Evita: The Stage Show I Never Saw

When I was turning 13 I told my parents what I wanted for my birthday was to go see the musical Evita.  I'd recently finished my first stage-musical (at church) and had also tried out for the audition-only elite show-choir at my high school and made it, so musicals were on my mind.  I had seen an ad for it in the newspaper (that's how old I am) and was entranced by the picture alone.  I knew this was my thing, and I asked my dad if we could get tickets.

Evita tells the story of a Latin-American woman who went from poverty and hopelessness to becoming a national and global leader, politician, and quite possibly the most influential and powerful woman of the 20th century. 

My dad, after a few days came back with the thought that maybe we could go to a show, but maybe a concert.  And a few days after that he told me he had bought tickets for him and me to go see Boyz 2 Men. 

Now, I liked Motown Philly as much as the next girl, but...

- 1 powerful Latin-American female politician / 4 black dudes from Philly who can sing

- Don't Cry For Me Argentina / I'll Make Love To You

- Themes of devotion, faith, family, nationalism / themes of living in the 'hood, getting it on

So we went to the concert, which was fun and nice and all.  The only thing I remember from the concert was how uncomfortable I felt as a 13-year-old standing next to my dad as the dudes on stage sang about "making love to you" and handing out roses for five and a half minutes, and then how they disappeared into a rotating box when they exited.  It was a cool magic trick, but nothing like what I imagined the magic between Che and Evita would have been. 

Imagine how I felt when the movie version came out just a year later.  It was like someone had given me a paper cut an poured lemon juice in it.

How many things do I have in common with Evita (the character, not necessarily the person?)

Latin American Female - check
Born into poverty - check
Father with two families - check
Left home to go to a big city and make her way in the world - check
Slept my way to the top - NOT a check
Creates opportunities for people with limits - check
Started as an actor - check

Likes to sing and dance - check

I think if he had known a little more about the person I would be now, he just might have let me go see the show and get it out of my system. 


(Written: Fall 2018)