Livin' Evita Loca!Sure, the pop culture wags were busy trumpeting
the news that
Ricky Martin would return (yes,
return) to Broadway in its very first revival of
Evita.
But for those of us who had the opportunity to
simply adore Michael Grandage's high-flying production when it first graced the West End a few years ago, we're absolutely thrilled that the Great White Way will finally know the name
Elena Roger. Proving that good things really do come in small packages, Roger is the real deal.
After seeing Elena Roger perform as Eva Peron in 2007, I said:
Making her spectacular West End debut is an astonishing Argentine talent, Elena Roger, who offers an exceptionally nuanced performance as Eva Peron. The compact Roger evolves right before your eyes from the flirtatious young girl seeking her ticket to Buenos Aires stardom to her role alongside Juan Peron to a physically and emotionally impaired invalid. And what a powerful, beautiful voice!
A year and a half later,
I took in a so-so London production of
Piaf. But Elena Roger made it all suddenly seem worthwhile. The reasons I recommended the show were as follows:
First is the opportunity to enjoy a live performance of the timeless songbook from the legendary "Little Sparrow" Edith Piaf. Second is to have it delivered by the abundantly assured and captivating actress Elena Roger in the title role. Just as she dazzled in last year's West End revival of Evita, once again, Roger proves a sensation. Succeeding in eerily channeling Piaf, Roger soars to make for one of the year's most extraordinary and magical performances, almost in spite of the ill-conceived production around her.
I for one can't wait to see what she does next and can only hope that Broadway is paying attention.
Fortunately, Broadway appears to have heard that clarion call.
Sure, it's crazy, perhaps in a good box office sort of way, that Ricky Martin will be portraying Che in the long overdue revival of what is arguably
Tim Rice and
Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest work.
Yet it's the name Elena Roger that you'll be remembering most after the show opens on Broadway in 2012.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Broadway, Elena Roger, Evita, First Word On New Show, Michael Grandage, Musical, Revival, Ricky Martin, Tim Rice
SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #15 - Evita (2007, Adelphi Theatre, London, United Kingdom)
Introduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties. With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 25 personal favorite shows of the Noughties. To see the best revival of the 2006-07 Theatrical Season, I had to fly across the Atlantic and visit London.
Michael Grandage's West End revival of
Evita was unequivocally stunning. I absolutely adored this high-flying, soaring production. Credit Grandage's direction and choreographer
Rob Ashford with once again revitalizing a musical in a most breathtaking, dazzling manner.
Making her spectacular West End debut was an astonishing Argentine talent,
Elena Roger, who offered an exceptionally nuanced performance as Eva Peron. The compact Roger evolved right before your eyes from the flirtatious young girl seeking her ticket to Buenos Aires stardom to her role alongside Juan Peron to a physically and emotionally impaired invalid. And what a powerful, beautiful voice!
Philip Quast brought a deceptively steely charm to his characterization of strongman Juan Peron epitomizing why he and Eva would be "surprisingly good" for one another.
Added to all of this were the newly syncopated rhythms offered by
David Cullen's lush orchestrations (particularly in songs like "Buenos Aires") for what is arguably
Andrew Lloyd Webber's best score, along with a breathtaking set design by
Christopher Oram, and the result was one of the most stellar evenings of live theatre I've enjoyed over the past ten years. It left me on a proverbial "Rainbow High."
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. I paid my own way for this performance.Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elena Roger, Evita, Michael Grandage, Musical, Philip Quast, Revival, Rob Ashford, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties
SOB's 8 Singular Sensations Of '08As regular readers of Steve On Broadway (SOB) know, while others use the end of the year to provide their lists of the top shows of the past year, I wait until the conclusion of the entire Theatrical Season to provide my official tally.
Instead, I'm once again devoting the end of the calendar year to celebrate SOB's Singular Sensations -- those magical live performances that have stayed with me throughout the year. While it's easy to bid "good riddance" to a year that has been fraught with economic, man-made and natural catastrophes, I took refuge in once again being truly wowed and ultimately inspired by an extraordinary display of excellent performances from some of the theatre world's best actors, singers and dancers of our time.
Before I launch into my mini-countdown, I'd like to offer a few personal observations on my own year. Without a doubt, one continuing highlight has been the enormously gratifying opportunity to meet a wide cross-section of fellow theatre bloggers.
