Evita starring Rachel Zegler has started previews at the London Palladium. There’s already one aspect of the show that is already causing a lot of discussion. In classic Jamie Lloyd fashion it has been confirmed that the song ‘ Don’t cry for me Argentina’ will be performed on the balcony outside the Palladium. While streamed on a screen to the audience inside. This has caused a big debate with one side excited for this unique staging and choice. Meanwhile the other is annoyed as the song, arguably the biggest, won’t be sung live to the audience.

The highly anticipated Evita revival started performances this week and this production was already under a lot of eyes as it marks Rachel Zegler’s West End debut. It is also Jamie Lloyd’s third big project in the last two years. After his award winning Sunset Boulevard revival and sold-out run of Romeo and Juliet starring Tom Holland. Zegler is also a huge star already after her debut in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Her subsequent work includes, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Romeo & Juliet and Disney’s Snow White.

The show

Evita is the story of Eva the first female president of Argentina and early reactions online are all very positive, gushing over Zegler’s performance. There has however already been some discourse as has become common with any Jamie Lloyd production. Whose signature stripped back style is very divisive. There is a lack of costuming until the final act. And one of the biggest numbers of the show is streamed to the audience which some feel very let down on.

This is not the first time he has incorporated screens in his stage show as Tom Francis famously sings the Sunset Boulevard title song as he walks outside the theatre. It’s too early to see if this stunt will earn the show positive or negative feedback as a whole. But it does mean lucky passerbys might be able to catch Zegler performing this piece for free. Around roughly 9pm every night.

Book here for EVITA tickets and to catch this unmissable debut and revival!

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