You Guys are SO JUDGY! (I just saw Evita) — Page 3

For me it wasn't so much a matter of not being able to understand Elena's accent, partly because I know the show very well, but of feeling that Elena didn't sound comfortable singing the words. I'm referring not only to her being unable to hit the notes (which happened multiple times in the performance I saw), but also to her giving the general sense that the words were not coming easily to her. This bothered me a lot because Eva is supposed to be first a radio personality and then a public speaker, someone who can win the approbation of the masses with her words. Elena sounded like she was struggling to pronounce everything she said.

My biggest complaint about her was that she butchered the lyrics to "Waltz for Eva and Che" when I saw it (starting with a later verse and then basically making up words until she found her feet again many bars in). It was the second preview, but still--she's done the role long enough that that should never have happened, and for me it ruined what was already a lackluster performance.

Not to get too off topic but Equity not allowing Elaine Paige to come with the production had nothing to do with a xenophobic sentiment. Rather, she technically is not allowed to perform in a Broadway show if she isn't a member of Equity. Equity granted an exception for Roger but they don't always. It's completely their decision to make. There are Americans who can't perform in Equity roles because they aren't Equity too.

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No LuPone, no EVITA.

Thank you very much.

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Someone mentioned Josefina Scaglione in WEST SIDE STORY.

The difference between Scaglione and Elena Roger is that the former was charming, understandable and sang like a canary. Ms. Roger, for all of her talents, did not charm me (not that Eva really should, but anyway...), had difficulty with pronunciation and sang poorly.

It's EVITA! It's a sung-through musical meant to be sung well, or at least, with intensity and power. Having an okay singer as Eva is very odd, IMO. It's like casting Maria Callas as Desiree in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. (I hope you're all smart enough to get that final remark.)