"Evita" by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

Loughborough Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS).

Loughborough Town Hall.

It's been three years since I last reviewed anything at Loughborough Town Hall and six years since I last reviewed a production by LAOS, therefore I eagerly accepted the invitation to pop over to review this gorgeous piece of theatre.

This is another musical that I have seen many times over the last 25 years, and a musical I never tire of seeing, and quite rightly dubbed "a modern classic".

The story is of Eva Peron and her rise to fame, if that's the correct word. The play starts with the announcement of the death of Peron during a cinema screening of a film. There's great outpouring of love for Eva, from most Argentinians, apart of course from Che, who is also the narrator of the play. It follows her early life, her varied love life, rise to power, charity work and eventual death.

Helena Stone, who I last saw on stage in Burton On Trent in "Guys 'n' Dolls", takes on the iconic role of Eva Peron. A powerful performance in her rise, and then the change in the way she treated some of the staff who worked for her, shown subtly. The costumes for Eva are glamorous, especially the white satin/silk number that she was so famed for wearing, especially in the balcony scenes. Helena's vocals could cut glass they were so crystal-like, aided by the excellent sound system that they have at Loughborough Town Hall. London may have Rachel Zegler as Evita, but Loughborough has a worthy rival in Helena.

Che is played by David Sturla. Cynically giving his (Che) view of the grief of Peron's death, comparing the grief as a circus in "Oh What A Circus". I've had the pleasure of reviewing David a couple of times before at Iveshead School, where I remarked about his vocals, which are very well highlighted in this production. It was only four months ago I saw David as Prince Eric in "The Little Mermaid", but in that short while, he not only looks so much more mature, but his voice seems to have matured as well. Che features in fifteen of the twenty seven musical pieces and his vocals were as strong at the end as they were at the start.

Richie Phillips is Peron, and a new name to me. Richie has a very distinctive voice and plays the handsome Peron, who has an eye for the ladies aside from Eva, wonderfully. Excellent casting as the lead romantic male role.

Rhianna Boulton and Allie Sturla plays the role of The Mistresses. One of my favourite songs from this musical, which by the way is completely sung through in a cross between a rock opera and classic opera, is "Another Suitcase In Another Hall", and Allie's vocals have that wonderful clear but haunted quality; you can tell vocal ability obviously runs in the family. 

Andy Longley-Brown plays Magaldi. The song "On A Night Of A Thousand Stars" is Magaldi's song and Andy gave it his all with smoothness and just a side of cheese, as most cabaret singers do. The comedy is subtle, to an extent, and played that way sublimely by Andy, with just a nod to the modern man's scratch and sniff habits.

The ensemble are made up of Linda Bolam, Gemma Baxter, Kelly Bennett, Kirstie Bennett, Rachael Chinnery, Charlie Cound, Adrian Dobson, Jo Dring, Adey Greasley, Joanna Hayes, Kate King and Clare Proctor.

The Booth Singers are Lewis Fenn-Griffin, Nicole Ray, Daniel Robinson and Andy Stockley.

The Children's Ensemble are Annabelle Bailey, Evie-Mai Cowdroy, Eliza Fardell-Wilson, Sophia Littlewood, Ellie Simphin, Amelie Vickers, Eva Wills, Niamh Wilson and Lucie Wortley. I spotted one young lady at the front of the ensemble who was really giving it some; I love that passion for a role when they are so young, and just hope that the passion that the whole ensemble showed stay with them, especially when they are on the same stage as this particular cast.

Directed by Sally Bruton, who I last saw on stage four years ago at Loughborough Town Hall. This is a wonderful production, which makes me think that this piece of musical theatre must be one of Sally's favourites due to the love for the show bursts forth from that stage. The cast have been chosen, as far as I could see, for their personal strengths, and when you get the perfect cast in a musical of this size, it can only result in the success that evokes the show's second standing ovation this week.

Choreographed by Lianne O'Connor. With such a large ensemble of varied ages and ability, choreographing a show like this, I imagine, is not going to be the easiest. Seeing the results though make it look like a walk in the park because everyone on stage has obviously lapped up the choreography, highlighting the fact that the show has a talented choreographer. Just look at the attention paid to their hands and arms, beautifully turned out, and the straightness of the backs, in and out of hold, depicting class in character, and class in dancer and teacher.

Musical Director is Josh Hill. I've seen the results of many of Josh's musicianship, so when I saw his name in the programme, I knew that, music wise, this show would be a hit. There are some lovely sweeping pieces in this musical - well what else would you expect from Lord Lloyd-Webber? - and that lush and layered sound just overflowed from the orchestra pit, and let's face it, who doesn't love a powerful crescendo as heard in "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". 

If you listen carefully as well to the arrangements, you can hear that Andrew Lloyd-Webber has re-used a couple of his older musical arrangements and tunes for a couple of songs for this musical (think "Jacob and Sons" from "Joseph And His Technicolour Dreamcoat").

Set design is by Encore, which shows a platform flanked by steps, giving the actors another level, as well as providing Eva with that famous balcony scene. You don't need fancy scenery or design with a story like this, and the set provided exactly what was needed.

Costumes by Gemma Baxter and Vintage Years. As previously stated, the costumes are very stylish, for both men and women. Eva's costumes got ever more glamorous as she worked her way up the success ladder.

Sound is by Ryan Heath. Loughborough Town Hall, for me, has a reputation of having some of the best acoustics and sound design system, and this was bore out with this sound design. A lovely mix between on and off stage singers and the orchestra pit. When the whole cast sang with the orchestra it was like a tsunami of sound flooding the theatre.

Lighting is by James Cladingboel, whose work I know from Iveshead School. A lovely design which created atmosphere for the storyline and the songs when needed and at other times, for songs like "Buenos Aires" wonderfully splashed in colour.

With a large cast, making sure that everyone and everything on and off stage is a job in itself, and that takes a stage crew who know what they are doing. This stage crew consist of Kevin Clarke, Richard York, Ed Dring, Debs Pettitt, Laura Hambleton and Connor Bennett.

If you love big orchestral numbers, sung and acted brilliantly with gusto and emotion and an historical storyline to go (literally) alongside the on stage action, you will love this show. As Che so rightly states "Oh What A Show", and he is spot on with that analysis.

"Evita" is at Loughborough Town Hall until Saturday 13 September.