Evita is, without doubt, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's most loved shows.
It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, rise to power, charity work, and eventual death.
After the 1978 West End production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical the show moved to Broadway where it was the first British musical to receive the Tony Award for Best Musical. Following the 1996 film release, starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, the show was revived in London and on Broadway, touring the UK again in 2013 before running for 55 West End performances at the Dominion Theatre in September and October 2014.
The show is based around the original album musical and, in a similar style to Les Miserables, is almost exclusively song based with very little spoken content involved. Fortunately, this doesn't detract from the ability to follow the storyline, indeed in some respects it enhances that process for the audience.
From the moment the curtain rises, and the loud orchestral bars of the first song begin, you know you're in for a treat. The staging is exquisite and the lighting has such atmospheric significance that you can't help but be drawn into the show. Perfectly suited for the stage at The Grand, this is one of the only productions of Evita I've seen where the audience almost felt part of the show. Numbers like 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' see our leading lady pushed front and centre of the stage with every cast and audience member having their eyes transfixed on her - and she definitely didn't disappoint!
Emma Hatton joins a long line of renowned actors who have portrayed Peron. From Elaine Paige to Marti Webb and Stephanie Lawrence to Madonna, the pedigree of the performers who have recreated Eva speaks for itself and, for me, Hatton has firmly embedded herself in that list.
Having just finished almost two years playing Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked, it was evident that she should be more than capable of the role. You don't get the green gig unless you've got a decent set of pipes and a phenomenal stage presence, after all! However I don't think the audience were prepared for just how good she would be.
For 2 hours and 20 minutes, Emma Hatton became Eva Peron. From sublime, powerhouse belts through to fragile, heartfelt moments, she took us through a range of emotions that saw jubilation turn to sadness in a nano second. Any actor who can stand proud and confident, belting the shows signature anthem at the top of her voice and then become a vulnerable, shell of herself within minutes deserves absolute credit for her performance, and that's exactly what we got from Hatton this evening. A performance every bit worth the standing ovation it received.
Italian actor, Gian Marco Schiaretti, made his UK debut as Che - a disbeliever in Peron who acts as a narrator for the audience throughout the piece. The only previous credit I can find for him is that of Tarzan in the Disney musical of the same name - however he is clearly destined for the bright lights of the West End and Broadway. His vocal ability - and especially the cheeky falsetto he threw in at the end - were out of this world and deserve special mention right here, right now.
The supporting cast made this production even more special, with well rehearsed dance routines, slick scene changes and outstanding performance values that set this production of Evita incredibly high up in the best musicals around at the moment list.
Evita runs at Wolverhampton Grand until Saturday 13th May.
Hear Jason Forrest chat to Emma Hatton:
