"Evita" Questions

[Esswei]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 8:36pm

So even though it hasn't gotten the best reviews I really want to see Evita because I really like the musical. I was wondering if it's better to try to see it on days when Christina DeCicco is performing instead of Elena Roger, or is Roger not as bad as the reviews say she is? And if I try to get tickets from TKTS, does anyone know the likelihood of getting obstructed view seats, or are the seats selling so poorly I could actually get decent ones or ea"sily switch seats at intermission? Thanks.

Another question: Did they take "Dice are Rolling" out of this production? I was looking at the 2006 London Recording and didn't see it. Is it a part of another song, or did they replace with "You Must Love Me"?





Updated On: 6/6/12 at 08:36 PM

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 8:46pm

I thought Roger was absolutely phenomenal and would recommend people see her. Not everyone agrees, obviously.

[JamesBroadwayWiner]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 8:59pm

I saw the new production of Evita the day after opening night. There were some definite ups and downs. Elena Roger is a phenomenal ACTRESS and DANCER. Not so great a SINGER. She was good when singing the quieter, softer notes; however, on the high/belting notes...well,it was offensive to the ears, and, as an audience member, quite awkward. But, as I said, she is a terrific actress. Her character interpretation was top-notch.

Ricky Martin was forgetable, plain and simple. A fine singer and dancer, but not at all right for the part of Che.

Micheal Cerveris, as Peron, was utterley magnificent! He has great stage presence, character interpretation, and an all around satisfying actor.

All of the featured roles had amazing performances. (i.e. Magaldi and the anonymous girl).

The real star of the show, I have to say, was the set/scenic design. It was made to look like a latin village (in some scenes) and a sparkling latin mansion in others. The walls that move about the stage setting different scenes are very interesting and beautiful to watch!

The ensemble is alright, but kind of lacking in energy.

ANYWAYS, I think it is worth seeing if you live in NYC, or are visiting the city for long enough to see other shows.

[Esswei]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 9:05pm

That seems to sum up a lot of what I've heard. I've seen some clips of the show and I think Roger as young Eva is amazing. But I heard a clip where her voice could hardly reach the high notes as "Good Night and Thank You".
I feel like I heard that Martin is going on vacation sometime soon. Is he so mediocre I should try to go during that time? I'm very flexible- I'm only a short drive away from NYC.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 9:17pm

Go when Martin is on Vacation, you won't be missing much and the tickets might be easier to get.

I love the show itself but was so disappointed with this production. Yes the set is beautiful but they seldom use the up[per level and it tends to dwarf the performers.

Updated On: 6/6/12 at 09:17 PM

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 9:26pm

I thought Elena and Michael were brilliant, while Ricky was “just fine.” Nothing to write home about.

[Esswei]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 9:28pm

Does anyone know who will be replacing Martin?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/6/12 at 9:38pm

I thought Ricky Martin was boring. To be honest, I didn't even remember he was in it until I got to the theatre.

Elena is portraying Eva as a hard-boiled whore turned spoiled brat. Very effective.

If I'm being perfectly honest, I don't think there's that much you can do with the role of Peron, and as much as I love Michael Cerveris he didn't do much other than flap his hands like a seal for three hours.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 12:01am

"Dice are Rolling" is definitely in the 2012 production. The 2006 London recording is highlights only. I was listening to it the other day and hoping to hear "Hello and Goodbye" and it wasn't there, either.

Try to see the show with Elena Roger - she's a controversial choice for the part but as others have stated, she is a phenomenal actress and dancer. Her accent while singing is an acquired taste, her voice can be quite punishing on the ears in the higher register but she is unforgettable as Eva. If you don't have a chance to see her you won't be disappointed with the alternate either.

For the vacation I would hope Max Von Essen, who is the understudy and plays Magaldi, would take the role. I would definitely go back and see him as soon as it is confirmed.

And TKTS last week had nice seats in center mezzanine for a Thursday night at 40%; usually they offer it for Wednesdays.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 12:44am

It is all about taste I guess, I found Elena dreadful except her dancing...

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 1:28am

I saw it a month ago and I still can't get that shrill voice out of my head. Forgettable she is not, but I would certainly recommend seeing anyone else as Eva. I found her acting to be ok, but I don't want to see a dancer in the leading role of a sung thru musical.

The set and lighting are quite beautiful, but the ensemble lacks energy and any trace of comedy has been completely extinguished (save for the written "jokes").

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 5:37am

Go and see Elena. I still for the life of me don't understand the complaints of the Broadway audiences. She is perfectly understandable and I could listen to her voice for hours. If you like your vocals to be generic-sounding like they're from Glee, then you might not like her. Her voice is raw and thrilling, she has bucketloads of star quality and she dances up a storm. I loved Elaine and Patti in this show and I love Elena just as much. She got unanimous raves in London and was nominated for the Olivier there for her performance. If you like the sound of her on the 2006 cast recording, then I don't see why you wouldn't like her live (she's much better live, in fact).