Thanks to Esther at
Gratuitous Violins for getting the ball rolling as 11 bloggers with a predominant focus on theatre became friends and family as we joined together for a freewheeling brunch at
Angus McIndoe's -- one of the Broadway theatre district's more renowned hot spots. That list included Aaron at
‘kül That Sounds Cool, Alicia at
Things You'll Learn To Love About Me, Chris at
Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, Jan at
Broadway & Me, Jimmy at
Third Row, Mezzanine, Kari at
Casual Heap, Mike at
The Lunar Gemini, Patrick at
Just Shows To Go You and Sarah at
Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment.
But as the year progressed, it was a high honor meeting several other vital bloggers, including Andrew and Philip at
West End Whingers, Angel at
The Theatergoer, Eric at
Man In Chair, Gabriel at
Modern Fabulousity, Kevin at
Theatre Aficionado At Large, and, of course, the man responsible for my wonderful new photo, the incomparable Ste at
The Stephen Mosher Blog.
To all my blog friends, let me say I am proud to know you and count you among my friends.
Now, dear readers, I give you SOB's 8 Singular Sensations of 2008:
#8 - Francis Guinan - While most of the rest of the
August: Osage County ensemble headed off to London this fall to reprise their celebrated performances, one notable principal from Steppenwolf's Chicago and Broadway casts did not make the journey:
Fran Guinan.
The actor who singlehandedly delivered the tenderest performance and arguably the most heart in this year's Tony Award-winning Best Play as Charlie Aiken had a couple other projects and a whole host of characters to handle back in Chicago. Guinan enjoyed some delicious scene-stealing roles as Colonel Sanders and Johnny Walker in Steppenwolf's
Kafka On The Shore, but it was his extraordinarily touching take as Sharky in Steppenwolf's just-extended production of
The Seafarer that completely blew me away.
It's because he seems to effortlessly imbue each and every one of his wide-ranging characters with limitless shadings and nuance, I'm looking forward to seeing this sensational actor next in Steppenwolf's early 2009 mounting of
Art.
#7 - Martha Plimpton - Is there
nothing Martha Plimpton cannot do? First, as the wine-swilling pontifica-ting, pompous Pope Joan and then as an English teen,
both as part of
Caryl Churchill's
Top Girls, she was simply mindblowing.
But as Gladys Bumps in the current Broadway revival of
Pal Joey, Plimpton proves nothing short of a complete revelation. We already knew this Tony-nominated actress had the dramatic chops, but who knew she also possesses such an sensational singing voice? Her "Zip" alone is worth the price of admission. Along with her sly moves, it truly does appear that there's nothing Plimpton can't do.
Look for another Tony nod in the New Year for this sensational actress.
#6 - Lois Smith - Shame on me for missing
Horton Foote's
The Trip To Bountiful during its celebrated
Signature Theatre Company run a couple years back. Fortunately, for me (and countless others), Chicago's
Goodman Theatre chose to honor the works of the great nonagenarian with a
festival that enabled the incandescent
Lois Smith to reprise her lauded Off-Broadway turn as Carrie Watts.
Smith's astonishing luminescence burned brighter and brighter throughout her performance as she brilliantly captured Carrie's yearning to return home, one last time, to a place called Bountiful. Smith's impeccably drawn portrayal proved one transformative power.
The always sensational Lois Smith was nothing short of excellent.
#5 - Daniel Breaker - I have yet to see what he can do in
Shrek The Musical.
But
Daniel Breaker The Actor is one exception-ally gifted talent worth watching, thanks to his truly astonishing breakthrough role as Youth in my favorite new musical of the past year:
Passing Strange. Breaker has the ability to convey so much more with a simple roll of his eyes than many actors have with their entire portayals. He possesses a natural presence found far too infrequently on the stage.
His sensational Tony-nominated performance made
Passing Strange come alive, and it will be the reason I go see
Shrek.
#4 - Jim Norton - Actors from two different productions of the same outstanding play land on my list.
Back at #8 was Fran Guinan as Sharky from Steppenwolf's current run of
The Seafarer. The acting genius who originated the role of Sharky's brother Richard in London and reprised his performance again on Broadway lands at #4. The breathtaking
Jim Norton earned very well-deserved Olivier and Tony Awards for his incredible work. His superb portrayal more than convinced me he had literally drunk himself blind. I really thought, "this man truly is without sight." Of course, only at the curtain call did I realize he could see.
I'm so looking forward to seeing this sensational actor once again in
New York City Center's March mounting of
Finian's Rainbow.
