Twisted take on Evita for Timaru
Argentinian flare, with a twist, will hit the stage in Timaru this week.
South Canterbury Drama League’s 55-strong cast has spent the final days leading up to opening night, on Friday, practicing the high notes and perfecting dance moves for a seven-show season of Evita.
Evita, an Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, is based on the life of Eva Peron, former actress turned Argentinian first lady.
It depicts her rise in popularity, which saw her adored by working class Argentina, through to her death at the age of 33.
Director Rutene Spooner said he wanted to bring Evita into the modern age and give his show a point of difference to performances by other drama societies across New Zealand. Many of which were staging the rock opera at the same time.
Although the set had been given a modern edge, many hours had been spent getting costumes which accurately reflected the era the story was set in.
Taking the lead, as Eva Peron, is 18-year-old Kate Esler. Timaruvians may recognise her from her role as Morticia Addams in Roncalli College’s production of The Addams Family last year.
Sam Wilson takes the pivotal role of narrator, Che, and Tony Bunting has been cast as Argentine president Juan Peron.
Evita was last staged in Timaru in 1990 and some of the cast have starred in both.