North Texas Performing Arts Repertory presents EVITA
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Director Pam Anglero'
Co-Director MD Christian
Music Director Billy Veer
Choreographer Leah Flores
Lighting Designer Max Fetter
Set Design Jo Alamares
Costumer Lisa Rodenbaugh
Construction Team
Jo Alamares, Jody Dulberg, Phil Hardy, Cody Shelton, Fritz Wichern
Cast
Ash Christine
Christian Thrailkill
John Sanchez
Bella Zambrano
Malik Offor
Conchita Moreno
Jacob A Fisher
ChiChi Omeoga
Clara Moos
MattJohn West
Michael Valderas
My thoughts on EVITA or…what’s new Buenos Aires?
When I heard That NTPA was going to produce Evita, I was more than a bit skeptical. Tackling this sung through musical is a challenge for any company. But when I saw the people involved in the production, I knew the musical would be in good hands and Director Pam Anglero' and her team have turned out a scaled down but still thrilling mounting of the musical of the life of Eva Peron.
Designer Jo Alamares has fashioned a two-level arched set that, with the aid of Max Fetter’s lighting, becomes everything from a bedroom to a Buenos Aires street to a nightclub to the palace of the Perons. It also provides ample space for the lively group dances and the sultry, sexy tangos of Choreographer Leah Flores.
This musical requires powerful singers with style and stamina and Music Director Billy Veer has got the cast in excellent voice. The sound from the ensemble is solid, and in the case of “A New Argentina,” soul stirring. The soloists here also have a first-rate sound.
I first saw Ash Christine around a year ago featured in a small production. She had the presence and poise of a star even then and I became a fan on the spot. In the title role of Evita, she establishes her stardom once and for all handling the pop score and power ballads beautifully and, yes, that includes whatever that song is about not crying. Ash, dressed in a lovely gown from costumer Lisa Rodenbaugh, makes quite the impression standing on that balcony looking like a saint blessing her adoring crowd.
John Sanchez is a dashing Juan Peron in his handsome military uniform and boots. Sanchez’s strong baritone shines in both his solos and duets and his “She is a Diamond” is a standout.
The winsome and appealing Bella Zambrano as Peron’s mistress, whom Evita replaces, sings the melodic and plaintive “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” with charm and pathos in one of the musical’s nicest moments.
Malik Offor is terrific as Augustin Magaldi, whom Evita loves and leaves. Offor evokes all those nightclub/lounge singers from the past as he glides across the floor with his hand mic crooning his best in “On This Night of a Thousand Stars.”
The most exciting aspect of reviewing theater to me is seeing a performer I have not previously known take a part and knock it out of the park. That’s exactly what Christian Thrailkill does with the part of Che, except he knocks it all the way out of Plano. Che is the narrator of the musical and comments on almost all the action. Thrailkill’s Che is peripatetic, seeming to be all over the stage at once with his glorious, soaring tenor making great songs like “High Flying, Adored” sound even greater. A star is born.
Evita’s ensemble is almost always on stage and is a big asset to the production. Director Anglero' and Co-Director MD Christian keep them in constant motion playing soldiers, citizens, and nightclub patrons among other things. The ensemble includes Conchita Moreno, Jacob A Fisher, ChiChi Omeoga, Clara Moos, MattJohn West, and Michael Valderas.
Director Anglero' uses projections of newsreels and movie clips to remind us that Eva Peron was a living, breathing person and not just a character in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. it is just one of her many creative directorial choices that make this Evita a trip to Argentina you shouldn’t miss.
