WATCHING any Andrew-Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical feels like a masterclass in the genre, and the latest production of Evita offered up a real education for the audience, leaving them in awe from the opening number.
The authenticity of the acting in this run at the King’s Theatre took the audience through a plethora of emotions and at times had them on the edge of their seats.
The story of Evita begins at the end, at the funeral of the famous Argentinian political leader.
The heartache of her death could be felt instantly through the haunting Requiem for Evita. The operatic nature of the vocals captures your attention from the outset and demands for you to be invested in the story.
And it's at that very moment the charismatic Che Guevara character takes over to reveal the true story behind Eva Peron.
Played by the very handsome Gian Marco Schiaretti, Che commanded the centre stage despite being a narrator.
He captured the character in the same style Antonio Banderas did in the 1996 movie.
His comic timing provided relief while his vocals in the more dramatic scenes captured the intensity of the story, which follows Evita's early life, rise to power, charity work and eventual death.
He was simply mesmerising in the role and delivered a performance that is not easy to forget.
Evita, played by Madalena Alberto, had big footsteps to follow in achieving the full potential of the role thanks to the likes of Madonna and Elaine Paige - but she put on a stunning performance.
Her rendition of the epic Don't Cry For Me Argentina was spine-tingling and was a moment to remember at the King's Theatre.
She continued to up the ante during her death scene with an emotional performance of You Must Love Me.
Her portrayal was so strong she had the entire King's Theatre giving her a standing ovation at the end.
The supporting cast offered sublime choreography and vocals while the sets gave the production a West End or Broadway feel.
Experiencing this musical is seeing the genre at its best. Evita is a classic and it was delivered by cast who were able to translate the story in such a powerful way.
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