Evita (musical)

Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It is based on Mary Main's biography The Woman with the Whip, which explores the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, acting career, rise to power, charity work, feminist involvement and eventual death.

Evita began in 1976 as a concept album. Its success led to productions in London's West End in 1978, and on Broadway a year later, both of which enjoyed considerable success. A major 1996 film of the musical was made, starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. A 2006 London revival followed, and the musical has been given numerous professional tours and worldwide productions, and numerous cast albums have been recorded.

History

Like Lloyd Webber and Rice's previous hit, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita began as an album musical, released in 1976, with Julie Covington singing the lead role. Other parts were played by Paul Jones (as Juan Perón), Colm Wilkinson (as Ché, the narrator), Barbara Dickson (as the mistress) and Tony Christie (as Agustín Magaldi). Covington's recording of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart in February 1977, and had similar success internationally. Dickson's "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" also became a hit. In Britain, Australia, South Africa, South America, and various parts of Europe, sales of Evita exceeded those of Jesus Christ Superstar; in the United States, however, the concept album never achieved the same level of success. In 1977 American singer Karen Carpenter released a successful cover of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" which was noteworthy in that it preserved the complete song as written for the musical, rather than converting it to a pop solo.

Lloyd Webber and Rice reworked several elements of the musical before producing it for the stage. Some songs were dropped and some shortened, while others were introduced and some lyrics rewritten. The 1976 album and the stage version featured different versions of the dialogue between Eva and Perón during "Dice Are Rolling". Both discussed Eva's illness and vice-presidency aspirations but the earlier concluded on "Eva's Sonnet", during which Eva reaffirms her aspirations. The stage version of "Dice are Rolling" concluded on a shorter version of the sonnet as Eva collapses due to her growing illness. Additionally, the stage version of "Oh, What a Circus" featured extra lyrics, explaining why Ché does not share the nation's grief.

The 1976 album contained the song "The Lady's Got Potential" which described the rise of Eva and Perón. It was very particular in that it introduced a subplot about Ché being a research chemist who developed an insecticide and aspired to capitalize on this creation. A short song was also included before the start of "Charity Concert", in which Perón and other officers introduce themselves as aspiring dictators. The song was dropped for the stage version, to be replaced with "The Art of the Possible", a musical chairs number which focused on power struggles within Perón's political party.

The character of Ché evolved considerably during the development of the musical. He was originally intended as an "Everyman character who could represent the voice of the people and of opposition", but grew into a representation of the revolutionary, Ché Guevara. It was not until Parker's 1996 film version that the character returned to its more anonymous roots.^[1]

Evita opened in London's West End in 1978, and on Broadway a year later.

Synopsis

Act One

A wordless opening reveals a cinema in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 26, 1952, where an audience is watching a film of Eva Peron's ("A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26th July 1952"). During the film, an announcer interrupts with the message that "Eva Peron entered immortality at 8:25 hours this evening...." The audience is heartbroken, and they sing "Requiem for Evita" in Latin, which is modeled on a Catholic requiem. Ché, the narrator, cynically assesses the hysterical grief that gripped Argentina when Evita died ("Oh What a Circus").

Ché introduces the audience to fifteen-year-old Eva, in 1936. She has her first love affair with tango singer Agustín Magaldi. Eva blackmails Magaldi into taking her with him to Buenos Aires ("On This Night of a Thousand Stars"). She reveals her hopes and ambitions when she arrives in the city for the first time ("Buenos Aires"). She soon dumps Magaldi, and Ché relates the story of how Eva 'slept' her way up the ladder, becoming a model, radio star, and actress ("Goodnight and Thank You"). He also tells of both Eva's success as an actress and a right-wing coup in 1943 ("The Lady's Got Potential"). This number was replaced in productions after the 1976 recording, with "The Art Of The Possible," in which Colonel Juan Perón is fighting members of his political party to rise to the top.^[2]

At a "Charity Concert" held in aid of the victims of an earthquake in San Juan, Eva is reunited with Magaldi as he closes his act. Perón addresses the crowd with words of encouragement and leaps off the stage, meeting Eva as soon as he exits. Eva and Perón share a secret rendezvous following the charity concert, where Eva tells Perón that she would be good for him and that she could help him ("I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You"). Eva dismisses Perón's previous mistress ("Hello and Goodbye"), who ponders the rejection ("Another Suitcase in Another Hall").^[3] As Eva moves into high social circles with Perón ("Perón's Latest Flame"), Ché shows the disdain of the upper-classes for Eva and the male chauvinism of the Argentine Army. Perón's presidential election campaign is next recounted, including the Army's attempts to imprison and silence Perón and Perón's questionable campaign practices ("A New Argentina").

Act Two

Perón has won a sweeping victory for President in 1946. He stands "On The Balcony of the Casa Rosada" addressing his descamisados (shirtless ones). Eva speaks from the balcony of the Presidential palace to her adoring supporters ("Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and ("On The Balcony of the Casa Rosada 2"). Ché looks at the price of fame as Eva dances at the Inaugural Ball with Perón, now Argentina's president elect ("High Flying, Adored").

Eva insists on a glamorous image in order to impress the people of Argentina and promote Peronism ("Rainbow High"). She prepares to tour in Europe as she is dressed for success by her fashion consultants. The success and decline of her famous 1946 tour ("Rainbow Tour"). Eva affirms her disdain for the upper class, while Ché asks her to start helping those in need as she promised "The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)". Eva begins the Eva Perón Foundation to direct her charity work. Ché describes Eva's controversial charitable work, and possible money-laundering practices ("And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)").^[4]

Perón's generals do not want a female Vice-President, and Perón reveals that though "She is a Diamond," Eva's health is not up to the task. Eva's devoted supporters see her as a modern-day saint "Santa Evita". Evita and Ché heatedly debate Eva's actions ("Waltz for Eva and Che"). Ché is disillusioned with Eva's self-serving behavior, while Eva cynically replies that there is no glory in trying to solve the world's problems as he advocates. Eva insists she can continue on, despite her failing health ("Dice Are Rolling/Eva's Sonnet").

Eva understands, at the end of her life, that Perón loves her for herself, not just for what she can do for him and his career ("You Must Love Me").^[5] A dying Eva renounces her pursuit of the vice presidency and swears her eternal love to the people of Argentina ("Eva's Final Broadcast"). Eva's achievements flash before her eyes before she dies ("Montage"), and she asks for forgiveness, contemplating her choice of fame instead of long life ("Lament"). Eva dies, and embalmers preserve her body forever. Ché notes that a monument was to be built for Evita "Only the pedestal was completed, and Evita's body disappeared for seventeen years...."

Song list from the original Broadway production

Notes:

• °Replaced by "Junin, 26th July 1952" for the London production
• "You Must Love Me", written for the 1996 film, was added after "Waltz for Eva and Che" to the 2006 London production.
• See Evita for the song list from the 1976 concept album

Historical accuracy of the story

See also: Che Guevara in popular culture

After leaving Peronist Argentina in the mid-1950s, Guevara moved to Cuba. As Castro's collaborator, he came to occupy a position of spiritual leader in Cuba's government that was arguably analogous to Evita's role in Peronist Argentina. In the early productions of the musical, Ché and Evita have a confrontation in the song "Waltz for Eva and Ché". The character of Evita makes a reference to Guevara's future role in Castro's Cuba: "So go, if you're able/To somewhere unstable/And stay there/Whip up your hate/In some tottering state/But not here, dear/Is that clear, dear?" However, there is no evidence to suggest that Ché Guevara and Eva Perón actually ever met. Guevara later claimed that he had sent a letter to Perón's charity requesting a jeep, which was never received. He also joined a Peronist youth organisation in college, though only to gain access to their library. ^[7]

The lyrics and storyline of the musical are based on Mary Main's biography, Evita: The Woman with the Whip, which drew heavily upon the accounts of anti-Peronist Argentines. Shortly after the musical appeared, Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro published a more neutral account of Eva Perón's life, titled Evita: The Real Lives of Eva Perón, in which they claim that many of Main's assertions (which had influenced Rice's lyrics) were false, such as the suggestion that Eva had first gone to Buenos Aires as the mistress of a married musician, Agustín Magaldi. Instead, they wrote, Eva's mother Doña Juana had taken her there when she aspired to become a radio actress. Critics also suggested that Rice's lyrics disparaged Evita's achievements unnecessarily, particularly her charity work. ^[8]

In the film, the characters who represent the anti-Peronist oligarchy speak and sing with British accents, underscoring the historical fact that British commercial interests were an important opponent of the Peronist movement.

Following the success of the film version of "Evita," in 1996, the government of Argentina released its own film biography of Peron, entitled "Eva Peron," alleging that it corrected distortions in the Lloyd Webber account.^[9]

Productions

1978 London production

Evita opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on 21 June 1978 and ran for 2900 performances. The title character was played by Elaine Paige, who had been selected from a large number of hopefuls, after Julie Covington elected not to take the role. Ché was played by the pop singer David Essex, and Perón by Joss Ackland. The production was directed by Harold Prince, choreographed by Larry Fuller, and produced by Robert Stigwood. Other notable actresses playing the role of Evita in this production included Marti Webb, Stephanie Lawrence, Siobhan McCarthy and Michele Breeze.

1979 Broadway production

The show opened at the Broadway Theatre on 25 September 1979, and closed on 26 June 1983, after 1567 performances and 17 previews. Patti LuPone starred as Eva 'Evita' Peron, with Mandy Patinkin as Ché and Bob Gunton as Perón. As in the London production, Harold Prince directed with choreography by Larry Fuller. During the run, six actresses alternated playing the title role, in addition to LuPone: Terri Klausner, Nancy Opel and Pamela Blake (matinees), and Derin Altay, Loni Ackerman and Florence Lacey (evenings). David Cantor understudied Patinkin and often performed Ché. A 1989 world tour cast included Lacey as Eva, James Sbano as Ché and Robert Alton as Perón.

