June 16-22, 2005

artpicks

She Is a Diamond

Photo By: Joan Marcus

by David Anthony Fox

Theater

Evita is over 25 years old, but she's fresh as a daisy. The show has now been in the spotlight longer than her namesake ever was. Eva Peron may be long dead, but age cannot wither Evita.

That's because it remains Andrew Lloyd Webber's finest achievement. He was never a master of understatement — yet in Evita, Webber managed to combine the melodic lushness of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" (admit it: all you need to do is see the song title and you're humming along) with a gritty sense of storytelling. It's an irresistible combination.

Another element that made Evita so riveting on stage was Harold Prince's direction — he, like Webber, did nothing better in the theater than this. Prince's hybrid of ersatz Brecht and showbiz pizzazz suited Evita perfectly.

And it still does. What makes this version coming to the Academy different from the many recent tours is that Prince himself has been involved in recreating the show. Expect a level of precision and detail we haven't seen in years. Expect also that another lucky actress will get to thrust her arms into the air and sing fabulously.

So let Idina Menzel and her ilk — the Broadway Babies of today — holler till they turn blue. Evita did it first and did it better. She still does. The lady and her balcony are here to stay — no need to cry for this girl.

Evita, Tue., June 21, 8 p.m.; Wed., June 22, 8 p.m.; Thu., June 23, 8 p.m.; Fri., June 24, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 25, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., June 26, 1 and 6:30 p.m.; $27.50-$87.50, Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust sts., 215-893-1999.