Natalie Toro:

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Hello all. I came across this wonderful singer performing "Just In Time For Christmas." I'm not too familiar with Natalie Toro, with the exception of seeing her as "Evita" in a 1998/1999 national tour (with Raul Esparza). It has been a while. She has a beautiful voice! from RC in Austin, Texas
Just In Time For Xmas

[My Oh My]

I've seen Natalie play Eva Peron; Mary Magdalene; and most recent in In the Heights and one thing that always stands out apart from her overall talent as an actor, is her voice has this gorgeously warm, rich sound to it. I remember sitting 4th row at the Pantages in L.A. for In the Heights and would look forward to the moments she'd sing.

I admit I wasn't a fan of her Eva for quite some time after seeing her in the role in the late 90s, but I just recently got a hold of a video of that production, and found myself wondering why I hadn't experienced the same enjoyment then that I do now. I mean, I saw her live on stage and up close and this is just a grainy, shaky video. You'd think I'd more likely enjoy her more seeing it live rather than on a video boot on my computer. Strange.

But I really, really dig her Eva these days. Part of why I didn't warm up to her before is I was young and didn't "get" her approach to the role at the time, which at the time was decidedly on the silly side and too light. Her vocals were excellent and she remains one of the few who I've heard that sings the entire role perfectly and seemingly effortlessly in the original keys.

I also felt she was the wrong "type" for Eva Peron, usually played by actors with an imposing presence about them. Toro, small in stature, very girlish looking even today, and as adorable and cute as a button, seemed more like the gal next door and not the bitchy witchy slutty driven Eva.

What I didn't get back then is, Ms. Toro very well knows this and as any gifted actor would, adapted her take on the role to be in line with both the piece and her inherent qualities. Her Eva wasn't so much silly, she made the most of those moments where Eva flirts with her audience. Like Lupone's Eva, she had a sense of irony and a smirk and a knowing wink in her eye, but unlike Lupone's Eva, she might occasionally have a tantrum when things don't go her way, she'd be quirky where Lupone was seductive, and cocky where Lupone growled her way toward being fierce.

One moment that I recall got big laughs both in the theatre and on the video, demonstrates Toro's brilliant timing and theatrical instinct and occurs after her waltz with Che when she falls and clings onto herself in pain. You'd never think anyone could infuse the serious moment with a touch of levity that doesn't ruin or overshadow, but actually has a way of enhancing and bringing attention to it and how tragic it is. But Toro did it during the part when Eva sings, "Ooooooh, what's the good of the strongest heart in a body that's following apart; a serious flaw, I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT!"

That last line, I can't even explain it, but it had me rolling and also seeing Eva's bitter resentment at her own body, and how that inability to control for someone so controlling was probably torturous on a level that is unimaginable. Nothing new. But Toro had us also seeing how that is also kinda funny. And it oddly is funny in its irony.

It's really a pity that production did not make it to Broadway. Not only were Toro and Esparza crackling with chemistry, but it was the friggen Hal Prince original. Natalie got mostly good reviews around the country, and I'm sure Broadway audiences would have thought her Eva and Hal's visionary approach to be delicious.

Yes, all of that was completely spontaneous and prompted by the ad for her X-mas album, this thread, and my memories. That's how I operate round here. I don't post to please others, but do so as it pleases me. Merry X-mas!

It goes without saying that I will be getting Ms. Toro's X-mas album. =)