EVITA  at the Marquis Theatre

(Seen April 11, 2012)


"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" is still an infectious song, as simple and as repetitive as it may be.  But that's hardly a reason for the current revival of EVITA.  Its prior recent success in London propelled it to Broadway, with a little-known Elena Roger in the title role.

Vocally, dramatically, and and theatrically, she falls short of being able to carry this show, as we've come to expect from our previous Evita portrayers. 

The physical production appears stinted, if utilitarian.  And Michael Grandage's direction and Rob Ashford's choreography seem perfunctory.

And while Ricky Martin's "Che" seems totally uninvolved,  strangely he has a likeable stage presence, even if it's somewhat ill-suited for that character.