Evita
Information
- Date
- 9th November 2018
- Society
- Hexham Amateur Stage Society
- Venue
- Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Mari Watson
- Musical Director
- Robert Laws
- Associate-Director
- Albert Simpson
The last show I caught at Hexham was “Fiddler on the Roof”, two years ago, in which Will Long played Tevya, and which was also directed by Mari Watson, as it happens. Then, I was impressed enough to nominate Will for a NODA Performance Award. This year he takes on a very different role as Che in “Evita”. Although physically more suited to the role of Tevya, I was mightily impressed by his take on Che. He held the show together, singing and acting his part in a clear and authoritative manner. His diction and casual authority helped the show immeasurably.
Evita’s tale is, by now, a very familiar one following the rise, fall and ultimate death of Eva Duarte who, between 1934 and 1952 escaped the back streets of poor provincial Junin to embrace the bright lights and heady political world of Col. Juan Peron in Buenos Aries. The show needs a leading lady who can attract sympathy whilst, in reality, presenting a picture of selfishness and ambition; a woman in love with her country but loving herself just a little bit more. She needs a good voice to persuade her audience of these disparate facets of Evita’s character and Selina Mankin certainly had that.
It always surprises me that (to me) the best song in the show is thrown away on an underdeveloped character in the form of Peron’s summarily dismissed mistress. But, after all these years, I still find “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” to be a moving song which manages to tell the tale of a badly used girl in about three minutes. And the performance by Naimh Geddes did not disappoint.
I know other numbers stand out – “Oh What a Circus, Oh what a Show” performed early in the show by Che and, of course, “Don’t Cry for me Argentina”, which can always evoke a tear, from Evita herself. Both were performed well and effectively. In “Evita”, the heavy lifting is done by the five principals, including Peron (Peter Cooke) and Magaldi (Mike Routledge). Naturally, Evita stands front and centre with the ever-present Che weaving in and out.
Musical Director, Robert Laws, and his hard working orchestra performed well with a difficult score, with no time to relax – this being a rock opera with no dialogue to provide respite. Costumes, make-up and hair seemed in keeping with the times (late 40s, early 50s), although I found some of the wigs a little distracting. Lighting and sound were both effective although, again, I did note that Will Long’s mic could have been turned up a little when he was singing from the midst of the chorus. Small matters which did not detract greatly from the production. As always, at Hexham, the Chorus in their various ensembles always rose to the occasion vocally. A difficult show, performed with considerable brio by all concerned.
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