By Cindi Sansone-Braff
Photo: Jeff Bellante
An Electrifying “Evita” at The Gateway Playhouse
The Gateway’s polished-to-perfection production of “Evita” received a well-deserved standing ovation Saturday evening. This beloved rock opera by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice has enthralled audiences for decades. The 1980 Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and the 1996 film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas grossed over $141 million worldwide.
Amanda Rivera Torres, Ryan K. BailerSet in Argentina from 1934 to 1952, “Evita” is the rags-to-riches story of Eva Duarte. The show takes us from her impoverished childhood years to her short but somewhat successful stint as an actress and to her powerful political life as the wife of military leader-turned-president Juan Perón.
The show opened in a Buenos Aires cinema on July 26, 1952. Through the magic of Aaron Kurland’s projection designs, we feel as if we are part of that movie audience and witness what it must have been like for them to learn of the passing of Eva Perón, the spiritual leader of their nation. During “Requiem for Evita,” the top-notch ensemble re-enacted that historical moment, showing how deeply people mourned for the First Lady of Argentina.
However, the Peróns had their adversaries, and the wry and witty narrator Che, brilliantly portrayed by Pablo Torres, represents the voice of this cynical faction. A charismatic actor, Torres revealed his strong vocals during “Oh What a Circus.” As a side note, the original director, Harold Prince, identified the show’s narrator as the Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. In The Gateway’s revival, as in many later revivals, Che is seen as an everyman character commenting on Eva’s life and ambitions, which was Tim Rice’s original intention.
Amanda Rivera Torres and EnsembleThe musical then flashes back to 1934, and the audience sees Eva as a calculating 15-year-old girl running off to Buenos Aires with a much older man, Magaldi, a tango singer. Matthew Malecki Martinez was outstanding as Magaldi. Martinez has a powerful voice, and he received some of the biggest laughs of the evening with his sassy tango moves during the number “On this Night of a Thousand Stars.”
Amanda Rivera Torres gave a riveting performance as the beautiful and ambitious Eva Duarte, a cunning woman who reinvented herself, changing her name to “Evita,” a Spanish nickname meaning “Little Eva.” Donning Costume Designer Janine Loesch’s Cinderella-worthy, white ball gown, Torres delivered a moving rendition of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”
Ryan K. Bailer gave an award-winning performance as the dignified and charming Juan Perón. Bailer’s commanding stage presence and magnificent renditions of “On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada” and “She is a Diamond” were unforgettable theatrical moments.
Amanda Rose Gross portrayed Perón’s Mistress, an insecure young woman who Eva sent packing. Gross’s emotion-filled, melodious voice hit all the right notes when she delivered the reflective song “Another Suitcase in Another Hall.”
Keith Andrews and Andrés Acosta’s Latin-infused choreography, featuring tango, cha-cha, and salsa moves, is worth the price of admission. The edgy military march numbers were my personal favorites. The tango dancers, Michelle Alves and Carlos A. Jimenez, were captivating, exuding passion and playfulness with their every sensuous step.
Kudos to the multi-talented, high-energy ensemble who aced the many acting, singing, and dancing roles they performed. A special shoutout goes out to the children in the cast, who, at select performances, will portray the Children of Argentina in the number “Santa Evita.” These talented children include Sonnie Betts, Sofia Da Costa-Wilson, Sofia DeMatteo, Dominick Heilemann, Sofia Jarmel, Abigail Pirozzi, Ashton Rasmussen, Sarah Robayo, Tamanna Sandhu, and Bree Wilkens.
The Gateway’s “Evita” has an exceptional cast, showstopping choreography, and spectacular costumes. You don’t want to miss it!
Content Advisory: This show may not be suitable for all ages. While there is no official rating system for live theatre, please use your judgment based on age, maturity, and subject matter.
“Evita” runs through May 28. For more information, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133, or visit the website at https://TheGateway.org.
Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.