Evita still rocks

Evita, the 40-year-old rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, has drawn plaudits and brickbats, mostly because it makes a sublime spectacle out of fascism. And sublime and spectacular it still is, with this touring production directed by Broadway veteran Hal Prince.

Evita is based on the true story of Eva Peron (played by Emma Kingston), the beauty who was born in poverty and rose to become a successful actress and the wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron, and finally a folk saint to her people after succumbing to cancer at the age of 33.

Although the musical has been respun by other directors to reflect a different political perspective, this version is the original Tony-winning Broadway and West End version with all the operatic sweep of big numbers including the well-loved Don't Cry For Me Argentina and You Must Love Me.