Evita at St James

Reviewed by SHANNON HUSE

It's not fashionable to like musicals, especially old Rice and Lloyd Webber musicals, and it probably won't enhance my reputation as a serious theatre reviewer to confess to liking the most untrendiest of theatrical forms.

So I'll have to take a deep breath when I admit that the new production of Evita at the St James makes for a fun and frivolous night out.

It's a stylish version with a combination of tango and a sexy revolving stage that keeps the cast on its toes and the action moving right along.

If magazine sales are anything to go by, then Evita should strike a chord, with its lead character, who combines the blond ambition of Madonna with the posthumous near-sainthood of Lady Diana, and a Marilyn Monroe-style combination of sex, politics and tragedy.

English import Josie Walker has a strong, pure voice which is particularly impressive when she lets loose to belt out a phrase or two. It would be nice to see more passion and movement from her, and I hope that she gets raunchier as the season progresses.

Canadian Rick Miller has a powerful voice and the right levels of charisma and cynicism as Che. George Henare is suitably regal as Peron, and Grant Bridger gives a typically noteworthy cameo as the oily Magaldi.

Jessie Cassin hits the right notes in both her singing and acting, giving a vulnerable performance as the mistress that would surely melt even the hardened hearts of her former NZ Idol judges.

The ensemble cast are uniformly good, although the picky critic in me thinks that the soldiers need more Argentinian machismo.

A standout of the show is the stylish design by John Parker and Wayne Ashton. A particular highlight is a series of screens which are used for a variety of effects. At times they provide props to finish a room; at other times they screen footage of the real Perons; and most effectively they feature symbolic images amplifying the action on the stage.

The costumes are period-perfect, and in the case of the women, gorgeously glamorous, with fabulous furs, jewels, glasses and gloves.

Watching Evita is something of a retro experience, a bit like eating a really good steak and chips after years of fusion cuisine. So it's comforting to see that all the elements are there, right down to the glossy programme packed with information.