Review: Evita at Liverpool Empire

May 28 2008 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

IN the early 1980s when Elaine Paige stepped out on to the balcony of the Casa Rosada as Eva Peron at the Prince Edward theatre in London, I was one of the descamidados. Not quite a “shirtless one” but an impoverished student trying to eke out a living on a student grant in the capital.

The power, passion and pure professionalism she portrayed as Argentina’s First Lady was stunning.

A quarter of a decade later I arrive at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre with great and nervous expectations for Bill Kenwright’s revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice collaboration that is Evita.

Star of the show Louise Dearman is about as well known as Ms Paige was in 1978 when she was offered the role turned down by Julie Covington.

Louise has good pedigree in musical theatre and has performed in the West End but is not yet a household name.

The rapturous applause at the end of her rendition of Covington’s No 1 hit Don’t Cry For Me Argentina confirmed that the youngster has more than just a little touch of star quality.

Her diminutive stature, well balanced by the physically overpowering Mark Hennehan as Peron, made for an engaging partnership in the power struggle to lead the country.

From back street girl through Iron Lady to an early demise, Louise kept the audience spellbound as she strutted around the stage with barely time to take breath. Her dying song You Must Love Me and final broadcast would have made a nation forgive all, including the would-be Vice President’s alleged embezzlement of millions in a Swiss bank.

Seamus Cullen gave a solid performance as Che, the narrator loosely based on the character of revolutionary Che Guevara. He didn’t have the gravitas of Antonio Banderas in the 1997 film version and his rendition of Oh What a Circus wasn’t quite David Essex but the young finalist of the BBC’s hit show Any Dream Will Do will go far. Maybe it was the short sleeves on his costume or the clean cotton trousers tucked in to Jack Boots, but are dissidents getting younger these days?

A few weeks at the gym and a bit of shoe polish on his exposed flesh might have convinced me more of his guerrilla status.

The nation’s obsession with searching for stars paid off in the choice of local lad James Waud as the average nightclub entertainer Magaldi, an early love interest for the up-and-coming radio star Eva Duarte. The 23-year old from Speke was picked from dozens of hopefuls who entered a Liverpool Echo competition for the role.

The production, for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, certainly completed its task.

Bill Deamer’s slick choreography had the 14-strong ensemble effortlessly switching from oligarchs to workers, from the military to the clergy. The Latin beats along with Matthew Wright’s simple set evoked the culture and grand architecture that is Latin America.

Evita has a short run at the Empire until June 7 and then moves to the Manchester Opera House from Monday June 23 to Saturday July 5. Catch it while you can.