Jamie Lloyd-helmed EVITA revival to play the London Palladium in 2025- Page 15

[chernjam]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 11:57pm

Play Esq. said: "Play Esq. said: "Watching these clips on-line (though I still haven't found Rainbow High if someone would like to share...), I went from being on the fence about going next week to wanting to see it twice. No just trying to fit it in the schedule..."

Got into next Sat eve performance (strangely, lots of availability but my Tuesday performance is all but sold out). Going to be kinda jarring going from a lesser Sondheim (Here We Are…don’t fight me, we all know it’s true) to, arguably, Webber’s best (thank you Tim Rice).

Now I’m debating leaving during intermission for the second Evita performance I bookedto see the balcony scene live 🤔"

 Just go with an open mind.  I think this "controversy" is much ado about nothing ...

Having only people's descriptions and a few clips online to go by, I think Jamie Lloyd has found a way to make DCFMA dramatic and interesting (not to mention buzzworthy). I mean it's a long song - that while I love it - to have to stage it and make it theatrical is challenging. And as so many others who have seen it have pointed out, it's often been lost on audiences what a fraud/phony Eva Peron was and that the song is really just part of her act. By having her on screen singing in the whole traditional Evita costume helps to underscore that in a way I don't think any production previous has succeeded in doing.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:22am

smallvillefan16 said: "Anyone else think Ariana DeBrose will be offered Broadway if she's now available? Rachel is a very talented singer but I can't imagine American audiences clamoring to see her. She's one of the least liked actors in America--- Ariana is loved by the public and broadway."

Sure Jan 

[binau]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 5:59am

The thing about DCMA staging is it actually serves a dramatic purpose and is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. The crowds have been big recently! Whereas if anything the Sunset title song staging was more of a gimmick - which I think greatly added to the experience because it made the song much more interesting and I guess he was somewhat literally walking on a ‘boulevard’ rather than just singing to us from a stage. 

But with DCMA it’s a whole other level - the wig coming off is kind of like Rose bowing at the end of ‘Rose’s Turn’ after applause has stopped in terms of the dramatic significance/staging technique to enhance the subtext. 
 

 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 8:21am

I have heard the only video element of this production is DCFMA. If true, that's a significant departure from Sunset which of course has video throughout. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 8:42am

WldKingdomHM said: "smallvillefan16 said: "Anyone else think Ariana DeBrose will be offered Broadway if she's now available? Rachel is a very talented singer but I can't imagine American audiences clamoring to see her. She's one of the least liked actors in America--- Ariana is loved by the public and broadway."

Sure Jan"

Wasn't she originally announced? 

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 9:17am

Play Esq. said: "Watching these clips on-line (though I still haven't found Rainbow High if someone would like to share...), I went from being on the fence about going next week to wanting to see it twice. No just trying to fit it in the schedule..."

https://x.com/paralyzedhvart/status/1935010274828058957

 

Here's rainbow high 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 9:50am

It’s giving The Emperor’s New Clothes. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 10:12am

RippedMan said: "WldKingdomHM said: "smallvillefan16 said: "Anyone else think Ariana DeBrose will be offered Broadway if she's now available? Rachel is a very talented singer but I can't imagine American audiences clamoring to see her. She's one of the least liked actors in America--- Ariana is loved by the public and broadway."

Sure Jan"

Wasn't she originally announced?"

She was in talks for it, which is what smallvillefan16 probably meant by if she's now available.

As for the being loved by the public...that's more debatable.

Ariana DeBose Reveals She’s In Talks To Star In ‘Evita’ At The London Palladium; Party Notes From The Golden Globes

Ariana DeBose Won’t Star in ‘Evita’ in London ‘Due to Scheduling’ (EXCLUSIVE)

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 10:14am

MemorableUserName said: "RippedMan said: "WldKingdomHM said: "smallvillefan16 said: "Anyone else think Ariana DeBrose will be offered Broadway if she's now available? Rachel is a very talented singer but I can't imagine American audiences clamoring to see her. She's one of the least liked actors in America--- Ariana is loved by the public and broadway."

