy

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:20pm

If I have to choose from them.... MANDY!!

But Raul Esparza was Magnificent in the tour! The Best IMHO!!

[DG]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 9:21pm

Seeing Mandy do this with Ms. Lupone is one of the highlights of my theatre-going history. And finding out he didn't have formal training simply blew me away. There are no words to describe the power and intensity he brought to the role - and absolutely used to overwhelm the theatre with Patti. It was a complete tidal wave of theatricality, passion and talent.

After that, Mr. Banderas didn't even register on my radar.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:14pm

I loved Antonia Banderas and the dude from the Czech production.
But Mandy Patinkin is great. He was awesome in Chicago Hope too cause he sang once in a while.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:19pm

Antonio Banderas. I guess I'm in the minority too.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:54pm

Patinkin all the way.

Isn't he from Juilliard?

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:55pm

Mandy Patinkin, no doubt.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 10:59pm

JAY MONTGOMERY

[neelyohara]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 12:53am

Antonio.
::ducks flying objects::

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 1:16am

Patinkin.

Banderas' voice drives me crazy. He's nice to look at, but that's about it for me.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 7:16am

I love both but I have to go with Mandy on this one. In all fairness to Antonio, the Evita on the OBCR is in almost no way the recording for the film.

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 7:18am

Raul Esparza.






Times a billion.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 7:43am

Antonio. Because he brought the 'latin' thing to the role which Mandy lacked...and it made it more believable. Loved Mandy's voice...but Antonio brought the spirit and heart of it...and that wins me over....for me.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:23am

Mandy---I just adore his voice! (And he's a real sweetie to boot!)

[Di2]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:24am

I did "Evita" with Jason Daniely as our Che and he was absolutely incredible.

He kicked the crap out of anything Patinkin and Banderas could possibly do.

[sanda]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:36am

Banderas

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:39am

Well, first of all, they're not even the same characters.

Mandy was playing Che Guevara, the anachronistic Cuban rebel (hailing from Argentinian roots) from the 1960s... commenting on the (primarily) '40s and '50s storyline in "Evita."

For the film (and ALW and Rice have discussed this several times), they along with Alan Parker decided to change the character entirely to just a generic "Che," and no longer tried to make him "Guevara" in any respect.

Mandy worked fine on the stage, but after seeing Antonio in the film, I much prefer him. He is more smoldering, more sexy, more humorous and witty, and (let's face it) LATIN in the part. It works better.

However, that said, both roles are "intrusive" and by the time he gets to singing "forgive my intrusion," I always felt like shouting back "NO! Shut up and get out of the way!!"

...And I even understudied Che once in "Evita." It's an annoying role.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 11:08am

Mandy, Mandy, Mandy.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 12:07pm

Mandy has no competition...his voice is amazing~!!!

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 12:08pm

Tie: I loved both. The way they portrayed the character is so different, it's hard to compare the two. That being said, the guy playing Che in the current national tour is extremely talented (kicks self in head for not remembering his name).

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 12:56pm

Mandy! NOT even close........he made that role