Evita

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita is a demanding  and ambitious show for any company. First coming to the stage in 1976, this opera-like musical follows Eva Perón’s rise from humble beginnings to Argentina’s First Lady. Admired by the masses and disliked by the elite, she created a legacy of glamour, ambition, and political influence before dying of cancer at a young age.

Scenic Productions’ set was thoughtfully designed, with raised platforms of varying heights at the back of the stage. Morgan Jones’s lighting was effective, particularly in isolating individuals in spotlights when needed. Scene changes were swift, with props moved efficiently by cast and backstage crew. The costumes were excellent, especially Eva’s white gown. Elizabeth Witt’s choreography was impressive, and the cast performed it with admirable discipline and precision. As ever with Evita, the music is central, and musical director Cormac Dorrian, with his 17-piece orchestra, drew excellent performances from both principals and chorus.

The show opened with news footage announcing the death of Eva Perón at the age of 33, as 20th-century Argentina mourned. Matt Hall narrated the story with clarity and authority as Che, introducing Mike Thompson’s smooth night club crooner Agustín Magaldi and the young Eva Duarte, whose ambition would drive the action and win the hearts of those around her. Alicia Gould was mesmerising in the role, capturing Eva’s determination as she persuaded Magaldi to take her to Buenos Aires. Her superb voice and commanding stage presence were powerful yet tender when required, making for a thoroughly compelling performance. As Argentina’s political tensions deepen, Che introduces the ambitious Colonel Juan Perón, played with strength by Tim Taylor. When Eva and Perón meet, his rise to the presidency allows her to embrace the glamour and privilege of life as his wife. Among the supporting cast, Ashleigh Acres brought tenderness to the role of Perón’s mistress in ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall,’ while Elara Rose sang sweetly as The Child. (I am sure Poppy Collyer was equally charming in other performances.)

Director David Fawcett can be proud of the way he presented this ambitious and sometimes difficult show but with such an excellent cast and crew, the whole made  a thoroughly enjoyable production.

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