EVITA - THEATRE REVIEW

EVITA AT THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME

Theatre Run: Tuesday 08 - Saturday 19 April 2014
Performance Reviewed: Wednesday 09 April 2014 (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical colossus Evita returns to the Midlands this week as this sumptuous, technically audacious production of the show continues its acclaimed UK national tour. Everything that made the show such a towering and impressive achievement well worthy of its five star review we bestowed upon it last year remains thankfully intact, with an indelible aura of quality and, at times, majesty permeating around what is surprisingly one of Lloyd Webber and Rice’s earliest collaborations. The sophistication and maturity with which they weave the tale of Eva Peron’s rise from obscurity to political and cultural juggernaut through a masterful, instantly recognisable soundtrack remains as bold, beautiful and intricate as ever. And with the sublime Madalena Alberto thankfully remaining front and centre as the titular character, Birmingham audiences have the opportunity to witness what surely must be the definitive interpretation and performance of one of musical theatre’s most iconic and demanding roles.

EVITA - THEATRE REVIEW

EVITA AT THE WOLVERHAMPTON GRAND THEATRE

Theatre Run: Monday 19 - Saturday 31 August
Performance Reviewed: Tuesday 20 August (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

Once again the theatrical juggernaut of Andrew Lloyd Webber comes to the Midlands as his musical biopic of Argentinian First Lady Eva Peron arrives in Wolverhampton in the form of the ever popular Evita. One of Lloyd Webber’s most prolific and celebrated shows and part of his select early trifecta of collaborations with lyricist Tim Rice, this latest UK tour, courtesy of the illustrious Bill Kenwright and company, is a bold, sweeping and ambitious treat that boasts tremendous staging and production design, a wealth of now ubiquitous and beloved musical numbers, and a truly astonishing central performance which all culminate in one of the most opulent, impressive and majestic touring productions of recent memory.

THEATRE INTERVIEW - Marti Pellow (Evita)

EVITA INTERVIEWS:
Part Two - Marti Pellow (Che)

Heading to the Wolverhampton Grand as part of its latest UK tour, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Evita is one of musical theatres most prolific and enduring success stories. In anticipation and celebration of the shows arrival in the Midlands, we headed to the Empire Theatre in Liverpool to interview it's two leads.

In this first part, Kyle interviewed Madalena Alberto, who is playing the titular role of Eva Peron (part one interview can be found HERE). This time round, Kyle chats to Wet, Wet, Wet frontman and growing musical theatre regular Marti Pellow, who plays Che in the touring production...

By Kyle Pedley.

Interview Conducted Thursday 27th June 2013.

Marti Pellow as 'Che' in Evita

Marti Pellow has been many things to music over the course of his now 30 year career. His musical journey began as frontman of the massively successful Wet, Wet, Wet, who rose to pop superstardom in the late 80‘s and early 90’s, most prolifically with their 1994 behemoth ‘Love Is All Around’, which celebrated such a prolonged run in the UK charts that Pellow himself insisted on it’s deletion. After Wet, Wet, Wet (or at least until they reformed in 2004), he went on to celebrate subsequent success as a solo artist with a string of releases. And, as of the past decade, he has gradually become something of a musical theatre regular, notching up major roles on both the West End and Broadway, beginning with manipulative, debonair lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago.

“I’ll be forever indebted to Kander and Ebb!” Pellow exclaims, praising the musical team responsible for the score and songs of his musical theatre debut, “I fell in love with their score and that was the start of it... and here I am ten years and umpteen musicals later!”

THEATRE INTERVIEW - Madalena Alberto (Evita)

EVITA INTERVIEWS:
Part One - Madalena Alberto (Eva Peron)

Heading to the Wolverhampton Grand as part of its latest UK tour, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Evita is one of musical theatres most prolific and enduring success stories. In anticipation and celebration of the shows arrival in the Midlands, we headed to the Empire Theatre in Liverpool to interview it's two leads.

In this first part, Kyle recounts his experience getting to meet and chat to Madalena Alberto, who is taking on the challenge of portraying one of the industries most acclaimed and coveted roles...

By Kyle Pedley.
Interview Conducted Thursday 27th June 2013.

Madalena Alberto as Eva Peron
in Evita, alongside co-star
Marti Pellow as 'Che'

It’s a dreary afternoon in June, typical British summer weather having brought with it a blanket of cloud and a continual deluge outdoors, casting a grey pall and darkness inside the ornate and suitably grand interior of Liverpool’s Empire Theatre. My fellow journalists and I lament the weather being so miserable for our trip to the former European Capital of Culture to see the latest incarnation of Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd-Webber’s musical colossus ‘Evita’ and to interview it’s two leads.

Yet despite the rain and gloom, none of it seems to be phasing Madalena Alberto, who arrives with an effortless warmth and radiance, casually dressed yet undeniably comely, and who despite growing up in the sunnier climes of Lisbon, is quick to sing the praises of her new home-from-home.