#3 - Mark Rylance - For a British actor,
Mark Rylance sure has the Midwestern accents down pat (perhaps it's because, like me, he lived in
Mequon - Thiensville, Wisconsin, during part of his formative years).
Shortly before making his Broadway debut, this master Shakespearean actor returned to a Guthrie stage in Minneapolis in the title role of
Peer Gynt. This retelling of
Henrik Ibsen's play began with Rylance portraying a modern-day Minnesotan on the receiving end of a surprise party for his 50th birthday.
Soon thereafter, Rylance took Broadway by storm with his Tony-winning farcical turn as a Wisconsinite named Robert in the revival of
Boeing-Boeing. He's still keeping them laughing through Sunday at the
Longacre via his absolutely masterful turn.
Given his wide range, there's no telling where the sensational Rylance will land next.
#2 - Elena Roger - As the only artist from last year's SOB Singular Sensations lists to make a return, the marvelous
Elena Roger is a major force to be reckoned with. Her bravura performance as Eva Peron in the recent London revival of
Evita was more than enough to
land her at #4 one year ago. In the current West End production of
Piaf, this abundantly assured and captivating actress dazzles once again. Roger proves a true sensation.
Succeeding in eerily channeling
Edith Piaf, Roger soars to make for one of the year's most extraordinary and magical performances, almost in spite of the ill-conceived production around her.
I for one can't wait to see what this sensational talent does next and can only hope that Broadway is finally paying attention.
#1 - Patti LuPone - I know, I know.
Patti LuPone easily earned
the number one spot two years ago on my year-end list for her electrifying/terrifying performance as Mama Rose in
Ravinia's concert version of
Stephen Sondheim,
Jule Styne and
Arthur Laurents' best musical of all time,
Gypsy. How could I possibly give the same artist the same pole position for the same role yet again?
Easily. Laurents' current Broadway mounting of
Gypsy is no ordinary revival. Just when I thought LuPone couldn't get any better, she manages to eclipse her own jawdropping performance with a Rose who is at once sympathetic, conniving, sexy, funny, tragic and repulsive all at the same time. Brava, Patti! Brava!
I was so mesmerized by LuPone's sensational performance of a lifetime that I'll be there to cheer her on once more before
Gypsy closes on January 11.
Happy New Year!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Daniel Breaker, Elena Roger, Francis Guinan, Jim Norton, Lois Smith, Mark Rylance, Martha Plimpton, Patti LuPone, SOB's 8 Singular Sensations of 2008
Piaf (The SOB Review) - Vaudeville Theatre, London, United Kingdom
** (out of ****)There are really only two worthwhile reasons to see the current, limited
Donmar Warehouse West End transfer of
Pam Gems'
Piaf. And while those two reasons alone can't save
Jamie Lloyd's 95-minute production from the mess it is, they've ironicly kept me from recommending against seeing the show.
Unfortunately, the play with music Gems has written comes across as a greatest hits package, and not necessarily of the tuneful variety. The game cast practically needs a revolving door to keep up with the show's many scrapes, murder, boxing jabs, car accidents and even plane crash. Although cast members shift from one portrayal to the next rather effortlessly, the audience is left to fend for itself in figuring out who's who. Most context and character development is left purely to the imagination, betraying the difficult, heartwrenching existence of the eponymous singer.
So thank goodness for Little Sparrows. Those two reasons for seeing the show I alluded to at the top that eclipse the madness on stage?
First is the opportunity to enjoy a live performance of the timeless songbook from the legendary "Little Sparrow"
Edith Piaf. Second is to have it delivered by the abundantly assured and captivating actress
Elena Roger in the title role. Just as she dazzled in last year's West End revival of
Evita, once again, Roger proves a sensation. Succeeding in eerily channeling
Piaf, Roger soars to make for one of the year's most extraordinary and magical performances, almost in spite of the ill-conceived production around her.
I for one can't wait to see what she does next and can only hope that Broadway is paying attention.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Donmar Warehouse, Edith Piaf, Elena Roger, Jamie Lloyd, London, Pam Gems, Piaf, Play with Music, Revival, The SOB Review
Thanksgiving: La Vie En LondonHappy Thanksgiving!
Rather than turkey this Thanksgiving, I'm in London where I'll enjoy a Little Sparrow this evening.
But rather than consuming a meal of the diminutive bird, I'll be in the audience for
Donmar Warehouse's limited West End transfer of
Pam Gems'
Piaf. While I was disappointed in "
La Vie En Rose" -- the disjointed biopic on the life of the "Little Sparrow"
Edith Piaf -- I have long been mesmerized by the late French icon's unique song stylings.
Making the
Jamie Lloyd-helmed
Piaf particularly attractive, apart from the West End Whingers' enthusiastic
endorsment, is that the breathtaking little dynamo
Elena Roger is portraying the singer. I had the great fortune and pleasure of seeing Roger in the recent West End revival of
Evita. If she's even half as wonderful
as she was as Eva Peron, I know I'll have a very magical night at the theatre.
And lest you think that I have completely forsaken a traditional Thanksgiving, rest assured that the Love Of My Life and I will be joining American friends Daniel and Donna from Kentucky and Mary Ann from California, albeit for a
traditional English champagne tea this afternoon at
Claridge's. We'll certainly be counting our blessings.
And as we do so, I'll also be giving thanks for the friendships of so many of you who are reading Steve On Broadway (SOB). Thank you for joining me here.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Edith Piaf, Elena Roger, Evita, Jamie Lloyd, La Vie En Rose, Pam Gems, Piaf, Special Messages, Thanksgiving, West End Whingers
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #4: Elena RogerIntroduction: While others use the end of the year to provide their lists of the top shows of the past year, here at Steve On Broadway (SOB), I wait until the conclusion of the entire Theatrical Season to provide my official tally.
Instead, I'm once again devoting the waning days of the calendar year to celebrate SOB's Singular Sensations -- those magical live performances that have stayed with me throughout the year. During 2007, I have enjoyed, been wowed and ultimately inspired by a dazzling display of excellent performances from some of the theatre world's best actors, singers and dancers of our time.Talk about more than just a little touch of star quality.
After appearing in countless Argentinean musical productions, including a variety of Spanish-language versions of Broadway and West End hits like
Nine,
Beauty And The Beast and
Les Misérables, the diminutive spitfire known as
Elena Roger took London by storm in her glorious portrayal of
Evita.
To put it simply, I adored Roger's high-flying performance. In my
SOB Review from April, I had nothing but praise:
Making her spectacular West End debut is an astonishing Argentine talent, Elena Roger, who offers an exceptionally nuanced performance as Eva Peron. The compact Roger evolves right before your eyes from the flirtatious young girl seeking her ticket to Buenos Aires stardom to her role alongside Juan Peron to a physically and emotionally impaired invalid. And what a powerful, beautiful voice!
I've seen memorable performances of
Evita before (witness my history with
SOB's Singular Sensation #5), but Elena Roger made her Eva Peron so intoxicating that it's easy to understand why her fellow countrymen fell under her spell. While
Evita closed shortly after I caught it, London audiences have until January 5 to see Roger in the acclaimed revival of
Boeing-Boeing.
Here's toasting the South American singular sensation, Elena Roger!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #5: Raúl Esparza (December 28, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #6: John Gallagher, Jr. (December 28, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #7: Jennifer Holliday (December 27, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best Revivals Of Musicals (May 18, 2007)
Evita (The SOB Review) (April 19, 2007)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #1: Patti LuPone (December 30, 2006)
Honorable Mentions: SOB's Singular Sensations Of '06 (December 30, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #2: Cate Blanchett (December 30, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #3: Chita Rivera (December 29, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #4: Barry Humphries (December 28, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #5: Kitty Carlisle Hart (December 28, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #6: Meryl Streep (December 26, 2006)
Labels: Boeing-Boeing, Elena Roger, Evita, London, Musical, Revival, SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06, SOB's 7 Singular Sensations of '07
Boeing-Boeing To Touch Down On Great White WayAccording to
Playbill,
Boeing-Boeing has been cleared for take-off on Broadway next spring.
The super hot, nostalgic revival by
Matthew Warchus opened to
rave reviews in London on February 15 and has been swinging ever since.
The sex farce from
Marc Camoletti and
Beverley Cross (late husband of
Dame Maggie Smith) enjoyed a very healthy London run when it originally performed all the way back in 1961. However,
Boeing-Boeing crashed and burned on Broadway after only 23 regular performances back in 1965.
Will the second time be the charm? And more importantly, will any of the London revival's starry cast fly over the Atlantic to reprise their roles? Personally, I'd love to see both
Frances de la Tour and
Mark Rylance again. But I'd be more than happy to have
another go with
Elena Roger as well.
