THE SHOW QUEEN

Given the current high cost of living—and mere survival—in the increasingly devalued City of London (thanks in part to Sadiq Khan’s deliberate political, cultural and spiritual sabotage), I’m sure Eva Perón would applaud Jamie Lloyd and Rachel Zegler’s gesture of offering a free musical gift to the descamisados who can’t afford tickets to the new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita at the Palladium on Argyll Street.

The concept of performing Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from the theatre’s balcony while it is simultaneously live-streamed on a screen inside the Palladium is nothing short of genius—both in the context of the show and as a piece of promotional brilliance. It instantly creates a viral moment for this old West End warhorse while also offering a masterclass in innovation to rival theatres struggling to survive in a time when many find it hard to justify the cost of attending a live performance—or have become desensitised to its joy due to screen burnout.

Though Britain (or more specifically, England) has had its share of issues with Argentina—politically (the Falklands) and in sport (Maradona’s Hand of God)—no one loves a comeback more than this nation, where cutting people down to size is a national pastime. The much-maligned Rachel Zegler, who went all in on “woke” during the ill-fated promotion of Disney's 2025 remake of Snow White—in which she played the "diverse group of magical creatures"-loving princess (i.e., dwarves)—now appears to be fast-tracking her redemption arc, thanks to a canny agent and management team—and it’s happening far quicker than most.

David Beckham, for example, had to wait at least four years after his infamous red card against Argentina in 1998 before redeeming himself with a legendary free kick that secured England’s place in the 2002 World Cup.

Now, each evening at 7:30, as Zegler steps onto the balcony like a petite queen to sing the Evita anthem, she finds herself sanctified—redeemed from the cancel culture that once threatened to torpedo her ascension.

If only redemption were that simple for so many others silenced by the intolerant.