EVANGELINE, THE QUEEN OF MAKE-BELIEVE: 70% – BITTERSWEET

Catherine Lidstone and fellow dancers strut their stuff in "Evangeline, The Queen of Make-Beleive" at the Bootleg Theatre. Credit: Theresa Chavez.

SWEET
Too often, though, the text tells more than it shows, with the police-riots climax and Evangeline and Alicia’s resolution rushed and unearned; this might best be reconceived as a full-fledged musical, with more actors. Nevertheless, if “Evangeline” ultimately is a high-end workshop, its entertainment value will reach beyond the sure-fire target demographic.
David C. Nichols – Backstage

SWEET
There’s much to like in this chock-full world premiere featuring the songbook of Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Louie Perez.
Rebecca Haithcoat – LA Weekly

SWEET
The joy in the making is evident from the moment you step into the theater and it will most certainly find a ready audience in a city that delights in the coming-of-age stories of its people.
Ellen Dostal – BroadwayWorld

SWEET
I really enjoyed Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe, and definitely recommend for others to go see it. It was an exciting production to experience, where I found myself dancing in my chair throughout the majority of it. Through observing the audience, I know that I was not the only one dancing in their chair.
Lia Mandelbaum – LifeInLA

BITTER
But sadly, nothing even close to what the Sixties possessed is allowed to seep into the fabric of this production. So at the finish of this show you’re left with a painfully pedestrian, threadbare tale that was unable to benefit from a strong and committed cast and some kickass music.
Ernest Kearney – Working Author

SWEET
Collectively, Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe is a refreshing stage production delicately interweaving cultural sensitivities with America’s strongest counterculture days.
Parimal Rohit – Buzzine

BITTERSWEET
This is a pleasurable, and somewhat engaging, production. But one hopes that it will get a needed re-write of its book, to not lessen the lessons to be learned. This is real L.A. history, mostly forgotten – or never learned – and therefore useful to us all.
Dale Reynolds – Stagehappenings

BITTERSWEET
The main reason why Evangeline, the Queen of Make-Believe doesn’t soar is because the script attempts to tackle important topics, but what is ultimately shown to the audience is rather shallow. Despite the unique setting of East L.A., it relies on the same cliches in every 1960s coming-of-age story.
Nick Wilson – LAist

EVANGELINE, THE QUEEN OF MAKE-BELIEVE
Presented by About Productions and Bootleg Theater
At Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A.
May 12–27, 2012 Thu.–Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.
Tickets: (213) 389-3856