1981 Madrid production

The musical's Spanish-language version premiered at the Teatro Monumental in Madrid in 1981. Paloma San Basilio was Evita, and Patxi Andion was Ché. The song "No llores por mí, Argentina" became a hit single and was interpreted by singers like Nacha Guevara. The Spanish-language production later played in Barcelona and other cities, as well as in Latin American tours.

2006 London revival

On 2 June 2006, the first major London production of Evita in 25 years opened at London's Adelphi Theatre, directed by Michael Grandage with Argentine actress Elena Roger as Eva Perón, Philip Quast as Perón, and Matt Rawle as Ché. Notably, its song list included "You Must Love Me", written for the 1996 film, which had never been part of an English-language stage production. The production opened to rave reviews, but due to a surfeit of musicals in the West End at the time, ticket sales were slow and the production closed on May 26 2007, after a run of less than twelve months.^[10]

2008 UK tour

A UK tour opened on 22 May 2008.^[11] The cast includes Louise Dearman as Eva, Seamus Cullen (a finalist in the BBC show Any Dream Will Do) as Che, and Mark Heenehan as Perón.

Notable actresses

Other notable actresses playing the role of Evita around the world have included Paloma San Basilio (1981, Spain); Valeria Lynch (1981, Mexico); Michele Breeze (1982, New Zealand); and Pia Douwes and Doris Baaten (1996, The Netherlands and Belgium).

Adaptations

1996 film

Main article: Evita (film)

Plans for a film developed soon after the West End and Broadway openings, which was originally to have starred Barbra Streisand or Liza Minnelli as Eva, and Barry Gibb or Barry Manilow as Ché, and was to have been directed by Ken Russell. Ultimately, these plans never came to fruition and it was not until the 1996 film Evita, directed by Alan Parker, that the theatrical production came to the big screen, with Madonna in the title role, Antonio Banderas as Ché, and Jonathan Pryce as Perón. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me", composed especially for the film).

Awards and nominations

Olivier Awards 1978^[12]

• Best New Musical
• Performance of the Year in a Musical — Elaine Page

Tony Awards^[13]

• Best Musical (WINNER)
• Best Score (WINNER)
• Best Book (Musical) (WINNER)
• Best Director (Musical) — Harold Prince (WINNER)
• Best Featured Actor in a Musical — Mandy Patinkin(WINNER)
• Best Featured Actor in a Musical -- Bob Gunton (nominee)
• Best Actress (Musical) — Patti Lupone (WINNER)
• Best Lighting Designer — David Hersey (WINNER)
• Best Scenic Design (nominee)
• Best Costume Design (nominee)
• Best Choreography (nominee)

Drama Desk Awards^[14]

• Outstanding Musical (WINNER)
• Outstanding Lyrics (WINNER)
• Outstanding Music (WINNER)
• Outstanding Actress (Musical) — Patti LuPone (WINNER)
• Outstanding Featured Actor (Musical) — Bob Gunton (WINNER)
• Outstanding Director of a Musical (WINNER)
• Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Patinkin) (nominee)
• Outstanding Choreography (nominee)
• Outstanding Costume Design (nominee)
• Outstanding Lighting Design (nominee)

Outer Critics Circle Awards 1980^[15]

• Best Lyricist

Cultural impact

Evita came in sixth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the UK's "Number One Essential Musicals".^[16]

One episode of The Simpsons, "The President Wore Pearls", has a plot loosely based on the musical, including parodies of songs such as "Don't Cry for Me, Kids of Springfield". At the end of the episode, a disclaimer is displayed stating, "On the advice of our lawyers, we swear we have never heard of a musical based on the life of Eva Perón".

Recordings

At least twenty-five English language cast albums have been released, along with many foreign language recordings. There are currently four in Spanish, five German, three in Japanese, and two in Hebrew, with additional recordings in Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Hungarian, Icelandic, Korean, Portuguese, and Swedish.

• 1976 concept album
• 1978 London cast
• 1979 Broadway cast
• 1996 film soundtrack
• 2006 London cast

References

See also

• Evita (1976 album)

External links

• Internet Broadway Database listing for Evita
• Evita at Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group
• Evita synopsis and other information on the NODANW site

Maria Eva Duarte de Perón Husband Juan Domingo Perón Politics Eva Perón Foundation · Ciudad Evita (Evita City) · Peronista Feminist Party · General Confederation of Labour · European Rainbow Tour · Spiritual Chief of the Nation · First Lady of Argentina · President of Argentina · First presidential term · Second presidential term Autobiography La Razón de mi Vida Literature and popular culture The Woman with the Whip (biography) · Evita (musical) · Evita (film)