How Is Max von Essen Doing As "Che" During Ricky's Vacation-Absence?
How Is Max von Essen Doing As "Che" During Ricky's Vacation-Absence?
#1How Is Max von Essen Doing As "Che" During Ricky's Vacation-Absence?
Posted: 7/5/12 at 10:54am
Has anyone seen the wonderful Max von Essen play "Che" while Ricky Martin is on vacation? Just wondering....from RC in Austin, Texas
Dangerous Jade
Understudy Joined: 7/5/12
#2How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 10:57amI'm going to see him tomorrow so I'll report back. Wish you were in town because I have a free extra ticket!! All my theater friends are in Ptown watching Patti.
#2How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 12:29pm
I saw the show Monday night, and thought he was fantastic. Along with Michael Cerveris, he easily carried the whole show. I haven't seen Ricky, but basing my opinion on the Tony performance, Max easily put him to shame with "And the Money Kept Rolling In". It was the one scene of the show that was 100% on point.
One other comment: I do not understand what they were thinking with Elena Roger. I can appreciate her background and even her voice, but I literally couldn't understand half of what she was saying. As someone not familiar with the full libretto since I find most ALW scores insufferable, I feel like I missed out on a fully enjoyable experience because I couldn't understand what she was saying.
Dangerous Jade
Understudy Joined: 7/5/12
#3How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 12:57pmI thought her accent was better than when she was in London. Strange that your experience was that bad.
#4How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 1:36pmWelcome to Broadway World ...Dangerous Jade. from RC in Austin, Texas
Dangerous Jade
Understudy Joined: 7/5/12
#5How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 1:40pm
Thank you, fellow Lupone fanatic 
I hear in Provincetown she did four Evita songs in the original key - Seth Rudetsky said he cried.
rjm516
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/09
#6How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 1:59pmOh man I wish I could see it with Max! Ricky was fine, and I guess it's 'cool' that I saw Ricky Martin on Broadway, but it's not $100+ cool.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#7How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 2:06pm
Max does a number "on pointe"!
I gotta see this!
I just can't understand why a shirtless Che scene was not added for this production.
theaternut
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/4/03
#8How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 2:15pmHe is fine. I only caught act 2. He seems very interchangeable with any number of Che's that one might have seen in stock. Perhaps a little sexier in his way. Ricky might not be very good in the show. But at least his performance gives this debacle a purpose; which is to see a international mega star in a broadway show.
#9How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/5/12 at 2:20pm
Wish I had seen him instead of Ricky Martin, who lived up to his poor reviews, IMO. Curiously, I really liked Elena Roger. True, her high notes aren't great, but other than that I thought she was fantastic (and sexy as hell).
BTW, for the few reading this who haven't, you must watch Von Essen's rendition of "Proud Lady" on that site.
The Scorpion
Leading Actor Joined: 1/3/07
#10How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 5:22am
The fact that so many people on this board have been incredibly harsh on Elena Roger's (stunning, IMHO) performance but have little/nothing to say about the fact that Ricky Martin cannot act, even if he is the one making this show sell on Broadway, does nothing to alter my impression that Broadway is all about the belt and little to do with fine acting.
And seriously, every time someone says "I can't understand what they were thinking" or "why didn't they get an American woman?!" re the transfer of Elena Roger, I keep feeling like pulling out her London reviews. Not a single bad one. All raves. Olivier Award nomination. If you were producing the show, wouldn't it be rather stupid of you NOT to bring over the one element that all the critics and audiences unanimously loved?
#11How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 5:32am
Scorpion, it wasnt a financial hit in London and closed much sooner than expected plus many audience members didnt like Elena (just as much as some liked/loved her) so it wasnt unanimous.
As for reviews, it makes me laugh when reviews are dragged out as proof that an opinion must be right.
The Scorpion
Leading Actor Joined: 1/3/07
#12How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 5:48am
Never said it was a financial hit (it really should have been though, given the reviews; sadly RUG did their usual job of messing up in the producing department). Fair enough, you're the first I know of from London not to have liked her, but otherwise her reception from the London audiences was, for the most part, positive. My point in any case is not who is "right", but that the critical reviews she got across the board in London, regardless of whether they were right or not, are the reason for her transfer. ANY performer who gets reviews like those would be signed up for the transfer without question.
Updated On: 7/6/12 at 05:48 AM
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#13How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 9:07am
Just saw him last night and he was terrific. It was my first time seeing it, as I wanted to see it when Martin was on vacation.
But the true surprise was Elena Roger. While she doesn't sing like Patti, her acting is tour-de-force. Hands down one of the best performances I've seen in ages. She should've been nominated.
lupone76
Featured Actor Joined: 12/9/11
#15How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 9:53am
It's all wonderful that Ms. Elena Roger can act the role well which infact I agree she does. However, it happens to be a sung through out role with lots of high notes and crescendos which she clearly she does not have the vocal chops for. Alas, a bloody disaster. So, after seeing her in the role three times and seeing her lack of vocal attributes totally ruin the first ever revival of EVITA, I say what were they thinking????
Updated On: 7/6/12 at 09:53 AM
#16How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 9:57am
I think it's somewhat of an insult to the many other talented women who've played this role before (Elaine Paige, LuPone, to the many women who've done it on tour or regionally) to suggest that for the first time there's a performer playing the role that "acts" the role. The implication being that Paige, LuPone, et. all did nothing more than stand center stage and belt all night long.
Updated On: 7/6/12 at 09:57 AM
lupone76
Featured Actor Joined: 12/9/11
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#20How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 11:18amSally Field was on Kimmel and he asked her if it upset her that people called her Fields instead of Field all the time. She basically said she didn't give a crap.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#21How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 12:52pm
I saw it last night for the second time and was once again, blown away by Elena Roger. True she is no LuPone, but I loved her take on the role. I am a HUGE LuPone fan and couldn't imagine anyone else in the role of Eva, but Elena holds her own. Yes, vocally she can be shrill but for some reason, it worked for me.
On the other hand, I am glad Ricky was out this week. Max was very good but like other posters said, there wasn't enough "fire or anger there" . i guess he and Ricky have been directed to just mug. I wanted anger.
#22How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 1:10pm
Adamgreer, all I could think of was...
"The implication being that I have not been saying the lines exactly as wriTTen?"
Continue on.
#23How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 1:47pm
Max can outsing Ricky, and anyone can outsing Elena, she is an embarrassment and her acting isn't THAT great either. She ruined the show, there are so many talented Argentinean actresses that can hit the notes required for this great score. A true shame, but the show sells well thanks to Ricky anyways.
I was sad to see such a brilliant show lacking the magic it had on tour when I saw it with Sarah Litzinger.
#24How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 1:55pmWith this week's performance schedule slightly off due to the holiday, does anyone know if Christina is still going on tomorrow for the matinee? and will she be doing either of the two Sunday shows?
#25How Is Max von Essen Doing As
Posted: 7/6/12 at 2:09pm
"I just can't understand why a shirtless Che scene was not added for this production."
Because Ricky is at his "between records and video shoots" weight. He's not training heavily like he does before a record drops. He wanted to look like an "everyman" and not a "latino hearthrob." Alas, no skin.
Plus after seeing Max's taint in "Hello Again" I really dont need to see him shirtless. :)
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