Presumably, the Broadway revival won't be performed at the
American Airlines Theatre space occupied by the
Roundabout Theatre Company -- this despite said
airlines' current sponsorship of the London production.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for London tickets.Related Stories:Was De La Tour's Latest A Tour De Force With Critics? (February 17, 2007)
London's Boeing-Boeing Flies Into Opening Night (February 15, 2007)
Labels: Boeing-Boeing, Elena Roger, First Word On New Show, Frances de la Tour, London, Mark Rylance, Matthew Warchus, Play, Revival, Transfer
Evita (The SOB Review) - Adelphi Theatre, London, United Kingdom**** (out of ****)Last weekend, I flew to London to see the
Michael Grandage's excellent revival of
Evita before it closes in May. I absolutely adored this high-flying, soaring production. It is by far one of the best shows I've seen throughout the past year.
Credit Grandage's direction with once again revitalizing a musical in a most breathtaking, dazzling manner. As in 2005's revival of
Guys And Dolls, Grandage has teamed up with choreographer
Rob Ashford to effectively and vivaciously move along the story, this time of Eva Duarte Peron.
Fortunately, unlike in the film version, the darker side of the Perons remains intact within the book; Ashford's mesmerizing choreography brings the backstabbing struggle for power within Argentina's military to life, showing Juan Peron as a man who could only be trusted at a soldier's own peril. And of course, given that the clawing Evita herself was no saint, Grandage practically installs a revolving door on her bedroom for the rousing number "Goodnight And Thank You," and later rhapsodically illuminates how readily Peron's first lady enjoys the spoils of her husband's inherently corrupt regime.
Making her spectacular West End debut is an astonishing Argentine talent,
Elena Roger, who offers an exceptionally nuanced performance as Eva Peron. The compact Roger evolves right before your eyes from the flirtatious young girl seeking her ticket to Buenos Aires stardom to her role alongside Juan Peron to a physically and emotionally impaired invalid. And what a powerful, beautiful voice!
Philip Quast brings a deceptively steely charm to his characterization of strongman Juan Peron epitomizing why he and Eva would be "surprisingly good" for one another.
As Che, the seductive
Matt Rawle might resemble
Antonio Banderas, but his glorious voice is much more in tune with
Mandy Patinkin. And thankfully -- even though in a nod to the
1996 movie, the song "You Must Love Me" has been added to great effect -- Peron's mistress (an angelic
Lorna Want) brilliantly reclaims the tune "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" absconded by
Madonna for herself on the silver screen. Want's brief yet amazing turn makes me want to see more of her in the future.
Add to all of this the newly syncopated rhythms offered by
David Cullen's lush new orchestrations (particularly in songs like "Buenos Aires") for what is arguably
Andrew Lloyd Webber's best score, along with a breathtaking set design by
Christopher Oram, and the result is one of the most stellar evenings of live theatre I've enjoyed over the past twelve months. It left me on a proverbial "Rainbow High."
This Evita is unequivocally stunning. But if you'd like to see it, you'd better get thee to London soon since the show closes May 26. Given its relatively short life on the West End stage (less than one year), the original plans to transfer to Broadway might now be in jeopardy.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:May Requiem For Evita In London (February 28, 2007)
Sunday At The Grosvenor House With Laurence (February 19, 2007)
Which British Hits Will Be Broadway-Bound? (September 20, 2006)
Evita to New York: I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You (June 28, 2006)
High Flying Adored: Evita Conquers the West End Critics (June 23, 2006)
Hello, Buenos Aires! New London Revival of Evita Opens Tonight (June 21, 2006)
Labels: Elena Roger, Evita, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Philip Quast, Revival, Rob Ashford, The SOB Review
Hello, Buenos Aires! New London Revival of Evita Opens TonightWill Argentinian actress Elena Roger demonstrate more than
just a little touch of star quality when she takes to the West End's Adelphi stage this evening for the hotly-anticipated London revival of
Evita?
There's certainly plenty of production quality among the team for this remounting of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, starting with director Michael Grandage, who turned last year's
Guys And Dolls into an unmitigated success. Rob Ashford, fresh from Broadway's
The Wedding Singer, has reteamed with Grandage to provide fresh choreography.
It also probably goes without saying that the original Hal Prince-helmed
Evita helped turn actresses Elaine Paige and Patti LuPone into first ladies of the London and Broadway stage, respectively. But can it do the same for Rogers? We'll know tomorrow whether the critics exult in a
rainbow high.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elena Roger, Evita, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Opening Night, Revival, Rob Ashford