Sure Jan"

Wasn't she originally announced?"

She was in talks for it, which is what smallvillefan16 probably meant by if she's nowavailable.

As for the being loved by the public...that's more debatable.

Ariana DeBose Reveals She’s In Talks To Star In ‘Evita’ At The London Palladium; Party Notes From The Golden Globes

Ariana DeBose Won’t Star in ‘Evita’ in London ‘Due to Scheduling’ (EXCLUSIVE)

"

Exactly and if she can handle the score? 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 10:39am

I LOVE Ariana, but she can't sing this score.

She better off tryin' to get SPIDER WOMAN off the ground.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 11:09am

Bwaygurl2 said: "Play Esq. said: "Watching these clips on-line (though I still haven't found Rainbow High if someone would like to share...), I went from being on the fence about going next week to wanting to see it twice. No just trying to fit it in the schedule..."

https://x.com/paralyzedhvart/status/1935010274828058957

Thank you!

Here's rainbow high"

 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 1:19pm

Looks good but the one ensemble member needs to pick the pace up 

[binau]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:13pm

According to a poster on the west end theatreboard, Evita might transfer to the St James this season. 

[BJR]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:17pm

It feels like the missing piece here is what the actual JELLICLE BALL plan is. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:29pm

“According to a poster on the west end theatreboard, Evita might transfer to the St James this season. ”


That’s great! Except another show literally has it booked…

[binau]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:41pm

Ah oh course. Yes no way can it can be accurate then. . 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:42pm

BroadwayNYC2 said: "“According to a poster onthe west end theatreboard, Evita might transfer to the St James this season. ”


That’s great! Except another show literally has it booked…"

Do u think the show coming into the St James will survive ? I give it three months 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 6:40pm

WldKingdomHM said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "“According to a poster onthe west end theatreboard, Evita might transfer to the St James this season. ”


That’s great! Except another show literally has it booked…"

Do u think the show coming into the St James will survive ? I give it three months"

You're generous 

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 7:25pm

Saw the show tonight. Two things: if there was ever any doubt that Rachel Zegler is a star, this performance cinches it. Oh, and the staging (and choreography) is a complete triumph!

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 8:15pm

Is it spoilery to ask how Che ends up in his briefs covered in paint at the end? 

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 8:19pm

everythingtaboo said: "Is it spoilery to ask how Che ends up in his briefs covered in paint at the end?"

I am wondering the same thing. 

[binau]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 2:24am

It is implied that Eva and Peron politically suppress and torture political dissidence. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 3:42am

everythingtaboo said: "Is it spoilery to ask how Che ends up in his briefs covered in paint at the end?"

They also cover him with red, white and blue paint. I don't think red is in the Argentinian flag so maybe it's a comment on the United States' pending fascism?

[ChorusJ16]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:48am

Saw this last night and have mixed feelings. Is it a great Rachel Zegler concert - Yes. Is there any storytelling - No.

Yes the choreography and cast have electric energy. But it is reminiscent of a Beyonce concert more than anything else... and I can't decide if that is good or bad. The one thing I found walking away was I enjoyed the singing and choreography but I didn't care one bit for any of the characters. Che went for nothing. He sounded great, looked the part but no idea what story he was telling. I also think the amount of nudity for absolutely no reason is obscene. Not sure how he gets away with that.

