Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Rachel Zegler. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Rachel Zegler. Sort by date Show all posts
Saturday, 23 August 2025
Evita at the London Palladium: Rachel Zegler Soars in Jamie Lloyd's Bold, Electrifying Revival
Evita
London Palladium
Sometimes you sit in a theatre and know you are witnessing something truly historic. That’s exactly how it felt watching Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Evita at the London Palladium. This isn’t just another revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s political rock opera, it’s a seismic moment in musical theatre, led by a cast who feel destined for greatness.
At the centre of it all is Rachel Zegler, who delivers a performance so thrilling, it’s hard to believe this is her London stage debut. I’ve followed Rachel’s journey since 2018, from YouTube covers to West Side Story, and to see her now, utterly at home on the Palladium stage, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She looks and sounds like she was born for this exact role at this exact moment in theatrical history. Her Eva Perón is fierce, vulnerable, ambitious, and magnetic; and every note of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” soared as though it were written for her. We are watching the rise of a star, and how lucky we are to be along for the journey.
Alongside her, Diego Andrés Rodriguez is astonishing as Che. Wry, commanding, and vocally electric, he narrates Eva’s rise and fall with biting precision. At times sardonic, at times full of fire, his performance anchors the show with clarity and bite. Rodriguez is a talent I need to see as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar one day, his presence and vocals would be unforgettable. James Olivas also gives an excellent turn as Juan Perón, balancing political ambition with quiet tenderness. The chemistry between Zegler, Rodriguez, and Olivas is magnetic, their trio of performances form the show’s beating heart.
Musically, Evita remains as bold as ever. First staged in 1978, Lloyd Webber and Rice’s rock-opera score brings Eva Perón’s rise to power and enduring legacy to life with urgency and flair. From the bombastic “A New Argentina” to the delicate “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” the music is at once energetic and informative, serving as both history lesson and thrilling theatre. What makes Jamie Lloyd’s revival so fascinating is its refusal to spoon-feed. The production embraces ambiguity, encouraging the audience to interpret rather than simply receive. For newcomers to the show, this approach might feel a little confusing at times, but for me it was exhilarating. It felt intelligent, trusting the audience to piece together the threads for themselves.
Visually and technically, the production is equally impressive. Jon Clark’s lighting is stark and expressive, shaping scenes with atmosphere and tension. Fabian Aloise’s choreography is muscular, dynamic, and precise. The ensemble moves like a single organism, their synchronicity so tight it’s genuinely breathtaking. Every gesture feels purposeful, from the smallest flick of a wrist to the explosive full-company numbers. The ensemble themselves are powerhouse performers, bringing passion and intensity to every scene. Their strength and unity echo the fervour of Eva’s Argentina, adding another layer of urgency to the storytelling.
Equally vital is Adam Fisher’s sound design, which balances the soaring vocals and Lloyd Webber’s powerful score beautifully. In a theatre as grand as the Palladium, clarity can sometimes be an issue, but here every lyric, every guitar riff, every heartbeat of percussion landed perfectly.
For those unfamiliar with Evita, the show traces the life of Eva Perón, Argentina’s First Lady from 1946 until her death in 1952. Born into poverty, Eva clawed her way into the limelight, first as an actress and then as wife of President Juan Perón, becoming a powerful, controversial figure adored by the working classes and reviled by the elite. Lloyd Webber and Rice’s score examines her legacy with both admiration and critique, embodied in the narrator Che’s cynical commentary. It’s part biography, part cautionary tale, part celebration and in Lloyd’s hands, it feels fiercely relevant once again.
This Evita is not just a revival; it’s a reinvention. Jamie Lloyd has stripped away the excess and laid bare the story, allowing the music, the cast, and the raw energy of the ensemble to speak for themselves. The result is electrifying- a production that feels both timeless and urgently modern.
Walking out of the Palladium, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just witnessed a career-defining moment for Rachel Zegler and a bold new chapter for Evita. It is an intelligent, gripping, and emotional triumph. Simply put, this is theatre at its most alive.
★★★★★
Reviewed on Tuesday 22nd July 2025 by Olivia
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner
Keywords: Evita London Palladium review, Jamie Lloyd Evita review, Rachel Zegler Evita London, Diego Andrés Rodriguez Che Evita, James Olivas Juan Perón Evita, Fabian Aloise choreography Evita, Jon Clark lighting design Evita, Adam Fisher sound design Evita, Evita 2025 revival London.
Sunday, 3 May 2020
The Return of the Movie Musical
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, movie musicals were abundant and arguably the most popular genre. However, with the move towards pop culture in the 1960s, their popularity dwindled and gave way to a more rebellious style and tone, which meant the all-singing, all-dancing, wholesome stories fell to the side.
Since then, aside from animated films, there have been a handful of live action musicals, with a few big hits such as Hairspray, Chicago and Mamma Mia!, but these have been largely hard to come by and a rare feature at the cinema. However, it seems that things are changing and we are in the midst of musicals coming back into the mainstream!
In some ways, the huge success of La La Land in 2016, a film which combined Old Hollywood with contemporary vibes, marked the return of movie musicals, with A Star is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman following in its footsteps and taking the box offices by storm. Disney's live action adaptations have also proved massive hits with Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King making huge profits. Of course there's also been the occasional flop... Cats.... (which I actually enjoyed) but on the whole, each release has highlighted the demand and appreciation for musical theatre.
It seems that Hollywood are finally taking note of the power of theatre people and are giving us the sweet, sweet, high quality films we deserve. There are a whole host of movie musicals in the works which are hugely exciting. Some that I'm most looking forward to are:
In The Heights: This is my all time favourite musical and I just can't wait for the summer vibes, incredible music and general wonder of Heights to be played out on the big screen. The film was originally set for release next month but thanks to Miss Rona it's been pushed back to June 2021.
Everybody's Talking About Jamie: This brilliantly British musical is set for release in October and is sure to thrill as it tells the real-life story of Jamie New, the 17 year old drag queen who wants to go against the norm and be true to himself. We'll also get the chance to see wonderful Max Harwood take on the lead role which will be a real treat.
West Side Story: In what's sure to be another 'Star is Born' performance, Rachel Zegler will be starring as Maria in this Stephen Spielberg adaptation. The production photos that have been released so far look amazing and I cannot wait to see this sumptuous film.
The Prom: I saw this show on Broadway so it'll be wonderful and interesting to see a film version. I think this will transfer brilliantly; plus, Meryl Streep is set to star in it so it's already a win in my eyes.
Matilda: The original Matilda film is a complete classic that will always be a heartwarming treat and the musical evokes the same magical and wondrous vibes. Tim Minchin's music is so clever and will no doubt get us all tapping our feet in the cinema!
Merrily We Roll Along: Ben Platt. Beanie Feldstein. Filmed over 20 years. Okay so this isn't going to be out in the near future but I just can't wait to eventually see this movie. The whole concept sounds so exciting and the cast are absolutely stellar.
As well as these there are more live action adaptations in the works as well as a number of current Broadway musicals being transferred from stage to screen. These include Dear Evan Hansen, Tick, Tick... Boom! and Come From Away. All in all, it seems that we can expect a whole lot more musicals in the mainstream and I cannot wait! What upcoming movie musical are you excited to see?
Post by Olivia Mitchell
Post by Olivia Mitchell
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