Evita
It is the 26th July 1952. In a cinema in Buenos Aires, the audience are suddenly jolted back to reality as the film is abruptly stopped. A stark emotionless voice announces that “The spiritual leader of the nation has entered immortality.” At first there is stunned silence, but soon reality sets in and this is replaced by frenzied hysteria. In the audience is a young Argentinean student, Che Guevara. He alone is unaffected by the news. Eva’s funeral is majestic, a combination of pageantry, huge crowds and much wailing and lamentation. Che remains detached; he narrates the story from the beginning and takes us back to 1934. A nightclub in Junin, Eva’s home town, she is just fifteen, and has already had a brief affair with the singer there, Agustin Magaldi. She begs to be taken to the big city – Buenos Aires. He reluctantly succumbs to her persuasive charms and finally agrees. Magaldi is soon disposed of now that he has served his purpose. Eva begins her upward climb to fame and fortune, through a string of affairs, each man slightly higher in the pecking order than the one before. She becomes a successful model, broadcaster and film actress. Che comments on Eva’s speedy rise to the top and we are introduced to Colonel Juan Peron, one of many military men close to the presidency. When they meet at a charity concert for victims of an Argentine earthquake, they are rapidly aware that both have something the other wants. Eva now adds political ambition to her ever increasing desire for fame. She evicts his mistress from his flat and moves into Peron’s life to such an extent that she enrages the wrath of two factions who were to remain her set enemies until her death – the Army and the aristocracy. Che, however, sees Eva’s success as a sign that times are changing, that anyone can make it if they have something to offer. As the political situation becomes even more uncertain, it is Eva rather than Peron who is totally determined that he should stand for the highest prize – the Presidency of Argentina. 
Act 2It is the day of Peron’s presidential inauguration. As they appear on the balcony of the Casa Rosada, Eva’s appearance is striking and her speech to the vast crowds below emotional and dramatic, and she receives an even greater ovation than Peron. Che questions Eva about herself and her success, but her mind is full of her forthcoming tour of Europe. Although this erupts in a blaze of glory in Spain, there are setbacks in Italy and France and she never gets to England. So on her return, Eva determines to concentrate on home affairs and launches the Eva Peron Foundation. It is not without its critics, as the money is procured from the aristocratic rich and only some is given to the poor. This gives her near goddess status in the eyes of those who benefit, but not Che, who by now is totally disenchanted. Eva’s health suffers from her relentless schedule and it becomes clear that she is ill. Anti-Eva feeling from the military increases and Peron is losing his grip on the government, they discuss the worsening situation, but Eva will not give in and resolves to become vice-president. However, the opposition from the army, together with the knowledge that she is dying brings her to her final broadcast. She rejects the post of vice-president, in her heart knowing it to be a position she could never have won. In her last hours, images, people and events flow through Eva’s mind. She wonders, if she had remained in obscurity, would she have lived longer and would she have been happier? But even in death she is denied this obscurity. From the moment of her death, the embalmers work begins, to preserve her fragile body to be “displayed forever”.  |
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