Balcony Scene

I have seen Evita at least three times since it opened in 1978. Now there is a new production at The London Palladium.

All the productions I saw had splendid scenery and costumes and Che was usually “a name”, starting with David Essex. This production breaks the mould. The costumes are not flashy, there is no scenery and for me anyway an unknown cast. There is energetic dancing and good singing, spoilt for me by being too loud. I thoroughly approve of this approach which I think will establish this rock opera as a classic, if it isn’t already.

After the interval there is a coup de theatre. It took me completely by surprise and I only tell you what happened because it has been in the papers, on social media and on ITV News. Incidentally you will not read any reviews until the show officially opens on 1st July. Evita, in a white evening dress with jewellery and a tiara walks through the common parts of the theatre, seen in the auditorium on a big screen live. She comes out on the balcony to sing the iconic “Don’t Cry For Me . . .” Ironically the next line is “it won’t be easy, you’ll think it’s strange”.

Argyll Street outside the Palladium is not salubrious but the word is out that there is the greatest free show in town, albeit only for seven minutes. So Evita instead of singing to the people of Buenos Aires from the balcony of the Presidential Palace gives an appreciative and packed London crowd a free show. They love it and in the theatre it is on a live feed. I think it is terrific but there has been media criticism that the paying audience is being short-changed. But Don’t Cry is an old war horse and this fresh take makes it interesting again. Let’s see what the official reviewers make of it.

The crowd yesterday was much bigger than in the video below and were restrained by crash barriers. Shows are at approx 5.00 for matinees and 9.00 in the evenings. People arrive early to secure good places.

I was most impressed by the Palladium. Easy access, at least to the stalls, no queues for the bar or loo although it was sold out and the Palladium is not a small theatre, and most importantly well raked seats, so excellent sight lines. In other theatres I usually have somebody huge in front of me and can only see half the stage.

Be aware there is a break in the soundtrack at around 3mins 50 seconds, so skip forward until it comes back a minute or so later.