Really if I think hard I feel Jamie Lloyd lost his way trying to find a gimmick, it used to be the blood in every show. But at least those shows had substance and tried to say something. Now he's descending into a one trick pony who has stolen a bunch of ideas from other directors and attempted to amalgamate into a production the general public want to see. A star name front and centre in as little clothing as possible belting out some show tunes. And it seems to work. He's mimicked Ivo's camera use, used to great effect in Sunset Boulevard, but less so here. For me it looks like it's being filmed on an iPhone with cheesy cross dissolves and hammy acting choices. It's a nice idea poorly executed and you lose all feeling for her in the theatre. But the audience outside are lapping it up. (I would say just go watch this moment for free outside and don't bother with the rest, you can see one number online and you've seen it all). The 'concert' theatre idea he clearly pinched from Tim Sheader who again used this style to great effect for Jesus Christ Superstar. Sheader then artistic director of Regents Park programmed this version of Evita to match in style to JCS. Then when JCS came back during covid I see they even used this set. Which is why it's probably been 5 years to bring this version to the west end, so Lloyd can detach Regents Park's ownership of it. Then I also swear the set is a rip off of a Beyonce concert. But what Sheader did with JCS was new, exciting and kept the story above all else. And has been super successful around the world. Drew McOnie's choreography has been replaced for Fabian Aloise but it's all just the same thing really but with a bigger star and more confetti. 

With the relentless product placement in Sunset Boulevard of Jamie Lloyds name and his strange comedic pout in recent pictures of him dangling a rope around a tree perhaps shows his desire to be the star. Surely he has friends around him to tell him that was an awful narcissistic idea. 

At the interval I overheard many people in the bar trying to figure out what was going on. Searching online for a synopsis. They all came to see Rachel and she delivers a great concert with brilliant backing dancers. Great theatre, imo, it is not.

Next up Sabrina Carpenter concert of Stephen Ward - The friendly osteopath. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:51am

ChorusJ16 said: "Saw this last night and have mixed feelings. Is it a great Rachel Zegler concert - Yes. Is there any storytelling - No.

Yes the choreography and cast haveelectric energy. But it is reminiscent of a Beyonce concert more than anything else... and I can't decide if that is good or bad. The one thing I found walking away was I enjoyed the singing and choreography but I didn't care one bit for any of the characters. Che went for nothing. He sounded great, looked the part but no idea what story he was telling. I also think the amount of nudity for absolutely no reason is obscene. Not sure how he gets away with that.

Really if Ithink hard I feel Jamie Lloyd lost his way trying to find a gimmick, it used to be the blood in every show. But at least those shows had substance and tried to say something. Now he's descending into a one trick pony who has stolen a bunch of ideas from other directors and attempted to amalgamate into a production the general public want to see. A star name front and centre in as little clothing as possible belting out some show tunes. And it seems to work. He's mimickedIvo's camera use, used to great effect in Sunset Boulevard, but less so here. For me it looks like it's being filmed on an iPhone with cheesy cross dissolves and hammy acting choices. It's a nice idea poorly executed and you lose all feeling for her in the theatre. But the audience outside are lapping it up. (I would say just go watch this moment for free outside and don't bother with the rest, you can see one number online and you've seen it all). The 'concert' theatre idea heclearly pinchedfrom Tim Sheader who again used this style to great effect for Jesus Christ Superstar. Sheader then artistic director of Regents Park programmed this version of Evita to match in style to JCS. Then when JCS came back during covid I see they even used this set. Which is why it's probably been 5 years to bring this version to the west end, so Lloyd can detach Regents Park's ownership of it. Then I also swear the set is a rip off of a Beyonce concert. But what Sheader did with JCS was new, exciting and kept the story above all else. And has been super successful around the world. Drew McOnie's choreographyhas been replaced for Fabian Aloise but it's all just the same thing really but with a bigger star and more confetti.

With the relentless product placement in Sunset Boulevardof Jamie Lloyds name and his strange comedicpout in recent pictures of him dangling a rope around a treeperhaps shows his desire to be the star. Surely he has friends around him to tell him that was an awful narcissistic idea.

At the interval I overheard many people in the bar trying to figure out what was going on. Searching online for a synopsis. They all came to see Rachel and she delivers a great concert with brilliant backing dancers. Great theatre, imo, it is not.

Next up Sabrina Carpenter concert of Stephen Ward- The friendly osteopath."

Do you think that could also be because of Rachel’s subpar acting? Saw her in R&J and WSS and wasn’t impressed with her performances in either. She has a beautiful voice, but that’s kinda it. I find her vacant otherwise.