THEATER REVIEW: "Evita"
It's hard to perform a good "Evita" when your Eva Peron sings like she's in the road show of "42nd Street" and acts like she's playing Miss Hannigan from "Annie." Cameron Leigh Wade is so egregiously miscast as the title character in the national tour of "Evita" (playing at the Saroyan Theatre through Wednesday night) that the show can't recover.
Wade's Eva is sullen and harsh. She offers but a whisper of the celebrated charisma that launched this lower-class Argentinian woman to a cult of personality. And her singing voice -- a brassy belt as brightly colored as an episode of "Spongebob Squarepants" -- is totally at odds with the character. I'm sure that she could do a rousing job in a comic role, but carrying the dramatic weight of "Evita" on her shoulders is too heavy a burden.
The rest of this touring production is adequate but uninspiring. It feels like a very young and green cast. Over the years, the quality of professional shows coming through the Saroyan has improved, but this production is an unwelcome throwback to a stretch of a few years a decade or so ago in which some shows (which appeared to be done on the cheap) simply didn't measure up.
Even when you have a great Eva Peron, it's always a challenge when staging "Evita" to keep it from being simply a character assassination. Tim Rice's lyrics are often scathing when recounting the story of the title character's rise to power. The narrator, Che, offers an often bitter perspective of Eva's manipulative skills when it comes to men, politics and money.
Omar Lopez-Cepero, as Che, certainly has the angry part down. And his singing voice is pure and strong. But he's all bristle and no tenderness. Through Che, you have to glimpse not only Eva's faults but also her star power. There's a reason why Eva Peron became the "spiritual leader of a nation," and it isn't just because she was brittle, icy and ruthless. With Lopez-Cepero's performance, we miss any sense of the fiery chemistry that existed between Eva and the people of Argentina.
Philip Peterson is a well-voiced Peron, and Stephanie Barnum is particularly effective in the small role of Peron's Mistress as she delivers a fine rendition of "Another Suitcase in Another Hall." The show's minimalist production design is nicely executed. (Except for the protest banner that fell down in the finale, which was sort of fitting.)
But this show is all Eva's, and when there's no connection, it hurts. Even the iconic balcony scene in which she sings "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" feels flat. When the dying Eva, late in the second act, rails at the Almighty for giving her body "a serious flaw -- I hope you know that," Wade comes across as small and petulant, not grand and tragic. Cry, indeed. A wince now and then is more like it.
Comments:
Thanks for saving me $49.50, Donald. This tired production of "Evita" sounds like it should be the last one to roll into Fresno. Let's hope more Broadway hits come here, like "Jersey Boys."
Posted by: felicia matlosz at December 5, 2007 11:03 AM
I have to totally agree with you. This was one of the worst plays that we have been to in the Broadway in Fresno series. We were terribly disappointed. I didn't feel that there was any flow to the whole production. When the audience stood up at the end I thought it might be for an undeserved standing ovation. Now I think it was so that they could make a quick dash for the door.
Posted by: cathy at December 5, 2007 4:21 PM
Donald,
I was on my way out the door to see this, but decided to check your review first. Thank you for keeping me from having a disappointing evening! I love supporting theater, but GOOD theater.
Ben
Posted by: Benjamin at December 5, 2007 7:04 PM
Wow! Thanks for the validation. My husband and friends felt the same way as I did about this performance and I agree with everything you said. We felt the mistress should have had Eva's role; she was good in the one song she sang; too bad we couldn't have heard more from her. I also couldn't see what the cigar and cigaarette smoking brought to the play, except causing polluted air in the theater. If this should happen again, it would be nice for the warning to come BEFORE we buy tickets for the show! Hopefully the remainder of the season will improve or I know of 4 season ticket holders who won't be back next year.
Posted by: Sandy at December 6, 2007 11:02 PM
I couldn't agree more about the singing and characterization of Eva. The final applause of the crowd on Wednesday demonstrated the lack of appreciation for the poor casting and performance. I enjoy a good Broadway show. This wasn't one of them.
Posted by: Russ at December 7, 2007 1:36 PM
Mr. Munro,
Once more, you nailed it. And yes to the others, it wasn't a standing ovation. People were standing to get their coats on and run out the door. Our tickets were priced much more than a college or community production, but the quality of the lead especially fell way below that standard.
