Don't cry for 'Evita'

Ralph Andrews, Correspondent
U-Entertainment

It is a true story. Unbelievable, but true. It is the tale of a lower-class girl who becomes the first lady of her country. In their opera "Evita," Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice tell the tale of Eva Peron.

THEATER REVIEW: EVITA Where: Performance Riverside, Landis Performing Arts Center, Riverside City College, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday Cost: $20-$35 Information: (951) 222-8100; www.performanceriverside.com

Lloyd Webber found her to be one of the most despicable human beings on this planet. He also found her most fascinating. The play about her continues through Sunday in Riverside.

The cast of 40 or so filled Landis Auditorium with song and dance. In the title role was Bets Malone who gave everything she had in this performance. For two hours or so, she was Evita. From the opening sequence that took place in a movie theater showing one of her films, to the bone chilling final scene, we saw Evita and not Bets Malone. She was in excellent voice and her "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" sent chills up your spine.

The sight of the children's chorus singing "Santa Evita" made one want to go on stage and slug her. Jason W. Webb, as Che, acts a narrator and keeps things going. Yes, he is Che Guevara, an Argentine physician who was martyred in 1967. Whether he and Evita ever met or talked is open to debate. He enchanted the audience with a golden tenor voice that caressed the ear. His rendition of "Oh, What a Circus" set the tone for the rest of the performance.

David Grant as Juan Peron becomes president of Argentina with Evita at his side. The song "The Art of the Possible" was musical chairs in which Peron won.

The tango singer Magaldi, played by David Beaver, was one of Evita's first conquests. Michaelia Leigh plays Peron's 16-year-old mistress who Evita throws out on her ear.

The orchestra directed by music director Don Le Master was outstanding. In fact, it was probably the best-sounding orchestra to fill the pit in Landis Auditorium.

Choreographer Lee Martino got some excellent hoofin' out of the cast. The tango dancers, Deborah Fauerbach and Daniel Smith, were particularly noteworthy.

The set designed by Brian Sandahl 17 years ago is still as fresh and versatile as ever.

Director John Vaughan did an especially good job keeping everyone organized and up to the fast tempo required for this show.

The entire production was under the watchful eye of Dr. Carolyn Quin, Dean of the Riverside School for the Arts.

- Ralph Andrews, who has a Ph.D in music, is a freelance musician, teacher and a judge for the Inland Theatre League

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