WORTH A LOOK?: ****

It’s by no means la Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires but the London Palladium balcony performance given by Rachel Zegler at 9pm on show nights and 4pm on matinees to the hundreds of passers-by in the capital has, quite rightly, earned itself a single release.

• Read on for reasons including why this is London’s must-see musical of the moment

‘The best show in town was the crowd outside the Casa Rosada crying ‘Eva Peron”, goes song Oh What A Circus from EVITA in lyrics controversial director Jamie Lloyd (Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre) has seemingly taken to heart.

We attended the 1st preview of this production of the beloved musical writing: ‘What the Regent’s Park production didn’t have was what appeared to be a pre-filmed, although it may have been live, backstage at the Palladium performance of arguably the show’s best loved song Don’t Cry For Me Argentina which then goes out from the venue’s public balcony looking out onto central London.’

The version we saw was lacking a sizeable crowd, a conundrum rectified thanks to glowing word-of-mouth for Zegler’s performance of which we said: ‘we were wowed by the superb diction, strong singing voice and mesmerising charisma’.

Others in our party that night felt they wanted to have seen Argentina performed in the flesh – what we now know is that in the 70s it was indeed performed from a box high in the venue’s circle – but what this balcony scene does is create wonderful advertising for the show but also draw a dividing line between the public and those paying to see the spectacle inside the venue.

It’s a contradiction explored in the show not least when young Eva is challenged during Peron’s Latest Flame by the bourgeoisie: ‘No, we wouldn’t mind seeing her at Harrods, but behind the jewellery counter not in front.’

For us Zegler’s EVITA is a more authentic proposition than many of those who’ve stepped into Eva’s high heels before her and the way she pronounces ‘Argentina’ here accentuates that.

We called it ‘London’s must-see musical of the moment’, return to it once more before its 6 September run ends and hope to even catch a free balcony performance this summer.

Whether inside or outside don’t miss your chance to see 1 of the greatest shows of 2025 so far before its inevitable Broadway transfer.

We also need that full Rachel Zegler EVITA soundtrack album available soon.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy EVITA at London Palladium. Tickets
• Have you seen EVITA and what did you think of this production? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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