For anyone who is allergic to smoke or nauseated by the smell of cigars, it had to be a tough evening. We were shocked that they allowed that much smoke in the theatre, no matter how effective it was in the lighting.
Posted by: Netta at December 7, 2007 4:16 PM
Maybe "Evita" was better on Wednesday night when we saw it, because I thought your review was way off base. I too have seen it several times, the last time being last January in London, so I was prepared to be disappointed in the Broadway to Fresno production of it as the London staging just blew me away. Well, I am happy to say I enjoyed every minute of the play last Wednesday night - Che was very much in charge of the telling as he should be, and I also enjoyed both Eva and Peron. I really thought it was an outstanding production, including everything from the staging to the orchestra. I have been disappointed in some plays in the series, but certainly not this
one.
Posted by: Carole at December 14, 2007 4:19 PM
I saw this production of Evita in New Mexico and I agree about the poor portrayal of Eva. She screeched most of the night and just seemed uncomfortable as Eva. I truly was floored by Omar Lopez-Cepero as Che. His voice was beautiful and he was amazing that night! He received a standing ovation and much greater applause than the rest of the cast and deservedly so. I really enjoyed his performance. I was also especially moved by the Stephanie Barnum's portrayal of the mistress. Her song was by far one of the best of the night. Mr. Munro, you pretty much nailed it.
Posted by: Lori at December 15, 2007 6:27 PM
Hahaha! This was the best review I've ever read. I live in Michigan and I just saw this production last night (free tickets thank God). I went home to Google that actress' name to see if others shared my opinion of her atrocious performance. I'm glad you did!
Posted by: Nancy at January 23, 2008 5:12 PM
Although Cameron had some squeaky notes I thought she did a pretty fantastic job for someone her age. I really enjoyed the show and I think the man playing Che was remarkable. The sets, costumes, and voices kept me enthralled. Overall I think it was a splendid performance. Cameron was fantastic.
Posted by: Rebekah at January 24, 2008 9:06 AM
AMEN! I thought that was the worst portrayl of Eva Peron I've ever seen. I'd take that Cameron on any day! I can sing circles around her. My husband almost broke my hand as he squeezed it in utter discust of the notes she sang.
Posted by: Jessica Courtright at February 1, 2008 11:53 AM
I have to TOTALLY DISAGREE with you about what you said. I saw this touring cast last night in Madison Wisconsin and thought it to be a great show. I have seen this show done on tour many years ago and thought this to be the best. I have to say that the part of Eva Peron is that of a evil woman. She was called a saint by some but when the truth came to it, she was an evil woman who stole from those who loved her. I think that Cameron was amazing as Evita...she played the role the way it was meant to be played....as for when Patti LuPone played..the role is the same...she is hateful, spiteful, ruthless...and it was done the way it should be. Maybe the cast has had time to get it "together"....Madison gets great shows and prides itself on that...and with this production...they proved that! It was GREAT.
Posted by: Jeremy at February 10, 2008 12:27 AM
I attended last night's performance of Evita in Madison, WI - and found myself grimacing throughout as Ms. Wade at times tortured the beautiful Lloyd Webber score. Not that her voice was bad - it simply lacked the depth and range needed for this part. Ms. Wade seemed to sense this herself, and resorted to over-acting when she was struggling musically in this Betty Boop-esque performance. As a result, the lovely 'Lament' was largely spoken and lost its power, 'What's New Buenas Aires' was brittle and shrill, and even the beautifully melodic 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' was diminshed.... While I can appreciate the effort, it was too often painful to watch.
Posted by: Terri at February 10, 2008 9:03 AM
I just saw this on my college campus in Indiana. It was TERRIBLE. However, our protest banner fell down too, at the end of "A New Argentina". Why in God's name was the mistress not cast as Evita? Cameron Leigh Wade spoke half the role because it was too low for her! A thouroughly uninspiring desecration of theatre that makes me glad my ticket was free. The cost of the three hours of my life, however...
Posted by: Justice at February 12, 2008 8:45 PM
Yall...
The banner falls on purpose. Part of the direction.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 17, 2008 4:30 PM
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