The Star: September 15, 2016

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Thursday September 15 2016 41
Theatre/Arts
‘Angelic’ boys’ choir in Evita
• By Georgia O’Connor-Harding
ONE OF New Zealand’s longest
running children’s choirs will
play a key role in an upcoming
show about the life of Argentine
political leader Eva Peron.
The Christchurch Boys’ Choir,
which has been singing for 30
years, will perform from this
evening as part of Showbiz
Christchurch’s latest production
Evita.
The choir, made up of boys
aged nine to 13, will represent
a traditional 1950s Argentine
church choir in a staged requiem
mass.
Music director Angus Simmons,
20, said the company was
going to audition the choir but
realised it was historically correct
to have a choir made up of
unbroken, treble male voices.
“The boys’ singing is very
angelic so the audience will appreciate
it a lot,” he said.
Simmons said for some of the
boys, it will be their first time
ever performing on stage in full
costume.
“They have risen to the occasion
and know exactly where
they stand and I think they will
add to that cute-factor people
look for in shows,” he said.
ON STAGE: The Christchurch Boys’ Choir rehearse for Evita, which will open tonight at the
Isaac Theatre Royal.
From the choir of 24 boys,
12 will perform on alternative
nights during the season.
“They have been warned,
but they are getting quite exhausted,”
Simmons said.
The choir, which aims to give
young singers exposure to the
music community, has performed
with the Christchurch
Symphony Orchestra and the
Christchurch City Choir.
Simmons has run the choir
since the beginning of last year,
along with his partner Kimberly
Wood who accompanies them
on the piano.
Both Simmons and Wood will
be performing ensemble roles in
the show, with Simmons playing
the role of an aristocrat.
The rock opera follows the life
of Eva Peron, the second wife of
Argentine president Juan Peron.
Eva served as the first lady of
Argentina from 1946 until her
untimely death at the age of 33
in 1952.
“The show portrays her in a
light that isn’t positive. Some
people loved her and some people
despised her so you have to
make up your mind,” Simmons
said.
Studying a bachelor of music,
majoring in performance voice,
at Canterbury University, Simmons
wants to become a professional
opera singer.
“I am hoping to live a life
of music. Performing would
be ideal but I am not shutting
down any other opportunities,
whether it is directing in choirs
or whatever,” he said.
His next show with the boys’
choir will be in December 2 at
The Piano. They will present a
concert of songs from the stage
and screen.
•Evita will run from this
evening to October 1. To
book tickets go to http://
premier.ticketek.co.nz
Improvisation
fires up
acting team
Scared Scriptless, at the
Court Theatre. Reviewed by
Barry Southam.
NORMALLY A late night show,
this long-running improvisational
offering has mainly had a younger
following, but the oldies had
a chance to see these talented
people at work with an earlier
8pm start for the 26th-birthday
performance.
The MC warmed up the crowd
with some audience involvement
before the main team appeared
on stage fired up and ready to roll.
Various formats were used such
as telling a story one word per
person at a time, but basically it
was thinking on your feet with no
script, using topics suggested by
the audience.
Probably the most difficult of
these, which produced sustained
hilarity, was the response to the
request for what sort of club meeting
might be happening. The Road
Cone club was settled on allowing
a lot of fun around one of the least
popular items dotted about the
city.
All very funny, drawing laughter
and applause from the audience.
These shows are well worth a visit,
even if its past bedtime for some.
Explore Chch’s best
hospitality hotspots
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