This Saturday, EVITA and PROHIBITION encore, a little history, lots of entertainment

Basic knowledge: EVITA, the 1980 multi-Tony Award-winning musical, performed in a “concert show” starring Buffalo by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, their signature approach blended The Broadway Pros, Buffalo Pros, and this time from the city, the high school choir Honors and Frederick Law Olmsted opens Friday, November 4th at 7:30pm and Saturday, November 5th at Shea’s at 2pm and 7:30pm The 710 Theater holds two remaining shows and is located in the “Theatre District” plaza on the corner of Main and Tupper.

Duration: Two hours, with a 20-minute intermission in the charming 710 lobby/lounge area.

Thumbnail: Set in Argentina from 1934 to 1952, EVITA depicts the rise of Eva Peron (born Duarte) from poverty to become the most powerful woman in Latin America, with many other very special additions to the hit “Don’t Cry” Delightful song, but definitely not exclusive to me, Argentina. Far from being a dry lesson in South American political history, it’s an ambitious story.

Players, Games and Productions: The starring Buffalo concert performance features Tony Award winner Lena Hall (Best Actress in a Musical, “Itzhak” in Hedwig and the Raging Inch) as Eva Perron. (Fun fact: Lena Hall is the stage name of Celina Consuela Gabriella Carvajal.) Also on stage were Robi Hager (SPRING AWAKENING) as Che, Nicholas Rodriguez (COMPANY, TARZAN) as Juan Perón, with Buffalo area star Anna Fernandez (Artie Award) Nominated, Chorus) as Mistress, Rafael Santos (Artie Award nominee, Toxic Avengers) as Magaldi with Bryce Mercedes (Arty Award nominee, West Side Story), Victoria Perez (Multiple Avengers) Tee Award nominee), Mateo Rivera, Joe Russi, Madalyn Teal and Dan Torres, and dozens of Western New York singers, dancers and musicians (behind the scenes, led by Daniel Bassin).

As you can tell from the many surnames, the producers have assembled some of the best Latin talent, many of whom are locally affiliated with the Raíces Theater, a Latino theater group in Buffalo. There were three great performances. First, Robi Hager from Broadway as Che, a fictional character who narrates the action and provides an alternative narrative for the cult Evita. While in reality, Juan Peron did meet Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara a few times, it wasn’t the character we saw on stage. In fact, in South America, the name or nickname “Che” can even be translated simply as “guy” or “dude”. After the opening chorus “Evita’s Requiem,” Hager played the opening track “Oh, What a Circus,” setting a standard of excellence that he largely maintained throughout the evening.

Buffalo’s Raphael Santos has reached such a high level as “Magaldi,” Evita’s first love/stepping stone, and a sensual tango singer with a smooth, silky voice. Note to Buffalo Producers: ¡ Queremos más Santos! We want more Santos!

The third highlight came from Buffalo’s Anna Fernandez, tall and lovely, and her pure voice fascinated the audience. She’s also invaluable when it comes to set numbers, helping to sweeten the sound. Fernandez recently played “Morticia” on O’Connell & Company’s ADDAMS FAMILY, and I’d say it’s her year. On stage, she sat next to her ADDAMS FAMILY co-star Madalyn Teal, and the two of them seemed to be having a good time! When Drew Fornarola started starring on the Buffalo production, one of his main goals was to bring together music professionals who might not have had the opportunity to work together, and you get the feeling that Fernandez and Teal are “in the moment.”

By the way, director Fornarola explained in his opening remarks that the group assembled for the first time on Wednesday morning and completed everything in just three days. amazing.

My only disappointment was Lena Hall’s vocal performance, she probably had a cold. Her voice was often hoarse and sometimes harsh. It might not be entirely up to her. This role is notoriously difficult.In fact, in an interview Working with New York Times critic Jesse Green, Patti Lupone said, “EVITA was the worst experience of my life…I was screaming through a section that only a man who hated women could have written.” At Intermission , a local director told me that when Madonna sang the character, it was switched to a more reasonable tune. He also suggested that if the rhythm of “New Argentina” was faster, Ms Hall could hit the high notes directly instead of being forced to keep it.

