Okay, just to clear up a few things:
EVITA is not an opera, despite what "Lord" Lloyd Webber thinks. (And yes, neither is SWEENEY TODD.)
The press didn't savage her for having and accent an not being LuPone. They DID savage her for her singing voice, which is unpleasant.
When you're in a big Broadway musical, you "Gotta dance!" to quote Gene Kelly, so she knew she had that comin'.
I was a BIG champion of Josefina Scaglione as Maria in WEST SIDE STORY some years ago. She, too, was Argentinian and making her Broadway debut. She was fabulous. She could sing beautifully and play the part with conviction, all things the International Theater Star Elena Roger is not doing six times a week.
Darling, there IS a lovely thread on All That Chat for you to join, so why not chime in there?
Updated On: 8/1/12 at 12:47 AM