FINALLY, A FILM IN A THEATER WHERE SILENCE ISN'T GOLDEN.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

Reporters are supposed to be unobtrusive observers of the events they cover. But I admit it - I joined in loudly Thursday night at Hollywood's world premiere sing-along screening of ``Evita.''

It wasn't just because Andrew Lloyd Webber's melodies and Tim Rice's lyrics were so appealing. It was because a stout 6-foot-4 drag queen was sitting behind me and promised to hit me upside the head if I didn't sing.

So I sang - the ballad of a jilted girlfriend (``Another Suitcase in Another Hall''), the march of triumphant laborers (``A New Argentina''), even the Latin prayers for the dead Santa Evita.

Patti LuPone, who won the Tony for the title role, has said that, based on the vocal range his scores demand, Lloyd Webber must hate women.

However, the mostly male audience at the El Capitan Theatre was very comfortable - and remarkably on pitch - with his irregular harmonies and syncopated rhythms.

If ever there was a movie that begged for this audience participation treatment, it's director Alan Parker's ``Evita.''

Think about it: The 1996 film is more opera than musical because of the near absence of spoken lines. It's been more than 20 years since the Broadway cast album came out, which gave its fans plenty of rehearsal time. Antonio Banderas as the omnipresent everyman character, Che, often makes eye contact with the camera, which encourages audience response.

And - oh, yeah - it stars Madonna, who's a cult by herself.

Disney, which has a long-term lease on the El Capitan, did a sing-along version there of ``Mary Poppins'' last August, and the studio must have been encouraged by an audience that seemed as much West Hollywood as West Valley.

Disney has invited moviegoers to dress as Argentina's beloved president and first lady of the early '50s, Juan and Eva Peron, or any other character, but only a few did so Thursday.

A Madonna event is a Madonna event for Los Angeles residents Holly Beavon and Bella. Holly came as the pointy-breasted Material Girl circa 1993 and Bella was the pseudo cowgirl of 2000.

Then there was Momma, who mocked up an Eva-ish Dior-inspired day dress and a broad-brimmed, flower- and feather-adorned hat that must have blocked two-thirds of the huge screen for the patrons behind him.

Michael Benbrook of Los Angeles, all in black, said he was costumed like a gigolo - pointy boots, cigarette-leg pants, a fringed bolero jacket and a penciled-on pencil-thin mustache. He would have been convincing if not for his red hair and freckles. ``I'm from northern Spain,'' he explained.

Holly Gold of San Diego won the preshow costume contest with her balcony-scene gown from the stage play. Earlier she expressed regret that her skirt was black tulle over pink instead of the pale blue and white LuPone wore to represent Argentina's national colors.

Ushers offered incoming moviegoers tissues, not for the teary death scene (which drew the most heckling) but for waving during scenes of patriotic fervor.

A few ``Evita'' watchers occasionally departed from the script and talked back to the screen. For instance, as Evita and Juan begin an affair based on mutual benefit in ``I'd Be Good for You,'' one man shouted, ``Go Hillary!''

It's safe to say no one in the house sang the whole movie (one could go hoarse on the ``Peron!'' and ``Evita!'' chants alone), but the musical's most famous song, ``Don't Cry for Me, Argentina,'' proved irresistible.

After an on-screen prompt, the audience was on its feet, arms outstretched, belting that anthem in serious competition with Madonna's double-forte and the Dolby sound system.

Chris Baldwin, who had seen the Broadway show, was one of several friends in the second row who seemed to enjoy the movie in its own right as well as this new print with the lyrics burned in.

``It gives you the venue to do what you always wanted to do before,'' he said.

``EVITA''

Where: El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd.

When: 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; through Feb. 24.

Tickets: $9 general admission, $5.75 seniors. Call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1) Eva Peron look-alike Holly Gold shares the stage with the actor portraying Juan Peron before the El Capitan Theatre's special screening.

(2 -- 3) Momma, left, looked more like Mae West than Eva Peron, while Holly Beavon dressed up as an early-1990s Madonna for opening night of the sing-along version of ``Evita.'' Left: It's just like karaoke, only bigger: Words scroll across the bottom of the movie screen so the audience can sing along with ``Evita's'' Madonna.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer