I want to be clear, since I was less than laudatory on some thread or other.
I thought he sang it really quite well. He just seemed a little physically uncomfortable occupying the stage.
But I enjoyed watching him (not only for his perfect PR ass, although . . . ), and I'm glad he's challenging himself this way. I hope he'll do more stage work, and I imagine he'll only get better.
I think he's good in this. And if you wanna see something AWFUL to shake all you historians back to earth about the original broadway run of EVITA - catch PATTY L. singing her head off on the TONYS. Now that, was a dreadful bit of theater.
I thought her voice in "A New Argentina" was absolutely thrilling, yes, but her acting was just confusing. Why did she make a giant L with her arms? Why did she scream-sing at her husband? I don't think it was very representative of Eva Perón at all. However, I've never seen the Hal Prince staging of the production, so perhaps her characterization of the role fits in with his direction of the musical.
In case my pro-Max comments were construed as anti-Ricky, I just want to say that I agree with Reggie: I enjoyed watching him and not just for what Carlos so colorfully and aptly described. I have always loved Ricky for his looks and his talent, and recently I have loved him even more for his intelligence and his integrity. But this thread was about his understudy.
I think Ricky's performance would have been better if they had not stripped the Che Guevara aspect from the role of Che. Hal Prince was wise to build it up originally: It gives the character a backstory and bite, and it adds to the dramatic tension between Che and Eva. As others have said, by removing it, Ricky's role was reduced to more of a strolling troubadour than a angry revolutionary.
I'm sad that Max von Essen didn't get nominated for an Astair:
Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Musical:
Hugh Jackman (Back on Broadway) Ricky Martin (Evita) Danny Burstein (Follies) Leslie Odom, Jr. (Leap of Faith) Jason Tam (Lysistrata Jones) Jeremy Jordan, (Newsies) Ryan Breslin (Newsies) Thayne Jasperson (Newsies) Ryan Steele (Newsies) Ephraim Sykes (Newsies) Matthew Broderick (Nice Work if You Can Get It) Robert Hartwell (Nice Work if You Can Get It)
Tonight was my 3rd time at Evita - and I specifically came back again to see Max von Essen play Che - since i loved his Magaldi and thought he was also wonderful in Death Takes a Holiday. It was a real treat and I am so glad I got to see him. I thought he was really fantastic (I greatly preferred his performance to Ricky Martin's) and Constantine Germanacos was on as Magaldi and was also extremely enjoyable.
I would definitely recommend seeing Max Von Essen play Che (if you aren't a Ricky Martin fan). I'll likely go back to see it again when he is in during Ricky's August vacation (yes, the show - with the right cast - is totally worth seeing 4 times). Tonight with Elena, Michael & Max was magical!
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joined:6/12/08
Posted: 5/5/12 at 07:43pm