Other than that, there was a lot, a lot of fun making this EVITA, I don’t have enough room, but when you go, (it’s on stage again on Saturday 5th November at 2 and 7:30) you’ll be over entertainment. I give it four buffalo, which means “The production and drama are high level. If the genre/content is what you want, I’ll try to participate.”

Meanwhile, across town, the Buffalo Philharmonic is putting on a half-staged musical history. Not Argentina in the 1940s and 50s, but New York City and Berlin, Germany in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

Basic knowledge: Forbidden, presented in the BPO Pop series, conducted by Bradley Thachuk, featuring three singers – Broadway’s Bronson Norris Murphy as “Dapper Young Man”, Off-Broadway’s Madison Claire Parks as “Young Ingenue”, and international blues and jazz singer Myra Maud opens as a splendid cast of “Cabaret” at the Friday morning coffee concert at Kleinhans Concert Hall at 7.30pm on Saturday 5th November, with one more performance. 716-885-5000 bpo.org Duration: 2 hours, intermission

Thumbnail: Vintage photos are projected on the overhead screen, the “Silent Movie” cue in retro font looks like an old movie flickering, we see 26 music numbers, all arranged by Jeff Tyzik, and everything is presented without a presentation, Because things go so fast in this well-made show featuring a variety of (very retro) musical styles. This is not your grandparents’ music. This is the music of your grandparents’ grandparents. It’s so much fun!

Players, Games and Productions: After an orchestral piece, we first hear the 1931 lyrics “My Canary Has Eyes Under His Eyes” by Ted Kohler. If the name is a wake-up call, it’s probably because he’s a favorite collaborator of Buffalo’s own Harold Arlen. So there are several now-forgotten songs, but there are many more famous hits, including “La Vie En Rose” and “Mack The Knife,” and one by the Andrews Sisters with the Yiddish title “Bei Mir “very popular bist Du Schön” (to me, you’re cute). In the first half, we travel between New York City and Berlin during the Weimar Republic, a place many people are familiar with through the musical CABARET and time.

You can see the entire playlist Here are the artist bios.

There’s an extensive section dealing with the Great Depression, including “You Can Save a Dime Bro,” followed by more optimistic numbers like “We Have Money,” “In the Sun on the Street,” and finally Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”

As mentioned earlier, Bradley Thachuk Pops concerts usually have no reviews. Instead, three vocal stars sing solos, duets or trios in various costumes. There was some dancing, and sometimes they just sat at a small table for two, stared into each other’s eyes, and sang a love duet.

I must say that in these anxious times, it’s comforting to remember that as a nation we went through national mistakes like Prohibition, and we also got through the Great Depression.

Like EVITA, I named it Four Buffalos, which means “both production and script are of a high standard. If the genre/content is what you want, I’ll try to participate.”

Kleinhans Concert Hall is located at “3 Symphony Circle” Buffalo, 14201, where Porter Avenue, Richmond Avenue, North Street and Wadsworth meet in a traffic circle.access www.bpo.org Or call 716-885-5000. A full-service bar is available in the lobby or in the Mary Seaton Room across from the lobby. Masks are optional.

* Buffalo herd (rating system notes)

A buffalo: That means trouble. A terrible drama, a deeply flawed production, or both. Stay away from this show unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of one of them).

Two buffaloes: Passable, but no big shakes. Either the production is far from base or there is something wrong with the drama itself. Unless you’re the type who loves going to the theater, you’re probably looking around for something else.

Three Buffaloes: I still have my questions, but it was a really good night in the theater. If you don’t have high expectations, you may be happy.

Four Bulls: Both the production and the drama are of a high standard. If the genre/content fits your requirements, I’ll try to participate.

Five Bison: Excellent – a rare review. Comedy that makes you laugh weakly, drama that truly touches the heart. If this is your kind of show, you’d be a fool to miss it!