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Eva Peron was part Grace Kelly, part People's Princess Diana, part Cory Aquino, part Lady Macbeth - a nobody who became the first lady of Argentina. The first major revival of the 1978 hit Evita (Andrew Lloyd Webber's score, Tim Rice's lyrics) throws yet another Cinderella into the pot, tiny Elena Roger, an unknown Argentinian who proves herself every single inch, and some, to be a worthy first lady of musical theatre. So life mirrors art.
Roger is not a conventional beauty, but her flashing eyes, wide smile, belting voice, sex appeal and sheer force of personality blow you away. What's more, she doesn't just dance up a storm, she tangoes up a tempest.
Roger gives us an unstoppable hustler with infinite ambition who knows what she can do for Juan Peron, and what he can do for her.
'They need to adore me, so Christian Dior me; it's vital you sell me, so Machiavell me,' she sings as she is dressed to thrill in the wittily written 'Rainbow High'. And thrill the 'shirtless' proletariat she does. And me, too. Michael Grandage's terrific, atmospheric production is superbly staged on Christopher Oram's stuccoed palazzos and wrought-iron balconies of Buenos Aires in the Fifties.
We are led along by Che (excellent Matt Rawle), the cynical narrator who, while never actually saying that Eva was a nastly little fascist, casts some justifiable doubt over whether she deserved her superstar treatment.
While perfectly capturing the moment when politics and showbusiness become hopelessly confused, as a history lesson Evita is somewhat limited. Was Juan Peron as genial and impressive as Philip Quast's gentle giant suggests? Were snotty posh Argentines the only hurdles Eva had to jump?
Who cares. Enjoy the rags-to-riches fairy tale with its tragic ending. 'Another Suitcase In Another Hall' is beautifully sung by Lorna Want, Peron's mistress, whom Eva kicks out as she moves in, and 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina', in which Eva bids farewell to her people, is as potent as ever. Evita's triumph - Roger's triumph - is that you believe she loved the people as ferociously as they worshipped her. A sensational hit, all over again.
Thanks to Gregor for forwarding this review
© Associated Newspapers Ltd
