Review: Audience loves passion of Evita

Based on the life of the darling of Argentina, Eva Peron, Evita tells the tale of an ambitious 15 year old who runs away to Buenos Aires and eventually claws her way into the affections of the President. Eva not only became the First Lady of her country, but also the spiritual leader of her nation, before her untimely death from cancer aged just 33 in 1952.

Pop legend and Wet, Wet, Wet frontman, the incomparable Marti Pellow, heads this stunning cast, in his best musical theatre performance to date, offering an outstanding, if a little sinister, portrayal of Che Guevara, the narrator of the piece.

Mark Heenehan gives a humble, but strong performance as Peron, the President overshadowed by his first lady and Sarah McNicholas certainly makes an impact as The Mistress, with a melodious version of Another Suitcase in Another Hall. However, the evening really did belong to Portuguese song bird, the engaging Madalena Alberto as Eva, whose passionate performance took the theatre by storm. Her portrayal of arguably the best song in the show, You Must Love Me, reaches deep into the soul and offers a snapshot of just how fragile life is.

The scenery is majestic, never more so than in the famous balcony scene, which the audience waited for with bated breathe to hear Don't Cry For Me Argentina. Bill Kenwright's latest offering must surely be the best production of Evita since it's origination in the late 1970s. Simply unmissable. The show runs until August 31.

By Tim Spiers