７月２３日（日曜日）２０２３
ART(American Repertory theater)でロック・オペラのエビータ（EVITA)を観ました。数十年前に日本で日本人による公演を観ましたが、Shakespeare Thatre Companyによる今回の上演を知って興味津々、観たいと思いました。
さて、劇場内に入ると暗いステージにエビータを象徴する白いドレスが中央に吊り下がり、舞台一面に覆われた白い花に衝撃を受けました。ブロードウェイなどの商業演劇の劇場と違い、ここはハーバード大学が持つ５００席ぐらいのプロの演劇劇場で、どんな展開を見せるのかドキドキするようなステージ効果です。席で待っているとオーケストラピットでの楽器の準備も次第に賑やかになり、場内アナウンスがスペイン語で始まりました。アルゼンチンが舞台のエビータならではの演出効果なのでしょう。
ここでは詳しく書けませんが、休憩を挟んで２時間半のステージは圧巻でした。今回のエビータ役は意図的に黒人の方になっていたようですが、この日は代役のラテン系の方、彼女もソロで歌う男性陣も歌が上手い！アンサンブルのダンスも見事！アーチ型のシンプルな大道具の転換と中央の迫り（せり）と照明も上手に使われていました。終わった時の観客のスタンディングオベーションは納得いくものでした。
久しぶりのARTのステージには圧倒されましたが、同時にここにはある種のメッセージがあったことも事実です。それは劇場の壁に掛かっていたEVITAの看板横に大きく"Black Lives Matter"と書いてあったこと。それから手洗いは"All Genders"と書かれていて男女共用になっていたこと。不愉快極まりないです！私はAll Gendersトイレは絶対に困ると思っています。日本もこの傾向にあるようですが嘆かわしい限りです。
I went to see the rock opera "EVITA" at ART (American Repertory Theatre). I watched it by a Japanese theatrical company in Japan decades ago, but I was just curious about watching it performed by ART.
Well, when I entered the stage hall, I saw a white dress hanging from the center ceiling on the stage which was obviously a symbol of Evita and white flowers completely covered the stage. It prefaced the performance that was about to begin and gave a strong impact. Loeb Drama Theatre which is ART's home base is not a very big theatre hall such as the theatre in NY Broadway, and it is affiliated with Harvard University.
The more people come to take their sheets, the louder the noise became in the orchestra pit. When the audience lights went off, the Spanish announcement started first which seemed like a stage effect because EVITA is Argentinian.
The two and half hour performance including intermission was overwhelming. The original casting of Evita, the main character, was a black woman but a latino woman was the swing on this day. She and other members who sang solo parts were so good, the dancing by the ensemble was amazing, arch shaped large props and the stage elevator were effectively used and stage lights were also excellent. When the show was over, the audience gave a standing ovation and I had the same rating for this performance.
I had not watched an ART performance in a long time, and it was really amazing and powerful. On the other hand I also felt that they gave us a certain message. I saw a big sign which said "Black Lives Matter '', and "All Genders" was written outside the restroom. As for the restroom, I felt very uncomfortable with this. I don't like this "all genders' restroom" at all. Japan is changing in the same way, and that is upsetting to me.
