9 hours ago
Rachel Zegler belts out the best bit of Evita to West End passersby for free every night... and paying audiences aren't happy
A ticket for Jamie Lloyd's hot new West End production of Evita could set you back as much as $336.
But some paying audience members have been left feeling disappointed after they realized one of the musical's biggest showstoppers does not take place on stage.
Instead, Rachel Zegler, who plays protagonist Eva Peron, belts out Don't Cry for Me Argentina on a balcony outside the London theater - with passersby able to enjoy the performance for free.
Meanwhile, those who have paid for tickets inside the London Palladium must make do with a live video link transposed onto a massive screen.
Crowds are now expected to assemble at the spot on Argyll Street at about 9pm every night until the show concludes in September.
On Saturday evening, around 600 people gathered for 24-year-old Zegler's performance of the song made famous by the likes of Elaine Paige and Madonna.
However, furious fans have taken to social media to express their frustration that they will not see Don't Cry for Argentina on stage, despite paying for tickets.
One person wrote: 'Sorry, are you saying I've paid £350 ($470) for 2 tickets and she's singing the biggest number outside at people who haven't paid?'
Another explained that they 'go to the theater to share the same space with a performer'.
Others, however, said the move would help encourage more people to go to the theater.
Abi, a 21-year-old student from London, said: 'I think it's making theatre more accessible. It's actually adding to the ambience of the show.
'The speech she does at the end of the song does hit completely different seeing it outside. It adds so much more to her performance to see her do it to the people.'
Another person added: 'I think you might potentially be a bit gutted [if you were inside the theatre]. I know they had it on the projectors, but you might be a bit gutted to have missed the most important song.
'But you've still got the rest of it to go and it's given a good night to a lot of people who wouldn't normally be able to get that experience.'
Zegler, who has been engulfed in controversy since the release of Disney's 'woke' Snow White, is hoping her fortunes could see a career turn with Evita.
She is playing former First Lady of Argentina Eva Peron in the show, which debuted in 1978 and was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Following the announcement earlier this year, Rachel gushed: 'Evita has been such an important musical to me since I was a little girl, when my dad and I would sing Don't Cry for Me Argentina together on my back patio.
'The opportunity to bring Jamie Lloyd's singular, visionary ideas to life onstage is an honour unlike any other. The stage has always felt like home to me, and I can't wait to make my West End debut in such great company.'
Rachel is no stranger to musical theater and starred in Stephen Spielberg's Oscar winning adaption of West Side Story in 2021.
Other famous faces to take on the iconic role Evita include Patti Lupone, Elaine Paige, as well as Madonna in the 1996 movie version.
