Andrew Lloyd Webber shares safety fears over Rachel Zegler’s Evita stunt

Andrew Lloyd Webber has weighed in on the row surrounding Rachel Zegler’s balcony performance in Evita.

The Hollywood star is currently starring as Eva Perón in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Evita at the London Palladium, but one of the most iconic scenes of the show has sparked controversy.

A highlight of the musical – which is based on the real life of the Argentine political leader Eva, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón – sees Eva sing Don’t Cry For Me Argentina as she addresses the crowds from the balcony of the Casa Rosada.

In this version of Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s show, Zegler has been belting out the ballad on a balcony outside the Palladium, with theatregoers inside watching on a screen.

Now, theatre icon Lloyd Webber has addressed the drama, and admitted he has some concerns about the backlash rather than the artistic choice itself.

‘Rachel Zelger is absolutely amazing in it. I’m only a little bit worried that it might get out of hand,’ he said on Friday’s Good Morning Britain.

‘The crowds now turning up outside the Palladium, now the audience in the theatre sees the crowd outside, and it’s kinda like the real deal,’ he added.

Fans have pointed out that Jamie Lloyd’s production choice actually mirrors Eva’s kinship with the poor people in Argentina.

With so many people gathering each night now to catch the unique West End moment, Lloyd Webber is worried that there could come a point where they need to stop.

He said: ‘But, I don’t know, you just hope it doesn’t become such a big thing that we’re not allowed to do it.’

The balcony stunt has caused uproar among some attendees, who have expressed how ‘disappointed’ they would be after paying to see the show, only to not actually see one of Evita’s pivotal scenes in the flesh.

Theatrewithmaila wrote on Instagram: ‘So excited to see her, but not sure how I feel about paying £££ and one of the most iconic songs performed isnt even on stage. (sic)’

Others said they were ‘very unimpressed’ and ‘fuming’ by the decision, arguing that Zegler wouldn’t receive ‘her biggest applause’ from the audience because of it.

However, some people pointed out the decision was a smart move given the nature of the show.

Pebbles The Radbbit wrote: ‘Genius promo. You watch it as a “peasant” on the street and then go and see it as a rich person.

‘People saying “I’d be fuming” as if they couldn’t go and see it the other 364 days of the year on the street – if anything it’s making it MORE accessible.’

Meanwhile, Metro’s music expert Danni Scott got a first hand experience of the balcony performance and admitted it changed her mind.

‘As a child, I only saw one West End show; had that been this production of Evita, I’d have been devastated to miss out on the big number,’ she wrote.

‘However, having seen Rachel perform Don’t Cry For Me Argentina on the balcony of the London Palladium, my feelings have changed. I realised it was exactly people in my position growing up that she was singing for.’

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