Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It
concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Peron, the second
wife of Argentine president Juan Peron. The story follows Evita's early life,
rise to power, charity work, and eventual death. The musical began as a rock
opera concept album released in 1976 and has won the Tony Award for Best
Musical.
Act I
In Buenos Aires
on July 26, 1952, an audience is watching a film ("A Cinema in Buenos
Aires, July 26, 1952"). The film is interrupted when news breaks of the
death of Eva Peron, Argentina's First Lady, at the age of 33. The nation goes
into public mourning as they sing "Requiem for Evita" (in Latin,
which is modelled on a Catholic requiem). Ché, a member of the public, marvels
at the spectacle and promises to show how Eva did "nothing, for
years" ("Oh What a Circus").
In 1934,
15-year-old Eva Duarte (later Eva Duarte de Peron) lives in the provincial town
of Junín, and longs to seek a better life in Buenos Aires. Eva falls in love
with a tango singer, Agustín Magaldi, after she meets him at one of his shows
("On This Night of a Thousand Stars"). Eva persuades Magaldi into
taking her with him to Buenos Aires and though he is initially resistant, he
eventually accepts ("Eva, Beware of the City"). Upon her arrival at
the city, Eva sings about her hopes and ambitions of glory as an actress
("Buenos Aires"). After Magaldi leaves her, and Che relates the story
of how Eva goes through several relationships with increasingly influential
men, becoming a model, actress and radio personality ("Goodnight and Thank
You"). He then tells of both a right-wing coup in 1943 and Eva's success,
implying that Argentine politics and Eva's career may soon coincide. Che also
makes a point to introduce the figure of Colonel Juan Domingo Peron, an
ambitious military colonel who was making his way up the Argentine political
ladder ("The Lady's Got Potential"). In a game of musical chairs that
represents the rise of political figures, Peron and other military figures
compete for power and exhibit their political strategy ("The Art of the
Possible").
After the 1944
San Juan earthquake, Peron organizes a charity concert at Luna Park to provide
aid to the victims. Eva attends and briefly reunites with Magaldi, who spurns
her for her past actions. Peron addresses the crowd with words of encouragement
and leaps off the stage, meeting Eva as soon as he exits ("Charity
Concert"). Eva and Peron share a secret rendezvous following the charity
concert, where Eva hints that she could help Peron rise to power ("I'd Be
Surprisingly Good for You"). Eva dismisses Peron's Mistress (the character
is known only by that title), who ponders the rejection ("Another Suitcase
in Another Hall").
After moving in
with Peron, Eva is introduced to high society, but she is met with disdain from
the upper classes and the Argentine Army ("Peron's Latest Flame"). In
1946, Peron launches his presidential bid after being promoted to general in the
army, and while in bed with Eva, he discusses his chances of winning the
election. Eva reassures him and soon they organize rallies where the people
show their support and hope for a better future, while on the sidelines Peron
and his allies plot to dispose of anyone who stands in their way ("A New
Argentina").
Act II
In 1946, Peron
wins election to the presidency and 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, where
she reveals that despite her initial goal of achieving fame and glory, she has
found her true calling to be the people of her country ("Don't Cry for Me,
Argentina"). Che analyses the price of fame as Eva dances at the Inaugural
Ball with Peron, now the president-elect ("High Flying, Adored").
Eva insists on a
glamorous image to impress the people of Argentina and promote Peronism. She
prepares to tour in Europe as she is dressed for success by her fashion
consultants ("Rainbow High"). The next song has Che representing
leaders of the countries and even an Italian admiral. Her famous 1946 tour
meets with a mixed reception ("Rainbow Tour"); Spaniards adore her,
but the Italians liken her husband to Benito Mussolini. Even though the Italian
people did not like Evita, Argentina still had support from Italy. France is
unimpressed because Eva started to get tired, but still had some mixed reviews.
And the English snub her by inviting her to a country estate, rather than Buckingham
Palace. Eva affirms her disdain for the upper class, while Che (pretending to
be a random peasant) asks her to start helping those in need as she promised
("The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)"). After
returning to Argentina, she establishes the Eva Peron Foundation and
distributes aid. Che describes Eva's controversial charitable work, and
possible money laundering ("And the Money Kept Rolling In (And
Out)").
Eva appears at a
church to take the sacrament in front of her adoring supporters ("Santa
Evita"), but goes into a trancelike state, beginning to hallucinate. In
her vision she and Che heatedly debate her actions; Che accuses Eva of using
the Argentine people for her own ends and silencing people who do not support
her, while Eva cynically replies that there is no glory in trying to solve the
world's problems from the sidelines ("A Waltz for Eva and Che"). At
the end of the argument, Eva finally admits to herself and Che that she is
dying and will not live much longer. Afterwards, Eva finally understands that
Peron loves her for herself, not just for what she can do for him and his
career ("You Must Love Me").
Peron’s generals
finally get sick of Eva's meddling and demand that Peron force her to leave
politics. However, Peron objects and says that if it was not for her, they
would never have achieved as much as they have ("She Is a Diamond").
But he also concedes she will not be able to keep working for long as she will
soon succumb to her cancer. Even so, Eva is determined to run for
vice-president, and Peron fears that the military will stage a coup if she runs
and that Eva's health is too delicate for any stressful work, but Eva insists
she can continue, despite her failing health ("Dice Are Rolling/Eva's
Sonnet").
She declines the
position of Vice President due to her failing health, and makes one final
broadcast 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. Che
says that a monument was set to be built for Evita but "only the pedestal
was completed, when Evita's body disappeared for 17 years...."
