Evita

~~Evita is a part most female actors would give their eye teeth to play but I just wonder how many of them actually know what this part entails and what is needed to be able to bring it to life.
Well I can honestly say that Isabel Canning has the answers to the above questions and tonight she definitely brought the part to life, her acting, singing and dancing were first class and I doubt anyone in the audience thought anything different to me. Anyone who has seen the show knows it starts with the young Eva who is an actress and does not really care who she sleeps with to get where she wants to be, whether it be man or woman.
I have said the part of Eva Peron is a mammoth role to do and it was good to see RTSA had arranged for an understudy, Isabella Eagle, this is a bitter sweet thing as in most cases the understudy never actually gets to play the part he or she has worked on for weeks. I am pleased to say in this show Isabella will get to play the part on the Saturday matinee, however it also means that Isabel, not to be confused with Isabella will not have a rest on this show but will be taking over Isabella’s role in the chorus. This has to be true dedication to the stage.
Isabel gave this part her all and was able to bring every bit of drama, humour and pathos out of it. Of course she is not able to do this single handed and was more than ably assisted by Matt Ellis as Che.
I have seen Matt in a number of parts and from the first time I saw him I could tell this young man would go far, for most of the shows I have seen him in he has played comedy roles and has been excellent in them but he has excelled himself with this part, his acting abilities and his singing were perfect for this role and as with Isabel Matt was able to get everything out of this.
Another role in this show is that of Juan Peron who becomes the President of Argentina, again this requires a good actor to get the most from this part and Josh Roberts did a superb job of this role again getting the most out it and bringing the part to life.
It is hard to imagine these young people are all under 20 years old, it always amazes me how they can have the instinct to play these parts and get so much out of them but I guess that comes from working with Dee Bennie-Marshall and Natalie Davies who are both experts at getting the most out of the actors on stage.
There were no weak links in this show, in fact everyone was so good they could all have gone straight on to a West End stage and fitted in well. I have said there were no weak links and it is not possible to name everyone on stage but mention must go to Charlotte Hucknall who played the “Madame”, she was the mistress of Juan Peron who Eva threw out of the bedroom when she became his lover. Charlotte sang “Another Suitcase in another Hall” and sang it with conviction. I also have to mention Brad Leeks who played Augustin Magaldi, a Tango Singer who had an affair with the 15 year old Eva. Brad gave a great performance both as a talented singer and actor.
I think it is a good society which makes sure all the details have been covered, here we had not only these youngsters dressed in the correct clothes of the era but also attention had been paid to the hairstyles which all too often does not happen with some of the adult societies.
Many congratulations to everyone involved in this show, all the hard work you have put into it over the past weeks and months have certainly paid off. WELL DONE.
 

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