"Evita" Cries For Ricky Martin- Page 2

[wiggum2]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 12:02pm

raul would be great!

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 1:23pm

I think a replacement of Raul Esparza would sell tickets. (Leap of Faith was another story.)

[newintown]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 1:28pm

Right - Esparza is a ticket-selling bonanza, which is why Leap of Faith made so much money.

Oh, wait...

[Dangerous Jade]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 2:27pm

^ That's why it's another story.

Updated On: 7/11/12 at 02:27 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 3:48pm

I think it's the same old story - he's not a ticket-seller. How many people have you heard say, "I can't wait to buy tickets for that Raul Esparza show?" (Except the six drunken screamers down front at Splash, or the five drunks around the piano at Marie's Crisis, of course.)

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 3:53pm

I think he would sell tickets because he's cute and can sing well. I don't go to Splash so I never saw the drunk screamers.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 3:56pm

You should try it. Once.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 4:56pm

I saw Raul play Che years ago, and he was wonderful.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/11/12 at 5:39pm

Rainbowhigh23, it seems to me you really don't get it. This show is not stunt cast, it is star cast. Stunt casting happens once the shows leads have left and they toss new stars who don't typically do live theatre into the cast as a STUNT to keep the show going, see Chicago for a good example.
The show is clearly not the star. If it was, ticket sales would not have slumped so much during Martin's vacation. That being said, stunt casting Enrique Iglesias once Martin leaves makes a lot more sense than casting Max Von Essen. Von Essen would not be able to keep the show open for a month. This show needs a star to get butts in seats.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 5:36am

I saw this production (essentially) in London, and Matt Rawle, while still playing the Everyman Che, brought a revolutinary, firebrand approach to the role. He just didn't have the beard and beret.

I agree with this. In London, just because Che was an everyman didn't mean he lost his cynical, scathing attacks on the Perón regime. Something has gone wrong with Che on Broadway. Either it's because Ricky doesn't understand the part and is playing himself (and who can blame him, I guess, when he gets applauded like that just for stepping out of the mourners to sing 'Oh, What a Circus!') or Michael Grandage has let him down.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 11:32am

Although I actually enjoyed the show when I saw it with Christina and Max, it was extremely empty.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 12:24pm

Yowza! Really sad that people wouldn't give the show a chance because Ricky's not in it.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 1:07pm

Most people are going to see Ricky, not Evita. His fans don't care what show he's in, they just want to see him live and in person. When I saw the show, at the curtain call, it was very obvious that the audience wasn't thrilled with the show ... very light applause, but when Ricky came out, they roared, and it died down when Elena came out.

[emlodik]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 1:16pm

As with "Sunset Boulevard," the stunt-casitng has come back to bite RUG in the butt. Don't these people understand that gimmick casting doesn't work for open ended shows?

Updated On: 7/13/12 at 01:16 PM

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 3:55pm

As with "Sunset Boulevard," the stun-casitng has come back to bite RUG in the butt. Don't these people understand that gimmick casting doesn't work for open ended shows?

To be fair, RUG aren't producing the B'way production, it's Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders. And while it's obvious the show won't last long, if at all, after Ricky leaves (that photo above is really quite shocking re the amount of empty seats!!), it's the way of Broadway sadly with these shows these days. Although I didn't care for Ricky's performance that much, I'm grateful the show has him because frankly I don't think something like Evita would be produced on Broadway at all without star casting like this. Broadway likes happy, clappy shows these days.

[random person 112]

Posted: 7/12/12 at 4:05pm

Guys it's normal for Che to get more applause than Eva we've gone into detail about it before. Eva is a horrible character the audience hates and despises. While Che is their eyes and ears.

Part of Martins portrayal proably has to do with his politics, he is very good friends with the current president of Argentina who frequently compares herself to Evita. She even gives her biggest speeches around murals, and statues of Evita. So his view of Evita is a much more positive one than Ches.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 5:44am

Part of Martins portrayal proably has to do with his politics, he is very good friends with the current president of Argentina who frequently compares herself to Evita. She even gives her biggest speeches around murals, and statues of Evita. So his view of Evita is a much more positive one than Ches.

Oh dear. So he IS playing himself rather than Che.

I can't stand Cristina Kirchner, never have done.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 10:41am

EVITA was the first show I was ever in, so it means a lot. I waited, purposely, until his vacation because I wanted to see EVITA and not Ricky Martin in EVITA. Smart move on my part, as the theatre was empty and I sat back and let the memories wash over me.

I'm in the minority who loved Elena Roger -- found her performance extraordinary.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 11:23am

Attention: Peeps who LOVED Ms. Roger's Eva,

Would you be so kind to please (pretty please?) say what it was about her Eva Peron that you found to be 'extraordinary'?

Every time someone waltzes onto the forums who loved her, they just as suddenly waltz (or should I say 'tango') outta here with only the assertion that she is the best thing since Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner!

Only those who disliked her in the role tend to also elaborate and provide something that supports their argument. I may still not agree that she "sucks" and is a no-talent, but I can at least see their rationale. I'm tired of people rushing in here, saying she's "remarkable" and disappearing. You only strengthen the perception that those who loved her in the role loved her because she's Argentinian and that alone sort of romanticized her involvement in the piece and made it feel somehow more real. There are people out there easily taken by stuff like that and it's discouraging that it happens to be those who loved her who never take the time to explain WHY.

Grrrrrrr.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 11:30am

Part of Martins portrayal proably has to do with his politics

No, it probably doesn't.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 11:56am

I've explained at length in several other friends why I liked Elena. But sure, I'll do it again.

From the moment she set foot on stage, it was impossible for me to take my eyes off of her. She commanded my attention even when in the background of a moment. I had no trouble understanding her, and did not mind her voice. From what I'd heard others say, I was expecting her to sound like Bernadette Peters in FOLLIES. That was far from what I got. Some of the higher notes are a bit screechy, but the passion behind it carries her.

I know the show very well. I have always wound up pitying Eva... For the first time, I was able to see both sides of the woman -- the b*tch and the savior.

A tiny woman, Elena Roger is no doubt commanding. She could easily fade into the background but never does. She dances with gusto and never apologizes for her weak singing. But her acting is what truly delivers.

It was thrilling to see Eva come to life, and I very often had to remind myself this was just an actress.

She should've been nominated for the Tony. And after seeing them all, I may have even given her the award. Yes, I'm in the minority. So be it. I was moved.

I used to stage door constantly, but haven't been moved to in quite some time. Last week, I waited til about 11pm for her to exit the theatre so that I could thank her for her performance. She couldn't have been sweeter.

Maybe she was just on fire when I went. Who knows? But what I saw truly wowed me.

Updated On: 7/13/12 at 11:56 AM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 2:22pm

It's great that you were moved by her. She moved me with one song. from RC in Austin, Texas

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 3:02pm

Would you be so kind to please (pretty please?) say what it was about her Eva Peron that you found to be 'extraordinary'?

Every time someone waltzes onto the forums who loved her, they just as suddenly waltz (or should I say 'tango') outta here with only the assertion that she is the best thing since Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner!

Only those who disliked her in the role tend to also elaborate and provide something that supports their argument. I may still not agree that she "sucks" and is a no-talent, but I can at least see their rationale. I'm tired of people rushing in here, saying she's "remarkable" and disappearing. You only strengthen the perception that those who loved her in the role loved her because she's Argentinian and that alone sort of romanticized her involvement in the piece and made it feel somehow more real. There are people out there easily taken by stuff like that and it's discouraging that it happens to be those who loved her who never take the time to explain WHY.

There's so much about her Evita I love that it would be easier to try and list things I didn't like, because they are far fewer.

I think the scene 'Buenos Aires' summed it up for me. As soon as her Eva arrives in the city, she is suddenly lit up from within and you can see all of the drive, ambition, guts, determination and sexuality that got Eva Perón to the top in that one song. There is only one word that I can think of that describes in this scene and that is electric.

I also think her Eva has a remarkable sense of humour, something that Elena has in common with Patti. Even on Broadway she still gets a fair few laughs from the audience during 'I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You', a scene that, when I think about it, didn't actually get that many laughs before. One show I saw her do, she deliberately put emphasis on the word 'always' in 'I don't ALWAYS rush in like this'...when, of course, that's precisely what Eva does, she rushes into everything head-first.

Elena has the kind of stage presence that I think is rare in theatre. Despite her diminutive stature, she dominates the stage and I could totally buy why the descamisados would adore her. By the time the Lament comes, I was crying for her, only to realise afterwards that I had been suckered by her Eva just as much as the descamisados.

And unlike many others here, I think her voice is quite beautiful. It's not at its best at the moment, but I could still listen to her sing for hours even if others can't. I really can't stand the yanky typical Broadway sound you get with so many Evas, so I find her refreshing. Equally refreshing is that she didn't try to be Madonna, Elaine Paige or Patti LuPone. I've seen enough copycat versions of those performances to know that to get a unique Eva like that is rare.

I actually think her Broadway performance would come across better if she had a stronger Che to react to. The dynamic is important. Without a great Che, I'm not even sure Patti could have become as iconic as she is now in the role.

As I've said many times elsewhere, it's sad I'm in the minority on this board for liking her in the Broadway Evita. But I just have to dig out every single review she got in London and be reminded that, fortunately, there are plenty of others who see what I see in her. It's just unfortunate that they're mostly on this side of the pond. At least if she's this disliked on Broadway I get to see more of her in London and BA, I guess.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 3:44pm

Couldn't agree more, Scorpion. I went in expecting to hate her based on all the vitriol I've read, but was so overwhelmed at points I was trembling. Had the perfect seat, dead center - second row of mezzanine - and my section emptied out when they learned they could get a refund if Martin was absent. I got transported for the full night, mainly because of her performance.

[D2]

Posted: 7/13/12 at 3:55pm

"Except the six drunken screamers down front at Splash, or the five drunks around the piano at Marie's Crisis, of course."

Oh, you mean his entourage.