Evita costume holds historic link to Eva Peron

Centre Stage's Evita, to be performed next weekend, is becoming increasingly immersed in the period of the story, with one particular piece of costume having a direct link to Eva Peron and her official visit to Spain in 1947. Victoria Amengual is a nineteen year old actress who is in the chorus of the up and coming production. She will be the proud wearer of a dress which her grandmother wore to catch a glimpse of the great Evita. In 1947, 21 year old Luisa Amengual travelled with a group of friends on a boat from Palma and then a train to Madrid, to celebrate the arrival of Eva Peron on her official visit to Spain. On the visit, the wife of General Peron was decorated with the Great Cross of Isabel La Catolica by General Francisco Franco. The dress worn by Dona Luisa - now 75 years old - on the occasion of this visit, will be worn by her nineteen year old grandaughter Victoria, when she takes her part in the world amateur premiere of Evita, which opens at Palma's Auditorium on Friday 7 Sept. The dress is of white Georgette with an apricot coloured design. When Dona Luisa celebrated Eva Peron's official visit to Spain, the sleeves were long as demanded by customs of the time. They have since been cut but the ruffle which adorned the front of the dress is still there. The original slides showing the visit of Eva Peron meeting General Franco will be shown on-screen during the presentation of Evita by Centre Stage Productions. Dona Luisa Amengual has bought a ticket for each and every performance of the hit show and is looking forward to seeing her dress once again being worn in the presence of Evita, even though it's the stage, and not the real life version.