Evita

Campaign Amateur Theatre (CAT’s) production of Evita proved a considerable success, and it was evident that the audience really enjoyed it.

Coming soon after the West End revival of last summer, Evita is by no means an easy work to pull off well. Its intricate harmonies and extensive sung dialogue demand considerable skill, while the narrative itself can prove elusive for those without a grasp of the historical context. In this respect, I was pleased by the simple set and by the decision to use a projection screen at the rear of the stage to provide concise summaries of the unfolding action. This was an elegant and practical device, and one that greatly assisted the audience’s engagement with the story. The disadvantage, however, was that the screen was subsequently employed almost incessantly for photographs, clipart, black-and-white footage, and the like. Although the concept was an interesting one, I felt it was overused, and there were several moments in which my attention was drawn more to the screen than to the performers themselves.

The ensemble singing was strong and powerful harmonies throughout. The choreography, courtesy of Jo Rix, was thoughtfully conceived with a recognisably Latin American flavour and punctuated by some striking freeze-frame tableaux. The execution, however, might have benefited from greater precision, particularly in relation to the Latin style. I was especially taken by the use of the auditorium for certain scenes, most notably during the iconic ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’.

The Mistress, played by Amy Bungard, was one of the highlights of Act 1. Her rendition of ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’ displayed the purity of her voice and it was performed with great emotion.

Jack Barry, as Magaldi, also possessed a strong vocal presence, though the performance lacked some of the swagger and charisma required to make the character entirely persuasive in his seduction of Eva.

The four young girls (Beatrice, Georgia, Jessica and Olivia) were a delight to listen to and sang beautifully when being presented to Eva in the opening verses of Santa Evita.

Perón, played by Julian Hammond, was convincing and his characterisation conveyed the authority of the president. Vocally, he was steady throughout, notwithstanding the occasional issue of timing; indeed, much respect is due, as a great deal of his sung dialogue is notoriously difficult against the underscore.

Tom Slater-Watson’s portrayal of Che was excellent. His rapport with the audience, constantly drawing them into the dramatic action, felt entirely natural, while the rock timbre of his singing gave the role an added edge.

Jasper Kindleysides-Seidl, as Eva, possessed an exceptional singing voice. This is an extraordinarily demanding score, requiring the vocalist to push at the very top end of the range and not a note was missed. Dramatically, however, much of Act 1 depends upon Eva’s ability to use feminine charm to climb through the social ranks and this aspect of the performance felt unnatural. By contrast, the strength and authority brought to Act 2 were palpable, so the performance felt like something of two halves, though it remained a tremendous achievement overall.

The music, provided by the band under the musical direction of Keely Wickham, was of a consistently high standard throughout. The lighting was highly effective, particularly in the final scene, where Eva, though dead, appears at the back of the stage singing. There were some technical issues with the sound; at several points, particularly during the big numbers, the system peaked and produced feedback. While these issues did not seriously detract from the overall impact of the production, they are certainly worth future consideration in this relatively small venue.

I was especially impressed by the directorial choices that unified the production and by the style in which the whole production was presented, so particular congratulations must go to Trevor Babbs. This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of theatre and I was impressed at how far CATs has come in terms of overall quality in the last few years. Congratulations to all involved in the production.

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