Musical Theatre Southwest produces stellar ‘Evita’
Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most popular musical composer in history, and although I am not a huge fan generally, his “Jesus Christ Superstar” is my favorite musical (although technically it’s a rock opera).
Musical Theatre Southwest is currently producing one of his many popular musicals, “Evita,” about the wildly popular Eva Perón, first lady of Argentina from 1946 until she died of cancer at age 33 in 1952.
Webber collaborated with “Jesus Christ Superstar” lyricist Tim Rice again in “Evita.”
As usual, MTS does a stellar job, although the musical left me cold. I was not moved by the story or the music and have to put the blame on Webber and Rice, because the acting, production values and singing were of a very high caliber.
“Evita” charts the political career of actress Eva Perón, who after a wild life of sleeping around and partying marries Juan Perón, an Argentine military officer with political ambition. Soon after their marriage, he was elected president of Argentina.
Her husband nationalized industries, including the railways and the Central Bank. This made the couple very unpopular with the wealthier classes but deliriously popular with the lower classes, which benefited from higher wages and better working conditions.
Rice and Webber paint the two as demagogues who use the lower classes to bolster their power. In one number, “And the Money Kept Rolling In,” we see Eva passing out money to the poor while periodically stuffing wads of cash into her own trunk. Throughout the play, we get commentary from the revolutionary Che Guevara, which makes very little sense, except as a means to disparage the Peróns’ radical credentials. Che stands as the solitary voice of reason, one man against the deluded masses in love with Eva.
The three leads are terrific in their roles and possess beautiful singing voices as well. As Che, Kelvin Krupiak looks the part and is appropriately intense as the disgruntled revolutionary. As Juan Perón, Leon Eldridge has the gravitas of a military dictator. He also has a gorgeous singing voice. Jessica Wachs demonstrates incredible vocal talent as the popular first lady. She doesn’t look like Eva Perón, but I can’t imagine finding a better vocalist, and that takes precedence in a show like this, where she has numerous solos, duets, and indeed a singing part in virtually every song.
In a show about demagoguery and the cult of personality, the ensemble plays a very important role, and the members of the large cast acquit themselves very well as the besotted masses.
Director Art Tedesco skillfully manages the ensemble, creating many beautiful stage pictures. Choreographer Larry Aguilar has his hands full with so many dance numbers and with so many bodies to manage in the small space. But he brings it off gracefully enough. Musical director Aaron Howe and his orchestra play Webber’s music with aplomb.
“Evita” is playing at Musical Theatre Southwest, 6320 Domingo NE, through April 30. For reservations, go to musicaltheatresw.com or call 265-9119.