College Opera cast put ï¬Ânal touches to Evita

Published: Wed 24 Nov 2010, 10:27 AM

DON'T Cry For Me Argentina is the song that will be on everyone's lips in Tuam next month and no, it won't be a lament for the IMF assuming control of our economy, which Argentina also experienced in 1991. Evita the musical is coming to town, courtesy of St Jarlath's College, where the cast and chorus are putting the finishing touches to their production of this wonderful show.[private] Evita originally opened in London in 1978, starring Elaine Paige, whose version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina is probably the best known song from the show, although the film version of Evita, starring Madonna, won an Oscar for Best Original Song with You Must Love Me. The show tells the dramatic story of Eva PerÃƒÂ³n, the beautiful and controversial second wife of Argentine President, Juan PerÃƒÂ³n. Little Eva had a meteoric rise from obscurity to the position of First Lady of Argentina, where she used her influence to improve the lot of workers, women and the poor. Not surprisingly, the Argentine establishment hated her, and doubts still remain as to whether she was indeed the saint the Argentine people widely believed her to be, or an opportunistic upstart with a love of money and power. The St Jarlath's cast of Evita includes Deirdre Bannon, who plays Eva PerÃƒÂ³n, with Danielle Carroll playing Peron's mistress. Liam Murphy takes the role of Juan PerÃƒÂ³n and Jonathon Walsh plays Che Guevara. Ronan Lardner directs the musical and Shane Farrell takes up the baton for the show, assisted by Chorus Mistresses, Connie Burke and Mary Flattery and Chorus Master, John Duggan. It promises to be a highly entertaining show by a wonderful group of local young performers. The performance will start at 8 pm, each night from Thursday, December 9 to Sunday, December 12 in St Jarlath's College Hall, Tuam. Tickets can be purchased from Quinn's shop, Bishop St, Grogan Travel, Shop St, or from the College office, and there will be a Gala Night with admission priced at Ã¢â€šÂ¬25. Just the ticket for those dark, December nights Ã¢€â€ Viva Evita![/private]