Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009

'Evita' cast to dazzle local audiences

Play chronicles life of political leader.

COATS CROSSROADS — When she took on the lead role in “Evita” at West Johnston High School, Morgan Shearon found confidence she never knew she had.

The West High senior had had roles in other school plays — “Grease,” “Into the Woods” and “Les Miserables.” But portraying Eva “Evita” Peron is a different experience. Peron, the second wife of Argentinean president Juan Peron, was a strong political leader. The play chronicles her life, from her rise to power to her eventual death.

“What I enjoy most about being Evita is the fact that she is a powerful woman,” Shearon said. “I just like her whole attitude and aura. She has confidence. When I come off stage, I am still in character, and I still have that confidence.”

Another perk of playing Peron is wearing elaborate costumes, which were to be shipped to the school this week. “I think our costumes are going to be banging,” Shearon said with a chuckle.

Chorus teacher and play director Sarah Phelps said the school performs one musical each year. “Evita” is one of the largest productions the school has taken on. The play has 50 cast members, a 30-member band and long rehearsals. The students have been practicing after school and on Saturdays for two months.

The play is vocally demanding on students, Phelps said. “We’ve had to be really careful with the singers being in good shape vocally, getting plenty of rest and that they keep their energy up,” she said. “With the lead roles, if they aren’t prepared to sing it, if they aren’t warmed up, if they aren’t healthy, then their performance isn’t good, and they end up damaging their voice.”

For Joshua LaSane, a junior from Willow Spring, singing was the least of his worries. He is the understudy for the character Agustin Magaldi, a tango singer who dated Eva Peron when she was a teen. LaSane had to learn the tango while juggling other parts in the chorus.

“Magaldi allows me to be a lot more sexy and more suave,” LaSane said. “I don’t get to be like that every day in school. Then, jumping right out of a tango dancer to a solider who doesn’t like Evita, personally, is very difficult because I don’t jump from personality to personality in my everyday life. That’s a very hard transition for me.”

Jordan Clifton, a junior from the Cleveland community, plays Juan Peron. “There is not many times in a play and a musical that you can be an Argentinean dictator,” he said. “You always have to keep that same momentum when you are playing him. I think it’s really hard to be confident and kind of snobby at the same time and then go be a loving husband.”

The audience can expect to see a show that will be a spectacle “for the eyes and ears,” Phelps said. “The kids are doing really great,” she said. “They always come with their game face on, ready to work, so that makes it a lot easier for us.”