From Star-Telegram:
Casa Mañana's production of 'Evita' is polished, entertaining
By Punch Shaw
Special to DFW.com
Posted 8:30am on Monday, Feb. 07, 2011
FORT WORTH -- No one needs to cry for this Evita.
Casa Mañana's production of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical, which opened a nine-day run Saturday night, is a highly polished and entertaining presentation on almost every front.
Evita, which first came to the stage in 1978, tells the story of Eva Peron, wife of Argentine President Juan Peron in the 1940s and early 1950s. But it is a lot more about hearts than history, concentrating more on the personal rather than political life of its title heroine.
This production, directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, shines in a number of ways that go far beyond the lead roles. The choruses, for example, are exceptionally sharp and crisp. And the production numbers involving those choruses are choreographed with a great deal of verve and creativity. Even some of the work in the smaller parts, such as Jonathan Bragg as Magaldi, surprises with show-stopping moments.
The title role is taken by Lauren Kennedy and, on the whole, she handles it with aplomb. She captures both the vulnerability and the hard edges of her character with equal clarity. And she nails Don't Cry for Me Argentina. But she is also guilty of too frequently stepping over the line separating powerful and piercing when she is delivering her numbers. There are a lot of places where she needs to dial it back a notch. And the same could be said for Kevin Gray in the role of Che.
Indeed, the only problem with the amplified production was that it was often too loud, making the vocals shrill and rendering the lyrics unintelligible.
But despite those problems (which are likely to disappear as the run continues), this production is so well-planned and -executed that it overcomes any superficial flaws.
Photos gallery:
http://curtisbrownphotography.com/casaevita/
