Jamie Lloyd-helmed EVITA revival to play the London Palladium in 2025- Page 29

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:26am

It is not unusual that a new generation of people discover some existing work that others have been fans of for a long time.  So it has always been.  So it likely will always be.

[binau]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:27am

That clip is a great example of theatre types doing Evita. But Rachel Z in Jamie Lloyd Evita is like a Michael Jackson live tour or something much different. It’s literally a different type of entertainment/vibe. A kind of stadium pop concert tour with Evita as the written material. 

I don’t think you got/liked Sunset either (or even Nicole if I recall). Whereas for me these are the greatest theatrical experiences I’ve ever had. I don’t see it as dumbing down but the complete opposite. We are on completely different planets about this - you don’t seem to ‘get it’. That’s fine, there are always going to be more traditional interpretations again in future. 
 

 

Updated On: 8/26/25 at 09:27 AM

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:35am

"there have been better productions before" ok???.... Those other production aren't currently running, so that is irrelevant...if you want to see Evita in London, this is your option. 

[Seb28]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:50am

binau said: "It’s literally a different type of entertainment/vibe.

That’s fine, there are always going to be more traditional interpretations again in future."

I don't think you can dismiss that as "just a bunch of theatre types". If anything, Rachel Zegler is the epitome of a theatre type.

Many actresses who played Evita are much less standard theatre sounding than Zegler and made it sound more like rock concerts.

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/26/25 at 09:50 AM

[binau]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:58am

Rachel Zegler eludes a list pop star X factor. That is most certainly not a ‘theatre type’. Idk but I don’t want to keep arguing we both have said what we think. I kind of feel this would be like if I wasted time arguing over why I think the Jamie Lloyd Sunset is better than the 2017 Glenn Close. There is a point where the work, reaction to it (and eventually awards) all speak for themselves. So I feel I don’t need to anymore. For Evita, audiences are going crazy in a way I haven’t seen in my 25 years of theatre going. Let’s see what happens in New York. 

[Seb28]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 10:02am

binau said: "Idk but I don’t want to keep arguing we both have said what we think.

For Evita, audiences are going crazy in a way I haven’t seen in my 25 years of theatre going. Let’s see what happens in New York."

You're right, let's respect each other's point of view and it's great that we can enjoy things in our own way. In any case, I'm not surprised that audiences love the score because it's great.

[SeanD2]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 11:02am

binau said: "Rachel Zegler eludes a list pop star X factor. That is most certainly not a ‘theatre type’. Idk but I don’t want to keep arguing we both have said what we think. I kind of feel this would be like if I wasted time arguing over why I think the Jamie Lloyd Sunset is better than the 2017 Glenn Close. There is a point where the work, reaction to it (and eventually awards) all speak for themselves. So I feel I don’t need to anymore. For Evita, audiences are going crazy in a way I haven’t seen in my 25 years of theatre going. Let’s see what happens in New York."

I am excited to see this production given my love of the material, but I don't think anyone can make an argument that this is a good production of Evita when so many people are leaving the theater with no comprehension of the story. If the story isn't clear the director has failed to do their job, no matter how thrilling the experience is.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 11:04am

Has the story ever been all that clear, though? I rewatched the movie a few years ago with friends who had never seen it and they had absolutely no idea what was happening.

 

I do think Evita requires a little bit of homework.

[Bwaygurl2]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 11:11am

TotallyEffed said: "Has the story ever been all that clear, though? I rewatched the movie a few years ago with friends who had never seen it and they had absolutely no idea what was happening.



I do think Evita requires a little bit of homework."

Evita is the kind of show that encourages going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole. I saw the movie when I was 13 or so and I got the gist, but I still had questions and tried to find out "what did that part mean?" I'm not saying Lloyd's direction is beyond reproach, I haven't seen it, but I think not understanding the political/historical context is baked into the piece. 

[lastmidnights]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 8:01pm

SeanD2 said: "I am excited to see this production given my love of the material, but I don't think anyone can make an argument that this is a good production of Evita when so many people are leaving the theater with no comprehension of the story."

I saw Daniel Fish's Oklahoma in London a few times; there were people who thought Curley and Laurey had died at the end despite the fact that they had the gun pointed at another guy, who then layed down on the ground and didn't speak again after.

There were a lot of people who left JL's Sunset Blvd, not understanding the plot. On at least one occasion, I saw someone in front of me reading the plot on Wikipedia at intermission.

Sometimes, people just miss stuff. Or they aren't paying attention. That being said, I wouldn't be opposed to a couple of script changes/additions, ala what JL did in Sunset-- adding an occasional spoken line to clarify things, if appropriate. I do think the majority of the work is done here, though. I loved the show and thought the concept was very strong and well executed.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 8:13pm

SeanD2 said: "binau said: "Rachel Zegler eludes a list pop star X factor. That is most certainly not a ‘theatre type’. Idk but I don’t want to keep arguing we both have said what we think. I kind of feel this would be like if I wasted time arguing over why I think the Jamie Lloyd Sunset is better than the 2017 Glenn Close. There is a point where the work, reaction to it (and eventually awards) all speak for themselves. So I feel I don’t need to anymore. For Evita, audiences are going crazy in a way I haven’t seen in my 25 years of theatre going. Let’s see what happens in New York."

I am excited to see this production given my love of the material, but I don't think anyone can make an argument that this is a good production of Evita when so many people are leaving the theater with no comprehension of the story. If the story isn't clear the director has failed to do their job, no matter how thrilling the experience is."

If people are leaving the theatre with no comprehension of what they saw, that just proves how many absolute morons are currently roaming the face of the earth. This show is not rocket science. Maybe they should print the plot of the story in the program just like they did for the idiots who were too stupid to comprehend Les Miserables. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:25pm

I agree with Matt. I can't speak for the current London production. I saw the original Broadway production when I was 17. I knew little about Eva Peron and nothing about Che. I walked out knowing more than when I walked in. Understood the whole show. Understood the show again when I saw the Broadway revival. I mean, the story is right there in the Lyrics. In my opinion, it is pretty hard not to follow the story unless you are not paying attention or are "distracted" in some way during the performance.  

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 8/26/25 at 9:28pm

SeanD2 said: 
I am excited to see this production given my love of the material, but I don't think anyone can make an argument that this is a good production of Evita when so many people are leaving the theater with no comprehension of the story. If the story isn't clear the director has failed to do their job, no matter how thrilling the experience is."

SO many people is incorrect.  They are FEW in number.  It's not hard to understand.   Our whole group understood it many of which who didn't have any connection to it.  It's the best production I've seen.  It's coming in.  Not if -  but when.  And the Webber / Loyd scuffle rumors are not true.  Don't worry.