And all the songs are in the production. 'Dice Are Rolling' doesn't appear on the 2006 CD because, annoyingly, it is highlights-only.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 6:44am

I cannot understand the complaints about the singing ensemble lacking energy, with the suggestion that they are just not acceptable. I found the singing ensemble of EVITA to be simply wonderful, better than in any Broadway musical going back a number of years. The townspeople making up the ensemble had magnificent, strong voices. In a way, they were the highlight of the show for me. If the category existed, they would deserve a Tony Award.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 10:16am

Save for two of the male dancers and of course the whirlwind that is Elena, the ensemble does lack energy. They were hired more for their voices than their dancing ability, apparently. They get the job done, though, and look great in those period costumes. The ensemble members who play the English aristocrats sound wonderful.

Updated On: 6/7/12 at 10:16 AM

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 7:18pm

See DeCicco instead. I saw Elena last month and still cringe when I think of her shrieking voice. Didn't think her acting was all that great either. I'm one of the few that thought the ensemble were excellent and also liked Ricky Martin. Rachel Potter was a standout also as the Mistress.

I'm seeing the show again on July 7th at the matinee when DeCicco is on and Ricky is also out on vacation.

[TheGirlUpstairs]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 7:35pm

I thought Elena was lovely. True, her voice isn't great on the high, belted notes, but frankly I don't like the sound of those even when they're done by Patti LuPone. She wasn't a revelation or anything, but I don't think she deserves anywhere near as harsh criticism she's gotten.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 8:23pm

With the exception of A New Argentina, I didn't have a problem with Elena's voice. She certainly isn't the best singer to have played the role, but she uses her voice well in her characterization. I thought her acting was phenomenal. Ambition and drive ooze off of her. Christina definitely sounds prettier, but her overall performance felt very "safe" to me.

Updated On: 6/7/12 at 08:23 PM

[tpeterson]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 9:09pm

I saw the show for the first time a few weeks ago with Elena. Had I seen Evita prior, I'm sure she would have left a much better impression. But considering I didn't know a ton of the lyrics or the plot points, it would have been nice to understand her songs. She's a phenomenal dancer, as his her Don't Cry and Buenos Aires, and she's got a huge stage presence - but her English diction is a bit 'meh.' Then again, she's got the Argentinean authenticity. So it's a trade-off, I guess.

Sidenote: was the audience completely awful when anyone else saw it? Mine was full of people talking, getting up mid-performance, and constant texting. Worst audience experience at a show ever.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 6/7/12 at 10:17pm

See DeCicco. While it's obvious there is so much depth to Elena's Eva, I found her extremely difficult to understand... and her voice is really strained.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 8:48am

I saw EVITA in late April and the audience was quiet and attentive throughout. It was an appreciative, non-texting group. I was sitting in Row M, left orchestra, on a Friday evening.

Updated On: 6/8/12 at 08:48 AM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 10:11am

tpeterson - what day did you see the show? I've heard that Saturdays have had bad audience behavior. Like Gypsy9 I saw it in late April with a respectful crowd.

Updated On: 6/8/12 at 10:11 AM

[tpeterson]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 1:35pm

I saw it on a Friday night, Row R, I think! It was the same week as Fleet Week, so late May. I don't know, out of any show I've seen at any venue, Broadway or not, I had never seen an audience act like that.

I was honestly so excited to see the show, but you know, it's a little hard to completely enjoy it when someone's spilling their drink on you. Or laughing. Or getting up in the middle of Don't Cry for me Argentina to answer a phone call. ha. Oh well, I'd still recommend Elena (somewhat) to the OP!

[rjm516]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 1:51pm

I loved loved loved Elena. Some of her singing was a little cringe-worthy -- but for me that worked so effectively to show a different, ugly side to Eva that most portrayers gloss over to make her likable. She shouldn't be likable! And Elena gets that right. I see her non-beautiful singing voice as an artistic choice that pays off to make this musical so much deeper than usual.

[Buscee]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 3:59pm

I went to see it after hearing all the bad reviews over Elena, and I'm glad to say I have an open mind. I thought she was wonderful. So authentic. She's a tiny Dynamo on that stage. I am sure the Alternate is wonderful, but if Andrew Lloyd Webber approves of Elena and likes her, and it is his score we shouldn't be so critical. Eva was a Political figure, not supposed to be an opera singer. Elena makes her a real person.
Ricky Martin is wonderful as Che (a very different take from the original Mandy one), and for what little Peron has to do Ceveris is something to behold. Max was brilliant as Magaldi!

[Esswei]

Posted: 6/8/12 at 4:22pm

Thanks so much for all the feedback guys! I think I'm going to go while Martin's on vacation and go when Elena's playing Eva. I know the musical very well, so it's not a problem if I can't understand her because I already know the lyrics, and I do love the her accent. Plus really good dancing and acting seems like a decent trade off for singing that's not too great on the high notes. Now I'm just hoping I can get a decent seat from TKTS, but from what I've been hearing it seems likely.