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Eva Duarte was born into poverty and, like so many others, became a victim of society’s ills. Learning from her misfortunes, she turned the tables by using sex and a shrewd mind to further herself; and eventually became a popular actress. Fate paired her with Argentine military man, Juan Peron and, through her brilliance, the duo became the dictators of Argentina. Eva’s decision to not only stand behind her husband but beside him was atypical for the era and therefore unacceptable, making the couple a prime target of opposition. But the opposition had never dealt with the likes of Eva Peron. When Juan Peron campaigned for the presidency, it was the first time in history that a candidate’s wife accompanied him, handing out buttons and greeting people personally. Her larger-than-life charisma and movie-star glamour proved irresistible to the public, making her untouchable. Eva’s theatrical training served her perfectly in her ultimate role as first lady. From the biography, To Be Evita, she was quoted as saying, “Peron had a double personality and I would need to have one also. I am Eva Peron, the wife of the President, whose work is simple and agreeable…and I am also Evita, the wife of the leader of a people who have deposited in him all their faith, hope and love. A few days of the year I represent Eva Peron…most of the time, however, I am Evita.” This duality was not always a seamless projection. In a recent interview, the internationally renowned Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon, Dr. George G. Udvarhelyi, who treated Eva when she was dying of ovarian cancer, reminisced of seeing her speak from a balcony before she became ill. “She was talking about the descamisados (shirtless people) and the simple life, while wearing a million dollars worth of jewelry,” he said. (source: The Baltimore Sun). No matter what she wore, Eva undoubtedly initiated and carried out beyond-generous welfare reforms. She gave millions of dollars in goods to the poor (while likely embezzling similar amounts for herself and her husband). In her biography, Eva Peron, author Alicia Ortiz describes a particularly haunting incident: While visiting her beloved poor in a Buenos Aires shanty town, Eva saw a sick child whose face was obliterated by flies. Three days later she ordered all the residents out, not allowing them to take anything. Eva stayed at the scene until late in the night to make sure everything was burned because, she said, the poor would return to their homes if anything was left. The people were moved to new luxury apartments. When they ripped out the wooden flooring to use for cooking, Eva ordered the authorities to lay down another one. After the floor was replaced a third time, she said, “To convince oneself that one has the right to live decently takes time.” Eva Peron: saint or sinner? Whatever your opinion, her life story is made even more fascinating in this beautiful musical production, with inspired direction by Hal Prince, and an evocative, sweeping score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. (Another point of trivia: In 1975, Rice was so consumed with writing this musical, he named his first-born daughter Eva.) So without further ado, on with the show! |
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