Review of ‘Eve: All About Her’: “I detest cheap sentiment”

One of the most iconic villainesses in movie history comes to London to tell her own side of the story. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on this one-man show combining comedy with musical renditions and high drama, to let us know if this play is worth an encore du champagne.

Fasten your seatbelts, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride… Too many times we’re made that promise in the theatre, and twice as much we’re lucky if the journey gets close to flat and bland. Revising the classics is not a new trend – neither it is accusing those who do it of sacrilege. The story of the underdog struggling to make it in the big city is as common in fiction as authors’ futile attempts to make it sound fresh or, if completely delusional, original. Eve: All About Her offers us as a clue as of what to expect: a simple twist for a simple retelling – you would think.

Eclecticism is a dangerous creative tool. It gives you all of the possibilities to build a work of art. But as I said in my previous review, it often puts too much stress on the structure, cracking it up until it unavoidably crumbles. Keith Ramsay has done just that – he’s used all of the aces in his sleeve to put on a show about a character he (or his alter ego) is obsessed with. And as anticipated, it has exploded. But in a most unforeseen way, the blast has just thrust all things up to a whole new level.

Eve: All About Her may be an homage to one of the greatest film in History – and one of the biggest b*tches, too. Yet at some points it may seem as if the movie was the one paying the real tribute. Ramsay’s conception of both plot and character is magnificently rough and passionate – delivering an intoxicating atmosphere of impulsive emotions that drive us through a jarring trip of introspective turmoil. Written with staggering craftsmanship, Ramsay’s beautiful wording paints an intricate canvas of experiences through violent strokes of delicate reflection. The result is simply jaw-dropping and much rejuvenating. It might last for only 60 minutes, but it definitely seems like more – not because it gets tiresome, but due to how wholesome the entire performance feels.

Starting with a Homeresque style to later develop into a traditional orchestra-man rendition (his ability to change register and voice, though not perfect, is still highly applaudable), the ultimate surprise comes when the music starts to play – and we can’t help but being hooked by what honestly are some of the best vocals you could currently witness in a live show. His attention to detail, delivering each line with the same fervor he puts into every other aspect of his rendition, is absolutely captivating – triggering, during and after the show, that very rare sensation of honest excitement you only get when you stand before true talent.

Outlined with almost unblemished pacing and bestowed with richness in both content and style, Eve: All About Her may be called a diamond in the rough as for the crudeness of its themes – but it’s also a polished gem whose glimmer has blindingly shone far beyond its stage. In the almost exact words of another great fading diva: (s)he IS big, it’s the theatre that was small.

All pictures credit to Steve Ullathorne.

Eve: All About Her play at London’s Soho Theatre Downstairs until 26 August. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara