EVITA!

[children&art]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:50am

i just saw a local production of this show here in Dallas at Lyric Stage of Irving (one of the top companies) and it proports to be based on the original staging - if that is true, then all i can say is WOW!

it was a spare set, just scaffolding, and sure the costumes were rented but the way it moved and felt was amazing. everything in shades of sepia and blacks and whites with the stark lighting made it feel like i was watching one of those great movies from the 40s.

and when you think about it, what webber wrote was really an experimental show - starting from a popular concept album he and hal prince directly translated to the stage in the clearest, simplest terms possible. it's not as book heavy as "phantom" or "sunset" but it's not as schmaltzy as "cats" or "joseph". it's really a sophisticated piece about politics that never gets bogged down and heavy with dogma.

catherine cox was superb and brian gonzalez as che was more subdued than i would have liked, but still brought it. i highly recommend this production.

Updated On: 2/24/06 at 09:50 AM

[children&art]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:18am

did anyone see the original? any comments, am i way off base here?

what about the revival, do you think it's going to be bare like the original or big and gaudy like "sunset"?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:29am

I didn't see the original, but I've seen the current tour twice, one time each with the different set of leads (Bradley Dean and Kathy Votkyo in Boston, Kieth Byron Kirk and Sarah Litzsinger in Providence). One of my absolute favorite shows, I only hope the new staging of the Evita revival in London can compare.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:32am

"what webber wrote was really an experimental show..."

What he wrote was the music.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:40am

i loved the tour with Sarah. Amazing show.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:45am

I actually saw the original production when I was in high school. I had a front row seat ($30) and Patti was out that night. Nancy Opel was on instead. At that time, I thought the staging and performances were pretty amazing. The front row was too close for the balcony scene as one had to look up to see Eva. The two elements that really stood out for me were the funeral and banners coming down at the beginning and the montage towards the end of the show. I also remember the cast cheering when the final curtain (screen) came down (as if they knew they gave a good performance).

I also saw the tour that came through DC in December and it was a pale comparison to the original.

Updated On: 2/24/06 at 11:45 AM