Sir Tim Rice flies in to Sydney to support Tina Arena and the Australian production of Evita

SIR Tim Rice won’t be planting a big kiss on Tina Arena’s cheek when he finally meets her after arriving in Sydney yesterday. But it’s for a good reason as he prepares to support the Aussie in the musical production Evita.

• Tina Arena stars in Evita

SIR Tim Rice won’t be planting a big kiss on Tina Arena’s cheek when he finally meets her after arriving in Sydney yesterday.

Let’s be clear. Rice is thrilled that Arena will be singing the vocally and theatrically testing role of Evita.

But when the British lyricist jetted in, he brought a cold with him. Now he’s terrified of making Arena sick.

Sir Tim Rice is thrilled to be working on Evita. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

But he won’t be kissing Tina Arena on the cheek as he has a cold. Picture: Tim Hunter

“I’d better be careful not to meet her too close up,” Sir Tim said.

“But I’m looking forward to meeting her very much.”

Rice is musical theatre royalty, best known for collaborating with composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 1968, Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971, and Evita in 1976.

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Evita tells the story of Eva Peron, wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron, who became a legend following her death from cancer in 1952 at age 33. Argentine people adored her because she campaigned for education, healthcare and women’s ­suffrage.

Rice has said before that Evita, her pet name, was also “manipulative”.

Evita is a popular musical production. Picture: Jeff Busby

As the jet-lagged but eminent Rice, 73, arrived in Sydney yesterday, Evita promoters responded by making sure their production was going to blow him away.

Co-producers Opera Australia, David Ian and John Frost yesterday called off the traditional media run-through, in which the Evita cast was to perform three of the musical’s songs.

The production team needed the time to “tweak the ­set” ahead of opening night, a spokesman for the show said.

Rice said he had never met Arena, whose star was born at the age of eight when she joined Young Talent Time.

But he was very aware of her achievements, particularly in the music recording industry. “Her reputation is terrific,” Rice said.

Originally published as Sir Tim Rice flies in to Sydney to support Tina Arena and the Australian production of Evita