Following her controversial turn as Snow White in the Disney live action remake, Rachel Zegler’s West End debut has divided audiences.
The 24-year-old actress stars as Eva Perón in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Evita at the London Palladium. In a bold staging choice, she performs the musical’s most famous number, Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, not on stage but from a balcony overlooking the street.
This unconventional approach has sparked mixed reactions, especially among ticketholders who have paid upwards of £250 and are forced to watch the moment via a live feed on a screen inside the theatre.
Clips circulating on social media show Zegler in full costume — a sleek blonde wig and flowing white gown — singing above Argyll Street as crowds gather below.
Some have praised the creativity of the staging, while others have expressed frustration at not seeing the scene live.
“I’m excited to see her, but not sure how I feel about paying that much to watch the most iconic moment on a screen,” wrote one viewer on X.
Another described it as “a bit of a rip off” and said they would have preferred the scene to be staged inside.
Supporters of the decision argue that the outdoor performance reinforces key themes in Evita, such as spectacle, public image and political theatre.
One commenter noted, “It’s meant to be grand and distant. That is the point of Eva’s performance. It fits.”
Despite the backlash from some, many praised Zegler’s star power and vocal performance, saying the moment remained powerful whether viewed from the stalls or the street.
Zegler is no stranger to online debate. During the promotional campaign for Disney’s Snow White, her remarks about the original story attracted significant attention. She was also recently at the centre of controversy after a post about Palestine sparked widespread discussion on social media.
In Lloyd’s stripped-back revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical, Zegler leads a cast that includes Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che, James Olivas as Juan Perón, Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustin Magaldi and Bella Brown as The Mistress. The production runs at the London Palladium until September 6.
