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Eleanor Pearson
18 April 2015

Bringing a little star quality to Chatswood

Actor Virginia Natoli loves a challenge, so it’s probably not surprising she relishes the physical and emotional demands of her latest stage role.

Natoli described her title role in Willoughby Theatre Company’s Evita as “a dream come true”.
 “(Eva Peron) was so iconic, and (playing Evita) you never leave the stage. It’s challenging vocally, with acting, and dancing. It’s the whole triple threat. It’s wonderful.”


Demonstrating true dedication to her art, the Cronulla resident travels an hour each way to rehearsals on Sydney’s North Shore three times a week.
“I don’t sit still,’’ Natoli explained, during a half hour interview with me, squeezed in between an Evita photo shoot on the Chatswood Concourse steps, and returning to her three children at the end of a busy Thursday. Natoli said her husband, Damian, and mother, Adele, also supported her in her musical theatre career.
An accountant by day, Natoli has always loved performing.
Natoli said Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Evita, based on Argentine former First Lady, Eva “Evita” Peron, was the “original rags to riches story’’.


In preparation for her role, Natoli read as much as she could about Evita and observed her through documentary footage.  
“She was so fascinating…and so divisive-people either loved her or hated her.
“The rich hated her because she gave rights to workers, and then there was this snobbery because she was (born) illegitimate. Today it doesn’t matter, but back then you would have no future. She was really quite extraordinary.”


Fashion plays a role in Willoughby Theatre Company’s Evita, with an impressive 20-plus costume changes for Natoli alone.   
Natoli said audiences could expect a lavish operetta-style production.
“(Director) Declan Moore has taken it to the next level. The attention to detail is unbelievable.”
View the Evita Review
Playing until May 31, 2015
Picture
Virginia Natoli on the steps of the Concourse, Chatswood
Evita
Season Starting:  Friday May 22 (click on "Upcoming Events" for exact dates and times.)
Address:  
The Concourse Theatre - 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

Cast and Crew:

Director
Musical Director
Choreographer
Principal Actors
EVA PERÓN        
CHÉ                         
JUAN PERÓN           
AGUSTIN MAGALDI
THE MISTRESS       
Male Ensemble
Andrew Beban
Michael Curtin 
Gareth Davis 
Cherich Donattioti 
Edwin Estanislao 
Kris Fenessy 
Sam Hile 
Phil Lucas 
David McKenzie 
Peter O'Sullivan
David Verdejo

Evita Dancers
Joshua O'Connor
Michael Osborne
Tim Martin 
Mateo Restrepo 
Michelle Wong
Liz Hawthorne
Kirsty Arnold
Kim Dresner
Declan Moore
Greg Jones
Amy Gough

Virginia Natoli
Rob Hale
Clive Hobson
Jeremy Curtin
Lucy Hood
Female Ensemble
Stephanie Chandler
Monique Donath
Rosie Fitchett
Stephanie Georgeson
Tisha Kelemen
Jillian Logan
Charli Lucas
Nina Marsh
Sarah Morrisby
Nikole Music
Alexandra Page
Skye Roberts
Melissa Trickey
Dance Captain and Swing
Nikki Wilkinson

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