You Must Love Me

Reviewed by Vicki Stokes

Another hit musical is currently being staged at Huron Country Playhouse. On the heels of Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita is a whirlwind, chock-full of talent and memorable music. First staged at Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge in 2023, here’s another opportunity to see this Drayton production.

I have a friend who was born and raised in Argentina, so I asked her how the people of her country feel about Evita. She wrote “Uffff!!!!! That’s a long conversation over tea or mate (traditional Argentinian herbal drink)!!!” She went on to say, “Many people hated Evita, others loved her. It was an extremely complicated time, so that reduction written by an outsider is just not taken seriously…” (reduction meaning the shortened story presented in this musical, and the outsider meaning Andrew Lloyd Webber)  I see her point. My understanding is that it is a work of fiction, developed for entertainment purposes, loosely based on Eva Perón. The music makes a musical, whether or not there is historical accuracy. Who hasn’t heard “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”?

It might be helpful to learn a little about the Perón presidency and Eva Perón beforehand. Even then, this is a lyric-heavy musical, so don’t feel bad if you don’t catch everything the first time around. But in this musical, the story is all about Evita (a term of endearment meaning Little Eva): Born in poverty, Eva Duarte is intent on rising above her illegitimate birth and getting out of her small rural village. At age 15, in the early 1930s, she beguiles a lounge singer and pleads with him to take her to the big cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires. Very driven, Evita manipulates her way to the top, sleeping with any man who might be useful to her career as a radio and movie actress.

Eventually, she meets Juan Peron, a colonel who decides to the roll the dice and run in an election. With Eva’s help, he wins and she becomes first lady. She is treated with disdain by the upper class because of her sketchy background, but beloved by the peasants. She travels throughout Europe in an attempt to prove she is elite, but still tries to maintain her bond with the lower class. She starts a charity to give funds to the poor, but rumours that she lives in luxury thanks to the charity persist. She is stricken with cancer and dies at age 33.

Mariah Campos excels in the demanding role of Eva Perón. She believably ages, gains notoriety and strength, and then becomes frail from illness, still wanting to hang on even though her body is failing her. Campos has a strong, powerful voice which possesses great control and emotion.

Nico Solarte captures the cynicism of Che, another demanding role. Dressed in fatigues throughout, Che is based on Che Guevara, but represents the ordinary man. (The real Eva Perón never met Guevara.)

Rounding out the cast is Robert Ball as Magaldi, Eric Craig as Juan Perón, Emily Robertson as Mistress, and a phenomenal ensemble.

The Director and Choreographer of this Drayton Entertainment production is Michael Lichtefeld, who performed in the original Broadway production of Evita. The choreography is a work of art, the large ensemble and children’s chorus perfectly utilized in various roles. The costumes by Ivan Brozic are representative of the time, from the furs and gowns to peasant clothing. The set, by Sean Mulcahy, emphasizes the dramatic core elements such as the revolving door and balcony, allowing the choreography to take centre stage.

Evita whisks you off to another place and time, in a fictionalized account of a controversial historical figure, while entertaining you with professional music, singing, and dancing. It may leave you wondering if you would have loved her or hated her, or something in between.

Evita continues until July 26th at Huron Country Playhouse, Mainstage. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 519-238-6000, or Toll-Free at 1-855-372-9866, or by checking www.huroncountryplayhouse.com for availability.

Photo: Foreground: Nico Solarte as Che, Mariah Campos as Eva Perón with members of the company.  Photo by Hilary Gauld.  

Evita
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed and choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld
Musical Director – Jeannie Wyse
Performed by Mariah Campos, Nico Solarte, Eric Craig, Robert Ball, Emily Robertson, et al.
Produced by Drayton Entertainment
Mainstage, Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend
July 9 to July 26, 2025
Reviewed by Vicki Stokes