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Evita

Author: Julie Petrucci

Information

Date
9th October 2019
Society
Bury St Edmunds Operatic & Dramatic Society
Venue
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Alec Taylor
Musical Director
James Recknell
Choreographer
Glen Connor

Evita features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice and is one of their most successful musicals. The show is based on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón who became the spiritual leader of the nation rising from nothing to become one of the most famous political figures in the country’s history. The show tells her rise to fame through the eyes of the people, using an omniscient narrator to chart her journey. 

The staging was unrelieved black, the setting comprised entirely of black boxes of varying height the largest of which was used as the balcony. The starkness of the setting was relieved with vintage newsreel footage and a good lighting design.  Having the screen as the front of the “balcony block” and set at stage level was slightly disconcerting and at times distracting.  We did seem to watch a great deal of authentic footage of Argentinian crowds with backing singing from off stage. Personally I felt it was a shame not to use the large Ensemble for the crowd scenes to give more immediacy to Eva’s magnetism rather than looking back on it.

Producing any show is a great team effort but for this show in particular, the role of the Musical Director is paramount and well deserved praise must go to James Recknell who, with his hard-working musicians, coped with a difficult score — no time to relax in this show, which is more or less sung-through. He brought together some beautiful singing from the ensemble.   Choreographer Glen Conner created some very nice Argentinian based choreography which was well executed. With one exception the sound balance was excellent throughout.  Costumes too were very good indeed, particularly Eva’s white dress.  First rate hair and make up all added to the period style.  Eva looked stunning throughout.

Anyone who has seen the show knows it starts with the young Eva who is an actress and does not really care who she steps on to get where she wants to be.  Narrating the story of Eva’s rise is Che played by Richard Simpson who prowled the stage ever watchful and ever present, moving in and out of the action whilst providing narration and observations. He has a particularly fine voice as evidenced in ‘Oh What a Circus’ and ‘High Flying Adored’.  Simpson was a tour de force in this role.  

Evita is a role 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. Katie Woodhouse definitely brought the part to life.  Her vibrant voice was marvellous, her characterisation strong and brought out every bit of drama and pathos to show just how it was that Eva drew in the masses. This was a bravura performance.

The first love interest of Eva was Magaldi a Tango Singer played by Max Cunnell who has a super voice and a great stage presence.  Working her way up the ladder Evita loves and leaves many broken relationships behind her until she comes to the attention of Perón who becomes the President of Argentina.  As with the role of Eva apart from being good vocally the role requires a good actor to get the most from the part and Andrew Haines did a fine job.  I personally feel the role of Juan Perón is underestimated as he has some pretty complex songs which Haines carried off well.  Mention must be made of  Sam Hughan, the Mistress of Juan Perón until usurped by Eva. The Mistress’ only song is the heartrending  “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” which was sung superbly and with conviction.

From the opening scene in the cinema with the announcement of Eva Perón’s death, as they took the stage with“Requiem” to the final curtain the Ensemble enhanced the production with their excellent singing and dancing.

Director Alec Taylor can be proud of the way he presented this ambitious and sometimes difficult show. The amount of work put into it was evident from the start.

Would I add “Evita” to my top ten musicals? Probably not, but that doesn’t affect my appreciation of a production which was well performed by all concerned and well received by a large and appreciative audience.

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