When the first lady of Argentina died at the age of 33, the
vast majority of people were devastated. The population had been spellbound by
the glamorous Eva Peron – an illegitimate child raised in a lower-class family
who rose up to become an actress, an outspoken activist, and eventually the
wife of General Peron. Her story was almost too good to be true. And in Andrew
Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical, revolutionist Che angrily makes the case
that it wasn’t true, that Eva Peron was worshipped for spectacle rather than
substance, trying in vain to convince the people that their deceased Eva was
not a big loss, and was not at all the saint some of them tried to make her.
With the audience seated in the school’s comfortable, new
theatre seats, Director Rob Elstein leads the cast of Brooklyn’s Edward
R. Murrow High School in a dynamic production of the show featuring music
played by members of the high school’s fine orchestra, an ensemble whose energy
rocks Buenos Aires, and strong performances from the leads who create some
memorable interpretations of these larger-than-life characters.
The role of Eva Peron is shared, but on the opening night
performance it was Allison Fontaine-Capel in title role. There’s a
striking resemblance between the pictures of the real Eva projected on the set,
and the costumed and wigged Allison below them on the stage. The look-alike,
charismatic actress takes Buenos Aires by storm and then basks in the adoration
of the people when she becomes the first lady of Argentina. Allison positively
glows as she sings the show’s signature song Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
while her citizens chant her name.
But Eva Peron’s life is a roller coaster, and the array of
highs and lows comes through well in this production, helped along by Eva’s
leading men. Benjamin Kraiem is the revolutionary Che who is disgusted
by Eva and by the way the people worship her. Che and Eva share a great,
well-choreographed waltz, their hatred for each other seething. They also both
have excellent voices, making for a lovely High Flying Adored.
Peron is her other leading man, her husband. Harrison
Brian Fuchs is initially a comical Peron, enjoying the limelight as much as
his wife, though a little more nervous about murderous rivals. Harrison’s
unusual portrayal is a gamble that ends up working quite well, especially when
it contrasts with the fear and devastation he feels when finally admitting to
Eva what they  both know – that she is dying. They combine for a very powerful
duet as he fears losing her and as she fears losing her life and her dreams. In
the end, not even Che is completely immune to the grief that shakes the nation
– the lost hopes her death represents.
Elsewhere, David Kirshner is a humorous
Magaldi, eating up his adoring fans as an Argentine lounge singer. Daniella
Malave gives a nice solo as Peron’s callously dismissed mistress. And the
ensemble dances up a storm as the excited and charismatic Argentines inspired
by their heroine. Director Rob Elstein has it all ending with a
well-done collage of scenes as Eva dies, seeing her brief but full life pass
before her eyes.
Performs December 12 - 15, 2007.
Rob Hopper
Executive Director
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Eva: Allison Fontaine-Capel
Che: Benjamin Kraiem
Peron: Harrison Brian Fuchs
Magaldi: David Kirshner
Mistress: Daniella Malave
The Aristocracy:
Tolan Aman
Marissa Becker
Adam Braiman
Michael Chraniuk
Theodore Cole
Kristyn Colonna
Rachel Ginzburg
Molly Goldberg
Alexandra Kaye
David Ly
Margot Mazur
Elina Rakhlin
Julie Reed
Marissa Shadburn
James Shakhnovich
Tiffany Thompson
Peron's Army/Eva's Dressers:
John Anantua
Christopher Dawkins
Luke Fontana
David Kirshner
Ricardo Matos
Kris Sanchez
Children:
India Allouche
Lisa Ditchek
Samantha Gillette
Chloe Mannina
Lynn Schiffman
Alexandra Wayntraub
Jessica Yu
Anna Znamenshchkova
Crowd:
Tolan Aman
John Anantua
Marissa Becker
Valerie Blatt
Adam Braiman
Samantha Burke
Nyilah Cardoza
Danielle Elizabeth Chin
Michael Chraniuk
Samantha Cohen
Theodore Cole
Kristyn Colonna
Christopher Dawkins
Dayna Driscoll
Lauren Dun
Luke Fontana
Alyson Ryan Ruchs
Nicholas Dylan Guastella
Rachel Ginzburg
Molly Goldberg
Leor Hadar
Michael Juris
Alexandra Kaye
Heather Kramer
Jessica Lamdon
David Ly
Daniella Malave
Jesse Manning
Sasha Manevich
Ricardo Matos
Margot Mazur
Julia Mitelman
Elina Rakhlin
Madelyn Ransom
Julie Reed
Amanda Rodriguez
Sarah Rosen
Matthew Ryan Hunter
Kris Sanchez
James Shakhnovich
Marissa Shadburn
Olga Smirichinskaya
Zak Stevens
Ashley Theagene
Tiffany Thompson
Elisa Vincenti
Brandon Zelman
The Little Old Man: Gary Avnilov
German Scientist: Joseph Tripodi
Director: Rob Elstein
Scenic Design: Paul Eisenberg
Lighting Design: Keith Traux
Costume Supervisor: Jessi Herbert
Sound Designer: Alegra Scheinblum
Technical Director: Chloe Bader
Costume Designers:
Allison Loufti
Amy Amzallag
Gabriella Caruso
Briana Goldman
Musical and Vocal Director: Don Christensen
Choreographer: Roberta Raymond
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