Lucy excels in the role of Evita

THE search for glory and immortality dominate this power-packed and powerful musical which still has the capability to knock your socks off!

This collaboration by musical impressarios and legends, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, on the life and times of Argentina’s most revered woman, Eva Peron, has been around since the latter part of the 1970s and its appeal has not dimmed over those ensuing years.

Certainly there’s little evidence of the show’s popularity going on the wane any time soon - a fact borne out by an opening night full house and a thoroughly deserved standing ovation.

So what is the appeal 40 years down the line since Evita first burst onto the West End stage?

It just happens to be an intriguing and true story that is wonderfully woven in and around some of musical theatre’s greatest songs, and they just happen to have been written by two of the best in the business when it comes to music and lyrics…

This latest touring version, fresh out of London, may lack the substantial stars in the cast that could be termed household names, but this is nonetheless a theatrical treat thanks to a plethora of performers who know how to deliver a musical extravaganza and its numerous hits.

None more so than Lucy O’Byrne, who played Evita to near perfection - and what a voice! There were times when it was completely captivating, especially with the show’s anthem - Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, when it was delivered with such feeling and sincerity from the presidential balcony.

She and her husband, Peron, who came to power in the 1940s, may not have been able to deliver all their promises they made to their people, but this cast of considerable musical pedigree clearly delivers on their promises.

Lucy O’Byrne has featured in major shows such as The Sound of Music (Maria), Les Miserables (Fantine) and also has a string of television and radio, along with recording credits, on her cv.

So too the outstanding Glenn Carter, with a warm and rich sound, who features in the iconic role of Che - more or less the story’s narrator.

Name the musical and you can just about guarantee he will have starred in it, and there are plenty of other theatre, concert and film credits hanging from his scalp belt too.

Mike Sterling, who is Peron, is a regular name too in the cast of many top musicals and so it seems are all the cast in this evocative tale of power, political intrigue and promises to the population.

There’s also a strong whiff of corruption and terror thrown into the melting pot of a country, considered by many at the time to be a Fascist state, that was once so rich Britain owed it two billion dollars in loans from the Second World War!

The country’s assets evaporated though, along with the Perons’ power, but the musical Evita is still a valuable masterpiece clearly holding its value as the years go by and with hits such as Oh What A Circus and Another Suitcase In Another Hall it once again makes a strong case for being a show not to be missed.