This past weekend, the JHU Arts Festival brought Evita to Hopkins. The JHU Barnstormers were a perfect fit when it came to the adaptation of Evita’s richly historical roots, given their own long-lasting presence here on campus.
Indeed, as the oldest and largest theatrical group at Hopkins, it would be difficult for the Barnstormers not to produce an impressive show.
True to form, Evita does not disappoint. The musical features a cast of 20 and a crew of 19, thus illustrating the wide array of the Barnstormers’ talents.
Evita is the true story of Eva Duarte de Perón, a woman with humble beginnings who eventually became the first lady of Argentina.
At the tender age of 15, Eva, or Evita as the Argentine public affectionately called her, travelled to Buenos Aires in the hopes of becoming an actress. By the time she was 26, Eva had married Juan Perón, who just a year later was elected president of Argentina.
The public adored Eva, and her untimely death at age 33 drove the Argentine public into a long period of mourning and distress.
The Barnstormers’ production of Evita does an excellent job of showcasing not only the graduating seniors and advancing juniors, but also the relatively new sophomores and freshmen as well. The participating Peabody students were also a welcome and exciting addition.
In fact, some of the most prominent people in the cast and crew were either sophomores or freshmen. The producer (Spencer Matson) and stage manager (Matt Sykes) are both sophomores, and were equally instrumental in the creation of this stunning technical production.
Much of the ensemble consisted of freshmen and sophomores, which is always surprising in the world of undergraduate theater, which typically casts older and more experienced company members.
Kate Orgera (Eva Duarte de Perón ) and Ian Han (Juan Perón). were an unlikely pair of freshmen to interpret the two leading roles of the play, yet each of them gave a stunning performance.
One of perhaps the best things about Orgera being cast as Eva is that she actually bears a strong resemblance to the young Mrs. Perón. When Orgera sang and moved in front of the audience, it was as if Eva Perón herself was on stage, performing for us all.
Although Han’s main responsibility was to support his co-star, he was able to shine on his own.
As a rock opera, Evita is performed entirely in song, though the acting that Han paired with his singing was very impressive.
Even during his silent moments, Han was always noticeable, always in his character as the devoted husband and president — and entirely believable as such.
The most impressive person in the cast was undoubtedly junior Mike Van Maele as Che Guevara. The presence of the Marxist leader of the Cuban Revolution might seem out of place to some.
In the musical, however, Che is easily the most enjoyable character of all. Che provides a social commentary throughout the show, narrating in song the things that simply cannot be seen or understood in the short time the musical allows.
The charisma and energy displayed by Van Maele was arguably the most awe-inspiring in any performance you might witness on a Hopkins stage.
Van Maele’s acting was absolutely one of a kind. Of all of the actors, Van Maele owned his role the most, interpreting it as his will. The Hopkins actors of Evita had very large shoes to fill, as both the musical and the story behind it possess very recognizable and significant histories.
Evita was first released in 1976 and has since made it to Broadway as well as our Swirnow theater.
The lyrics for the show were written by Tim Rice, whose musical theater credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King.
The music for the show was written by none other than the illustrious Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer of The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Sunset Boulevard, and many other respected works.
The Evita musical won multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier awards. The film adaptation, starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, won Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Satellite Awards.
For those who missed the Barnstormers’ production of Evita during the JHU Arts Festival, the show will also be playing on April 14th and 16th at 8 p.m. On April 17th, the show will run at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public.
All performances will take place at the Swirnow Theater. If you are interested in the expansive history of an incredible musical and social icon as well as some incredible acting, Evita is a musical you simply cannot miss.
