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We pose your questions to Elena Roger, star of the new production in our exclusive online interview...
Hi Elena, at what point in your life did you realise that you wanted to go into musical theatre?
Callum
When I was a child I used to watch musical films and enjoy them so much. I always loved singing and dancing. But I didn’t realized how much I liked doing that until I got the first job in a musical and it was at that moment, when I knew how important it was for me to express myself in that way.
How did you get into acting?
Louisa
I have always been interested in acting but I didn’t always have the resources to allow me to go to a drama school. I was lucky enough to be able to learn most of all from experience (working on stage) and intuition. As soon as I could, I took some ‘proper’ acting classes in Buenos Aires
Elena, who's your biggest inspiration?
Ben
Gene Kelly, I admired him when I was a child and he is one of the reasons why I find musical theatre so amazing.
I was just wondering what other shows did you ever audition for before you got the part of Eva Peron ?
Louise
I auditioned for The hunchback of Paris, (an Argentinean version, it was my first job), Taming Of The Shrew, Nine, The beauty and the beast, Les Miserables, Saturday Night Fever, Cabaret, Fiddler on the roof, and Jazz, swing, tap.
As an Argentinian yourself, I was wondering what you though about how authentically the new production has captured the flavour of Argentina (if you feel it has done so) and what do you think makes it so (aside from yourself of course)?
Daz
You can find the authenticity in some musical bits, in Rob Ashford choreography, in the set and costumes. I love to see the Argentinean flag on stage at so many moments in the show.
Why when in the CD you sing Buenos Aires you pronounce Buenos Aires with Argentinean accent but when you say Argentina in Don’t cry for me Argentina, you say it with an English accent, is that a note from the Director?
Mariana
Buenos Aires, as Corrientes and 9 de Julio in that song, are ‘Spanish’ words. . Argentina in ‘Don’t Cry’ should be said in English (hence pronounced as English people do)…
How did you manage with English?
Tito
I had to make a very big effort in the beginning. I was trying to understand the director´s notes and in the meantime learning all the lyrics and music. But now, I have to say, I feel more comfortable with the language.
How different is Argentina now compared to how it was during the Peron era?
Matthew
The people suffered a lot with the military’s regime and The Malvina´s war. After the Malvina’s war however we got our Democracy back and had the opportunity to vote. Over the years we tried different political parties but we still have poverty and corruption. It is still difficult to find a job as there are not many job vacancies available plus the social insecurity that comes along with poverty…
Do you know if the show CD will ever be released in Argentina?
Florencia
Sorry, I don´t know. I think it very much depends on local chains or shops wanting to import or not.
Did you learn about Eva Peron in Argentina when you were growing up
Pruitt
I heard about Eva Peron a lot at home but I didn’t study her at school.
How does it feel to interprete this legendary woman of our culture?
Tito
I feel very emotional every night because I think of my country to tell the story. In each show I work to understand her reasons, her thoughts, her life. It’s an amazing journey.
How did you prepare for the role? Did you investigate Evita’s life? How did you manage to do a different Evita from the other actresses like Patty Lupone?
Tito
I investigated Evita’s life reading biographies, watching documentariess and asking some people about her. Portraying Evita differently from the other actresses is not very complicated because we are all different people.
How do you see 'Don't cry for me Argentina' number? An honest speech Eva makes to her people or simply a manipulative political deliverance on her part?
Marijan
I see it like an honest speech Eva makes to her people. I don’t think she was the manipulative one.
How does it feel to be portraying a woman that almost everyone in your home country knows about? Is there a lot of pressure to be true to her real character as well as entertain?
Dan
Everybody knows about Evita in Argentina but everyone has a different opinion about her, so we’ll never know exactly what her real character was. However, this is a musical theatre piece, not a documentary so we can be flexible as to how accurate we are.
Seeing as how you are from Buenos Aires, what did you hope to bring to the character that would be original and different?
Brian
I’d rather not ‘intellectualise’ it very much. As I was born in Buenos Aires, all I have to do is be in myself, be the ‘porteña’ I am, as Evita was, although she belonged to a completely different time.
Do you find it emotional when you near the end of the show, after your character has been through such a journey, from being a young poor girl to the presidents wife of Argentina...how do you feel when acting those final moments of Eva's life?
Sam
Yes, I do. It’s such an interest journey and I feel very emotional in the whole of the second act. Can you imagine? She’s dying and she is still fighting!! She doesn’t want to die. She doesn’t want to leave her people.
