EVITA

Director: Lawrie Johnson

Musical Director: Malcolm Barr

Choreographer: Shanelle Borlase

Producer: Hamilton Musical Theatre

1-15 August 2026, Riverlea Theatre

Ever-popular Andrew Lloyd-Webber has had a resurgence locally in the past couple of years. Now that Evita has opened for Hamilton Musical Theatre with a flurry of ticket sales resulting in sold out performances, it appears the regional appetite for ALW knows no bounds.

Evita first opened in the West End in 1978 and has continually enjoyed international success. The musical is based on the life of Eva Peron, the second wife of Juan Peron, the Argentine President, and covers the period 1934 to 1952.

Andy Derby was utterly impressive as the narrator, Che. He often began his songs without instrumental support, consistently starting with the correct pitch. Derby’s easy-going, witty, and likeable portrayal was captivating.

Bruce Rawson (Juan Peron) had the stature and theatrical chops to take on the role of the Argentinian dictator. Rawson’s Peron was composed and thoughtful with an excellent understanding of the subtext of the role.

Lauren Thompson was a wonderful choice as leading lady Eva Peron. Unfortunately, Thompson began to show signs of illness and vocal fatigue in Act 2. Rawson’s quiet confidence seemed to buoy Thompson as she dug deep to sing through the hour with barely a moment to leave the stage. Bravo, that’s what the real Eva Peron would have done too.

Had it not been mentioned in the programme, there would not have been any way of knowing that Simon Brew (Magaldi) was a late edition to the Evita cast. Brew’s tone, breath control and articulation were outstanding in his songs, particularly “On This Night Of A Thousand Stars.”

Year 13 student Lily Dixon (Peron’s Mistress) heartfelt rendition of “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” belied her age. The large ensemble was unified and expressive. Their minor interactions did not pull focus from the storyline, rather it enhanced the overall atmosphere of various settings. Shout out to the altos, your vocals were great.

Liz Field had collated a huge number of costumes. The floral frocks were gorgeous, uniforms were dapper, and the iconic white Evita dress was magnificent. Stef Hack (Head of Hair and Wigs) and Will Gulliver (Head of Makeup) remained true to the era with their clever designs.

The back of the set was a series of five arched doorways which allowed for multiple points of entry. Additional set pieces were added during intermission to create the famous balcony scene. More masking in the upstage diagonal grid space would have completed the look.

Musical Director Malcolm Barr’s talented band of eight kept toes tapping. Maria Colvin had worked with the children’s choir, and she brought out the best from these young performers. Shanelle Borlase’s choreography for both the ensemble and smaller numbers was dynamic. Borlase was fortunate to have Evita Anderson (yes, named after the musical) in the company. Anderson delivered a proficient tango with Michael Deibert, and she was exhilarating to watch in all the routines.  

Director Lawrie Johnson managed to fit a large-scale production into the confines of Riverlea Theatre. Johnson made some brave directorial decisions which made this 50^th anniversary production of Evita memorable. Johnson’s direction gave the ensemble of familiar and new faces plenty of space to develop their characters. The casting of the leads was spot-on, and the overall production was a testament to what a devoted and creative community theatre can produce.   

Like I said at the top, ticket sales are on fire. You can see that for yourself on the ticketing link below.

TICKETS

Happy 50th birthday to Hamilton Musical Theatre (Musikmakers).