Evita

Evita
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
Johnstown, CO
September 22 - November 13, 2016

During the current political climate, the 1978 musical Evita by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber is as relevant today as when it was written, maybe even more.

The show follows the rise of Eva Duarte Peron, the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron. But this is more than the story of a famous woman, it also has many political references throughout. While the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse has downplayed the political points, they are still there. Songs like “Art of the Possible” showing politicians in a game of musical chairs, shone a spotlight on the randomness of which candidate will actual win an election. And being in an election year, it’s a hard point to overlook.

Adding to the political climate is the character of Che. He is appropriately dressed in army fatigues and often dons the beret of his inspiration - Che Guevara. His commentary is like a political satire throughout the story. Although he and Eva clearly don’t agree, the audience doesn’t feel compelled to take sides.

The Candlelight’s Eva is a sympathetic figure, the biggest accusations against her are downplayed, while the love of her “descamisados” takes center stage. And their Eva is up to the challenge. She commands the stage early on although her performance in Act 2 is stronger than the first. Her rendition of the anthem “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” is nothing short of mesmerizing.

The role of Juan Peron seemed small and it was performed with great skill. The chemistry he had with Eva was palpable. He was perhaps a bit too likable for a controversial dictator, but his singing was excellent.

Rounding out the main characters was Augustin Magaldi, the tango singer. His role was well played with a strong comedic flair.

The ensemble was strong, switching from skillfully from role to role. The color contrast between the black and white clad aristocrats and colorfully dressed peasants made the transitions easy for the audience to follow.

The costumes were part of the spectacle of the show. Eva’s wardrobe helped paint the picture of her. Some of the changes occurred on stage which was a bit awkward.  The set was simple, but lent itself well to the action of the show. The choreography was lively and energetic. At times there were a few hiccups, but considering it was opening weekend I expect those kinks will be worked out.

In the past, one of my favorite aspects of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse has been the availability of the cast after performances. However, this marks the second show in a row where the principal characters were not around after the show. None of the four leads waited tables at our performance and the actors did not appear in the lobby. It’s a disappointing change.