Review


Tristan Crisol and Hayley Steele Downtown San Jose has become A New Argentina as Children’s Musical Theater tackles Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s mega-hit Evita. Not many youth theatre companies tackle this one. Besides the mature themes, it’s a challenging production, and you need a female lead that has the range for one of the most demanding vocal roles in musical theatre.

CMT has enough to double-cast the show. I was only in town in time to see the “Webber” cast led by 17-year-old Hayley Steele in the title role. Hayley can belt out the necessary belting as Evita shouts out her spirited speeches and demands, but Hayley’s extraordinary voice is best displayed when cajoling her lovers and her adoring audience of Argentine supporters – as she does in her signature song Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. Her performance is also impressive in how she develops her character, beginning the play as a member of the lower classes with huge ambitions, but not outwardly different than any other. We see her learning how to use her feminine wiles in her first scene as she dances almost hesitantly, apparently forcing herself into becoming the fiery and sensual woman who will take Argentina, and particularly the men of Argentina, by storm. It’s a transformation she soon accomplishes with great success, but which is eventually overcome by the pain and fear of terminal cancer, reducing the proud and confident Eva into a physically weak, emotionally fearful young woman. Eva and her husband Peron (Matt Hill) use great body language for their powerfully performed final scene as Peron’s concern and Eva’s fear and isolation grow desperate.

Tristan Crisol stars as our narrator and Eva’s antagonist Che, a young, charismatic revolutionary who is not at all impressed with what Eva Peron did to help the people of Argentina. Tristan combines a smooth singing voice with a personality that clearly relishes trying to rip away Eva’s legendary status. Matt Abel is a hoot as the cheesy lounge singer Magaldi who gets suckered into taking Eva to Buenos Aires. And Christine Freschi is Peron’s booted mistress, singing the poignant Another Suitcase in Another Hall as an innocent and sad young girl with a sweet and equally innocent voice.

The ensemble shines in many scenes choreographed by the choreographer of the 25th Anniversary National Tour of Evita, Gia Solari. Highlights include a very synchronized military phalanx and a highly energetic Rainbow Tour featuring the comedy of Peron enjoying the company of two uniformed high school girls on his lap, with Faryl Hoang and Amy Perry using hilarious facial expressions and personality to show just how cool and fun they think it is to get so much attention (and candy) from the president of Argentina. The ensemble also nails the Money Kept Rolling In number that has Evita happily going through her cash box that sits literally on the backs of some Buenos Aires peasants.

Overall, Director Ian Leonard does a good job with a huge production. He updates the historical slideshow of Eva Peron’s funeral with partially colorized pictures, as well as images of the ensemble as they react to the news of Eva’s death, and he draws us into the excited crowds of A New Argentina by having the cast surround the audience along the sides. Musical Director Amie Jan and her orchestra nicely handle the challenging score, and Jacob Mirelez’s costumes work well with the gradual transition of Evita’s personality from poor but ambitious to the aggressive actress to the glamorous first lady of Argentina.

Performs March 9-18, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

~ Cast ~

Che: Tristan Crisol
Eva: Hayley Steele
Magaldi: Matt Abel
Eva's Mother: Jordan Corey
Eva's Brother: Michael Lane
Eva's Sisters:
Neda Lahidji
Fallon Nunes
Michelle Piasecki
Peron: Matt Hill
Tango Couple: Taggart Frost and Daron O'Donnell
Mistress: Christine Freschi

Buenos Aires Dancers:
Cierra Cass
Alexandra Daily
Taggart Frost
David Gromik
Faryl Hoang
Kevin Hull
Kelly Jamello
Lyn Mehe'ula
Frank Mulcahy
Daron O'Donnell
Cynthia Pariente
Christie Paz
Katie Shelton

Eva's Suitors:
David Clift
Taggart Frost
David Gromik
Kevin Hull
Michael Lane

Colonels:
David Clift
Carlo Epps
Kevin Hull
Michael Lane

Aristocrats:
Christelle Bacho
David Clift
Alicia Evans
Kevin Hull
Neda Lahidji
Nick Perry
Michelle Piasecki
Erika Robertson

Paramilitary:
Matt Abel
Jordan Corey
Alexandra Daily
Jennifer Davis
Taggart Frost
David Gromik
Michael Lane
Cynthia Pariente
Rebecca Wallworth

People of Argentina:
Matt Abel
Christelle Bacho
Lauren Bittner
Rachel Bonnin
Amy Boyden
Cierra Cass
Toni Chanroo
David Clift
Jordan Corey
Rebecca Corrick
Alexandra Daily
Jennifer Davis
Christina Edberg
Carlo Epps
Alicia Evans
Bonnie Evans
Jesse Flores
Christine Freschi
Taggart Frost
Carly Giacinto
David Gromik
Matt Hill
Faryl Hoang
Bailey Hopper
Erin Hopper
Kevin Hull
Kelly Jamello
Neda Lahidji
Michael Lane
Lyn Mehe'ula
Frank Mulcahy
Fallon Nunes
Daron O'Donnell
Cynthia Pariente
Christie Paz
Amy Perry
Nick Perry
Laura Petrucci
Michelle Piasecki
Erika Robertson
Katie Shelton
Liz Stalions
Roxanne Tuttle
Rebecca Wallworth

Children of Argentina:
Chloe Bittner
Rachel Bonnin
Carly Giacinto
Mandy McDonell
Brandon Moore
Nick Perry
Bella Wilcox

Director: Ian Leonard
Choreographer: Gia Solari
Musical Director: Amie Jan
Vocal Director: Paul Ingraham
Costume Designer: Jacob Mirelez
Set Designer: Jim Culley
Hair & Make-up Design: Norma Greenberg
Stage Manager: Dave Perry
Lighting Designer: Andrew Hungerford
Sound Designer: Brian Spencer

   

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