I was quite intrigued when I learned that "You Must Love Me" was going to be included in the new revival production. In your opinion, what new levels of character development are explored and achieved through the insertion of the song? What sort of mind frame does the song draw the character into, and how do you feel it influences her final retrospective thoughts, brought forward in the "Lament"?
Adam
I wouldn’t say new levels of character are shown with the insertion of this song. What you can see in the surface though, is her inner relationship with Peron. It shows their unconditional love to each other and their commitment during an extreme situation. It shows her vulnerability for the first time in the show. She knows her body is letting her down but her spirit remains unbroken and that song shows that ‘contradiction’. It is very interesting to play.
As a fan of Philip Quast, are you enjoying working with him, and have you learnt anything from him, i'm sure he has from you.
Susan
I love working with him. He is a great actor and a wonderful person. We enjoy working together. As he is not English we could share the experience of being ‘foreigners’.
When you look at 'Evita' score as a whole, which musical number do you find most difficult or most vocally demanding to sing each night and why?
Marijan
I have to sing carefully “New Argentina” and “Rainbow High” just because of the high notes. They are strong songs and have a huge vocal range.
Is this the first musical you have sung in English?
Brian
Yes, but it’s not the first I have to sing in other language. I did a musical singing in Italian…
How is performing in the Westend different to performing in Argentina?
Rosie
Demand is different. I’m always thinking about my pronunciation. It’s very important for me that the public understands what I say. In Argentina people know me, but this is a new audience to conquer.
I wanted to ask how does it feel to be shining like a star deserves!
Daniela
I feel a big responsibility towards the show but so far I received so many beautiful comments and ‘thank you’ notes from members of the public who go to see the show that I feel over the moon!
How does it feel to have the west end land at your feet?
Tito
Do you think that I do? I don’t think so. I’m just enjoying the role and the show but I don’t like to think I have anybody at my feet (laughs).
If Evita were to transfer to New York, would you come with the show?
Gwynevere, Bill, Brian
I would like to. It’ll be a very good experience.
Now that you have made your debut on the West End, are there any other roles there that you would like to perform someday?
Brian
Right now I don’t know that. I believe in destiny and who knows what the future holds!
Do you think that one day they'll have a stage production of Evita in Argentina? And if they did, would you hope to play the lead.
Dean
Those things are not so easy to predict. Nothing is easy to predict in Argentina! I would like to play the lead there, of course.
If the show was to return to Madrid would consider playing the part in Madrid? Would you like to sing the show in Spanish?
Jose
I heard the show by Paloma San Basilio and I liked it a lot. Of course I would like to sing the show in Spanish and if there is any chance to do it in Madrid I would love to.
First, Would you like to do another ALW's musical? And then, Some day, would you like to do an Argentinian musical there, in London?
Mauro
I’d like to do Sunset Boulevard but I think I have to wait for that role It would be great to do an Argentinian musical in London. We can start to dream about that. Why not?
Will you be releasing the CD of the Buenos Aires concert you performed?
Florencia
Yes, it has been released in Argentina already and perhaps it will come out here in London too.
Personal 10 quick ‘favourite’ questions…..
David
(1) Favourite drink coffee or tea ?
maté (our Argentinean tea!)
(2) Favourite colour.
Green and blue
(3) Favourite sport.
Swimming, although I don’t do it very well!
(4) Favourite wine red or white.
red
(5) Favourite London landmark
Covent Garden
(6) Favourite sandwich
salmon
(7) Favourite musical (apart from Evita of course !)
Les Miserables
(8) Favourite TV show
I don’t’ watch tv
(9) Favourite internet site.
Not a website but outlook (very useful to read my emails!).
(10) Favourite scene / moment / song from Evita
You must love me.
Are you finding London lonely?
Jose
Not at all! I have a few friends here from Argentina, the company at the theatre is amazing and if that wasn’t enough, I am living with my boyfriend. So although I miss my family, it feels a bit like home here…
Although you're a female performer, do you know how long it takes for a male performer to increase his vocal range, and how long did it take you?
Alex
I am not an expert but I would say that it very much depends of what your goal is and how much you are prepared to work to achieve it. If you work really hard, it can take you up to a year to widen your range and a bit more time to improve the sound of it. Personally I am constantly training and learning because there is a lot to learn from being on stage every day. One of the things I probably learnt the most is how your mind affects in a positive or not that positive way, the quality and ease of your vocals on a daily basis.
Many thanks to Elena for her valuable time and good luck for the rest of your run!!
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