Review: 'Evita' by WCSU Department of Theatre Arts

Pictured: Members of the cast of 'Evita' All photos courtesy of WCSU

“A new Argentina, the chains of the masses untied
A new Argentina, the voice of the people
Cannot be, and will not be, and must not be denied”

Danbury, CT - The students in the Western CT State University Department of Theatre Arts opened their stellar production ‘Evita’ at their MainStage Theatre at the VPAC on the WCSU Westside campus on the coldest night in Danbury this season. Patrons came out despite the frigid temperatures and a long walk from where they had to park the car to pack the theatre to support the university cast and crew. Fellow students and proud family members were on their feet at the curtain call at the conclusion of the first public performance of the production.

This fresh interpretation of one of the most familiar and popular shows in contemporary musical theatre was the vision of director Tim Howard. “I wanted to do ‘Evita’ because it’s one of my favorite musicals, hands down,” Mr. Howard wrote. “It’s Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best score, it’s rock opera, and beyond that, it’s an exciting piece of theatre not just for the title character but for the entire ensemble.” I would agree with the director that if you think you know the show, you should open your mind enough to see this production and discover ‘Evita’ in a brand new way.

The first act of the WCSU production opens strongly with black and white film projections (by Kevin Geraghty) of the young Eva Duarte and the house announcement that the former actress and now first lady of Argentina has lost her battle with cancer at age 33. “Requiem for Evita” integrated the aisles of the theater and Che appeared out of the audience for “Oh What a Circus;” these were just the first of many effective blocking choices. “A New Argentina” closed the first act to appreciative cheers with a big theatrical bang.

The Spanish accents were wonderfully coached by Anthony DePoto and the two level set was designed by Elizabeth Popiel. Costumes designed by Joni Johns Lerner brought back the era when the Perons were in power in Argentina and moved very well. Lighting designed by Scott Cally was never boring, although I thought “The Art of the Possible” was just a tad too dark to fully appreciate the scene.

The title role of Evita was performed by three student actresses cast at the various stages of her life from her teens to her illness and death at 33. The Young Eva Duarte was performed by senior Shaylen Harger (The Chaperone in ‘Drowsy Chaperone;’) the Reigning Eva Peron, by sophomore Olivia Kurtz; and the Dying Eva, by junior Alexandra Colavecchio (Violet in WCSU’s ‘Violet.’) This worked in different way throughout the two acts; at times the trio sang together, at times the younger or older version of the character came out to remind her of the past or foreshadow the future. For the first transition, the two actors were dressed identically and spun around back to back. The iconic “On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada/Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” when all three were dressed in the white princess gown, was to my mind a bit muddled; the rest of it worked well and all three of the ladies were equally convincing in their shared role and had the spectacular singing voices required for it.

WCSU freshman Mark Sumner of Middletown knocked the role of Che out of the park. Senior TJ Swetz (Robert Martin in ‘Drowsy Chaperone’) used his fine singing voice in the role of the former colonel Juan Peron and made the most of his role. Sophomore Johnathan Jordan (‘Violet’) of Stratford played the role of singer Agustin Magaldi, the first of Evita’s enablers. The role of Peron’s mistress was double cast; at this performance Jessica Schwartz of Brookfield gave a heartfelt performance of “Another Suitcase in Another Hall;” she shares the role with Kristen Muller of Norwalk.

Women in the ensemble cast include Sasha Brown (also the Reigning Eva understudy and a Sister); Saige Bryan (also an Aristocrat); junior Jillian Caillouette (Janet in ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ and here the Young Eva understudy); Ashia Collins; Shea Coughlin (Female Ensemble Swing); Krista Fiederlein (also the Mother); Emma Giorgio (also an Aristocrat); Kayla Hansen (also a Sister); Jaclyn Mercer (also an Aristocrat); Alaina Mueller (also an Aristocrat); Cynthia Rivera (also a Sister); Victoria Wall; and Jennifer Wilson (also the Young Girl Soloist).

The talented men in the ensemble cast included WCSU junior Thomas Bergamo (also a General); Isiah Bostic (also the Che understudy and an Aristocrat); Nathan Clift (also an Aristocrat); Luis DeJesus (also the Brother); Tyler Gallaher (also the Juan Peron understudy, the Admiral and a General); Kenneth Galm (also a General); Stefan Izydorczak (also a General); Michael Katz (also a General); Nicholas Raines (also a General); Ryan Rappaport (also an Aristocrat); Brandon Richardi (Male Ensemble Swing); Cole Urso (also a General); and Brandon Wolfe (also a General). Any guy who played a general had to dance in unison lockstep and the aristocrats had to move as one; overall I was most impressed with the dancing done by everyone in the cast.

Mr. Howard, a veteran actor, singer and director with extensive professional credits in Broadway and regional theatre, directed this cast of 34 WCSU students. Choreography designed and directed by Adjunct Professor of Theatre Arts Mary Ann Lamb (with associates Anthony Johnson and the director) was particularly beautiful; Ms. Lamb was assisted by Anthony Johnson. The 14-piece orchestra was lyrically conducted by guest artist and music director Frank Schiro, who has collaborated on music direction for many professional theatre productions in New York and regionally. It sounded as such; congratulations to all of the musicians in the wonderful pit orchestra.

“Evita,” with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, opened on London’s West End in 1978 and on Broadway in 1979. For the uninitiated, the first act of “Evita” chronicles the life of Eva Duarte in Argentina from her teens as an aspiring actress and radio personality to her courtship and marriage with the ambitious military colonel Juan Peron, a rising political star promoted to general and ultimately elected to the presidency in 1946. Opening with the show’s signature song, “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” the second act portrays Eva Peron’s emergence as a charismatic First Lady whose massive charitable programs endear her to the nation’s poor but whose growing power arouses the mistrust of the military. The recurring commentaries of Che, patterned loosely on the real-life Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara, provide a skeptical Greek-chorus background to the play that culminates when Eva succumbs to cancer in 1952 at the age of 33.

I highly recommend a trip to Danbury to catch a performance of one of my favorite musicals performed by highly talented performers training in this well-respected state university program. The WCSU Department of Theatre Arts production, directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Coordinator of Musical Theatre Tim Howard, will be presented in evening performances at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10; Saturday, Nov. 11; Friday, Nov. 17; and Saturday, Nov. 18. Saturday matinee performances will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 18; Sunday matinees will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 12 and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19. Reservations at a general admission fee of $25 may be made at (203) 837-8732 or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/evita-tickets-36492619407.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417