Evocative intricate “EVITA” at the Broad Brook Opera House


EAST WINDSOR — Theatre, just like nature, abhors a vacuum and after the recent demise of the Connecticut Opera, perhaps the Broad Brook Opera House Players can help fill the void.
They certainly went a long way towards that achievement with their fine production of “EVITA,” the modern opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, which is running through Sunday.
The show really belongs to Eva Peron, the real-life Argentinean film star who became a political leader, marrying Juan Peron, who was to become Argentina’s president in 1946.
Eva Peron, well-played by the powerhouse singer, Nicole R. Giguere, is on stage just about every minute of the show, when she isn’t changing costumes, and even sometimes when she is.
In real life Eva Peron started out as Maria Eva Duarte. She came from dirt poor, lower class illegitimate obscurity, having “every disadvantage you need if you’re gonna succeed,” as the narrator and admiring critic, Che, sagely observes and sings.
Christopher deJongh, who plays Che, has a beautiful voice and hits all the right notes, musically and theatrically, with the sarcasm and anger, tinged with fascination and admiration, that gives the show so much of it’s depth.
Paul DiProto’s Juan Peron is a finely-etched performance of a weaker man who sees the advantages of a strong charismatic smoke screen in Evita, who single-handedly put Argentina on the map like no one before or after her.
In life, Evita, which means little Eva, died of cancer at 33 in 1952 before she was able to fulfill her ambition and become the country’s vice-president.
She hated the middle classes in Argentina because they had treated her with contempt and ridicule as the illegitimate child of a middle-class man. She also championed the poor, making her a lightening rod for divergent opinions, as Giguere sang derisively in one of her many songs, “The actress hasn’t learned the lines you’d like to hear.”
Caroline Zocco plays Juan Peron’s mistress, and gives a fine performance as the out-of-luck ex, singing “Another Suitcase in Another Hall.”
Also fine and funny is Eva’s first of many lovers, Paul Aherne, who plays the smarmy crooner Augustin Magaldi, wearing an amusing Rod Blagojevich-like toupee — it’s acting with hair.
The supporting cast members are all terrific, animated, and involved, while the choreography, by Todd Saint Maria, was surprisingly intricate, diverse, and the cast did a great job of delivering, particularly on such a small stage.
The musicians, lead by Bill Martin, were sensitive to the various performers, and never overwhelmed them,
The Broad Brook Opera House Players really outdid themselves in this production with the inclusion of two projection screens showing archival photographs of Eva Peron. The technical touch, with video design by Barbara Arnold, added depth and sophistication to this heart-felt show.
One of the delightful aspects of this community theater is that they have a hold a fundraising raffle during intermission, the winner of which gets to split the proceeds with the house. They previously held the raffle before the show, but switching it to intermission is a much better choice.
Director Philip D. Vetro promised the audience before the sold-out show Saturday that the Broad Brook Opera House Players are financially sound for the coming season. All the more reason to continue to support their consistently fine and impressive productions.

EVITA

3 Stars
Theater: The Broad Brook Opera House
Location: 107 Main Street, Broad Brook
Production: Lyrics by Tim Rice. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Direction by Philip D. Vetro. Musical direction by Bill Martin. Choreography by Todd Santa Maria. Set design by Peggy Messerschmidt. Lighting design by Diane St. Amand. Sound design by Devon Gamache, and Bruce Banning. Video design by Barbara Arnold.
Running time: 2 hours, plus a 15-minute intermission
Show Times: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. through March 1.
Tickets: $20, seniors over 60 and youth under 12 pay $16. Call 860-292-6068 or visit their website at www.operahouseplayers.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Nicole R. Giguere … Eva Peron
Christopher deJongh … Che
Paul DiProto …Juan Peron
Paul Aherne … Augstin Magaldi
Caroline Zocco … Peron’s mistress
Ensemble …. Deb Brigada, Adam Fancher, Gene Gramarossa, Dallas Hosmer, Khara C. Hoyer, Reva Kleppel, Brenda Koboski, Erik Landry, Amy Szczepaniuk Meek, Brianna Mello, Chris Papa, Sara Papa, Jerilyn Rae, Gary Rhone, James Rhine, Julianne Rhone.
Children’s ensemble … Sarah Banning, Maureen Baron, Erin Fields, Pearl Matteson, Casie Pepe Winshell