Musical (1978)


Musique: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Paroles: Tim Rice
Livret: Tim Rice

Evita se concentre sur la vie de la leader politique argentine, Eva Perón, la seconde épouse du président (et dictateur) argentin Juan Perón. L'histoire suit Evita depuis sa jeunesse jusqu’à sa mort, en retraçant sa montée au pouvoir et son soutien aux œuvres de charité.
Le musical est d’abord apparu sous la forme d’un album-concept d’opéra-rock, sorti en 1976. Son succès a permis la création de l’œuvre à la scène dans le West End de Londres en 1978 (au Prince Edward Theatre), remportant le Laurence Olivier Award pour la meilleure musique et fut créé à Broadway un an plus tard, où il a été la première comédie musicale Britannique à recevoir le Tony Award de la meilleure musique.

Act I
The opening reveals a cinema in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 26 July 1952, where an audience is watching a film A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952. The Spanish dialogue is heard during the film, an announcer interrupts with the message (begun in Spanish, but fading into English) that "Eva Perón entered immortality at 20:25 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.

Che introduces the audience to 15-year-old Eva, in 1934. She has her first love affair with tango singer Agustín Magaldi after she meets him at one of his shows On This Night of a Thousand Stars. Eva blackmails Magaldi into taking her with him to Buenos Aires and though he is initially resistant, he eventually surrenders 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. She soon dumps Magaldi, and Che relates the story of how Eva sleeps her way up the ladder, becoming a model, radio star, and actress 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 Perón, 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 Perón and other military figures compete for power and exhibit their political strategy The Art Of The Possible.

After a devastating earthquake hits the town of San Juan, Perón organizes a charity concert at the Luna Park to provide aid to the victims. Eva attends and briefly reunites with Agustín Magaldi, who coldly shuns her for her past actions. Perón addresses the crowd with words of encouragement and leaps off the stage, meeting Eva as soon as he exits Charity Concert. Eva and Perón share a secret rendezvous following the charity concert, where Eva hints that she could help Perón rise to power I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You. Eva dismisses Perón's Mistress, (the character is known only by that title), who ponders the rejection Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

After moving in with Perón, Eva is introduced to high society, but she is met with disdain from the upper classes and the Argentine Army Perón's Latest Flame. In 1946, Perón launches his presidential bid after being promoted to general in the army, and while in bed with Eva, he discusses his chances at winning the election. Eva reassures him and soon they organize rallies where the people show their support and hope for a better future, while in the sidelines Perón and his allies plot to dispose of anyone who stands in their way A New Argentina.

Act II
Perón is elected President in a sweeping victory 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, 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 analyzes 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. She prepares to tour in Europe as she is dressed for success by her fashion consultants Rainbow High. Her famous 1946 tour meets with mixed results Rainbow Tour; Spaniards adore her, but the Italians liken her husband to Benito Mussolini, France is unimpressed, 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 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. 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, 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 can't go on for much longer. Afterwards, Eva finally understands that Perón loves her for herself, not just for what she can do for him and his career You Must Love Me.

Perón's generals finally get sick of Eva's meddling and demand that Perón force her to leave politics. However, Perón objects and claims that if it wasn't for her they would never have achieved as much as they have She Is A Diamond. However, he also acknowledges she won't be able to keep working for long as she will soon succumb to her cancer. Meanwhile, Eva is determined to run for vice president, much to Perón's fear that they will be overtaken by the military 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.

Realising she is close to death, 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 and raising children Lament. Eva dies, and embalmers preserve her body forever. Che notes that a monument was set to be built for Evita but "only the pedestal was completed, when Evita's body disappeared for 17 years...."

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