Broadway Review-----EVITA

There are some iconic images that when you finally see them come to life in front of you, it gives you goosebumps and fantastic chills of excitement. Tonight, at the climax of DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, as the music swelled and Eva Peron slowly raises her arms to her cheering people below, the hair on my arms stood up. This is the first time I have seen EVITA on stage and to have that moment captured just a few feet from me was truly thrilling. When you enter the Marquis Theatre, there is a simple blue curtain that has images of the real Juan and Eva Peron on it. As the lights dim and the announcement of Eva Peron's passing is solemnly heard, the curtain rises to reveal the Ensemble dressed in black holding candles as images of the real funeral procession are seen on a screen above their heads. As the exquisite voices sing REQUIEM, I allowed myself to sit back and bask in the Andrew Lloyd Webber score. For a brief moment, I remembered that EVITA hasn't been seen on Broadway since it's first production 30 plus years ago. This is the Lloyd Webber that people fell in love with before he became a punchline and a bit of a machine. I imagined what it would have felt like all those years ago hearing these melodies for the first time. From the back of the stage, a tall lean figure suddenly appears and as the crowd parts and the lights engulf him, you realize that it's Ricky Martin....and I was suddenly sucked out of my euphoria. Only briefly, but I must admit that I didn't see Che in front of me, I just saw a Global Superstar making a return to Broadway after many years. In this production, they have done away with the idea of Che Guavera and instead they have made the character an Everyman. Mr. Martin wears a very formed white shirt that he fills beautifully and suspenders that allow his ass-sets to stand out....he cuts a gorgeous figure and the audience loved it. But for me, I never forgot that he was Ricky Martin. It's not his fault, I think the Creative Team yanked any hope of a character away from him. So I just adjusted to the fact that this was going to be a production of EVITA narrated by Ricky Martin and a few moments later, I went back to basking in the beauty of EVITA. This is a stunning production that is beautifully designed by Christopher Oram (Scenery & Costumes) and Neil Austin (Lighting). It looks like every penny spent on this new EVITA was well worth it. It is simply gorgeous to watch. And I keep waiting for the Tony Award Committee to create a category for Best Ensemble. The Ensemble in this production is absolutely without flaws. The singing is nothing short of faultless and I have never heard the Score sound better, from an Ensemble standpoint and an Orchestration standpoint. One of my least favorite songs in the score ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL is given new life and sung beautifully by Rachel Potter. Max Von Essen makes the most of his brief role as Magaldi and sings ON THIS NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS as I've never heard it sung before. Ricky Martin is Ricky Martin. He sings the score quite well and looks like he's having a great time. His joy is infectious and by the time he takes his Curtain Call, you can't help but be in his corner. But, I repeat, he is just doing Ricky Martin. Not that that's a bad thing, it just makes Che nothing more than a soulless function to get from one scene to the next. Michael Cerveris plays Juan Peron. He's perfectly fine in spite of the fact that there is zero chemistry between he and Elena Roger who plays Eva. And speaking of Elena Roger, she has been a controversial Eva because the truth is, she's not a singer. She is a trained dancer and actress, but hardly has the vocal chops that we've heard sing this score before. However....I was mesmerized by her and although I could hear the strain in her voice at times, especially in BUENOS AIRES and GOODNIGHT AND THANK YOU, I she had me in the palm of her hands. This is a ferocious Eva and Ms Roger's portrayal is fearless. Even when her voice doesn't quite have the power you desire, she makes up for it with pure determination and deep characterization. You can keep the big belty DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA's that we're used to hearing....for me, Ms Roger's performance was perfect and powerful. It is Eva's second act and there isn't one moment that Ms Roger's doesn't triumph. Being a trained dancer and also combined with Ricky Martin's dance background, WALTZ FOR EVA AND CHE is sensational and sexy. This production includes the song YOU MUST LOVE ME that won the Academy Award for Best Song in the Madonna film. This was my favorite moment of the evening. Ms Roger's is just so good. I would see this production again just to be in her presence again. Rob Ashford's choreography is incredibly impressive and danced beautifully by this amazing Ensemble. Director Michael Grandage puts some beautiful pictures together and certainly doesn't allow the evening to lag. Act One is 55 minutes and Act Two is 60 minutes. I was especially impressed to see the audience not stand for the big ticket draw and wait for the Leading Lady to take center stage and receive her much deserved standing ovation. She is a triumph!