ACT ONE
THE VOICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PRESS
(in Spanish)
It is the sad duty of the Secretary of the
Press…
(in English)
…to inform the people of Argentina
that Eva Peron, spiritual leader of the nation,
entered immortality at 20.25 hours today.
REQUIEM FOR EVITA / OH WHAT A CIRCUS
CROWD
Requiem aeternum dona Evita
Requiem Evita
Evita
Evita
CHE
Oh what a circus! Oh what a show!
Argentina has gone to town
Over the death of an actress called Eva Peron
We’ve all gone crazy
Mourning all day and mourning all night
Falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right
Oh what an exit! That’s how to go!
When they’re ringing your curtain down
Demand to be buried like Eva Peron
It’s quite a sunset
And good for the country in a roundabout way
We’ve made the front page of all the world’s papers today
But who is this Santa Evita?
Why all this howling hysterical sorrow?
What kind of goddess has lived among us?
How will we ever get by without her?
She had her moments–she had some style
The best show in town was the crowd
Outside the Casa Rosada crying, “Eva Peron”
But that’s all gone now
As soon as the smoke from the funeral clears
We’re all going to see how she did nothing for years!
CROWD
Salve regina mater misericordiae
Vita dulcedo et spes nostra
Salve salve regina
Ad te clamamus exules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes
O clemens o pia
CHE
You let down your people Evita
You were supposed to have been immortal
That’s all they wanted
Not much to ask for
But in the end you could not deliver
Sing you fools! But you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven’t got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She’s not coming back to you
Show business kept us all alive
Since 17 October 1945
But the star has gone, the glamour’s worn thin
That’s a pretty bad state for a state to be in
Instead of government we had a stage
Instead of ideas a prima donna’s rage
Instead of help we were given a crowd
She didn’t say much but she said it loud
And who am I who dares to keep
His head held high while millions weep?
Why the exception to the rule?
Opportunist? Traitor? Fool?
Or just a man who grew and saw
From seventeen to twenty-four
His country bled, crucified?
She’s not the only one who’s died!
Sing you fools? But you got it wrong
Enjoy your prayers because you haven’t got long
Your queen is dead, your king is through
She’s not coming back to you
CROWD
Salve regina mater misericordiae
Vita dulcedo et spes nostra
Salve salve regina Peron
Ad te clamamus exules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes
O clemens o pia
GIRL
Don’t cry for me Argentina
For I am ordinary, unimportant
And undeserving of such attention
Unless we all are–I think we all are
Ride on my train oh my people
And when it’s your turn to die you’ll remember
They fired those cannons, sang lamentations
Not just for Eva, for Argentina
Not just for Eva, for everybody
So share my glory, so share my coffin
So share my glory, so share my coffin
CHE
It’s our funeral too
ON THIS NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS / EVA
AND MAGALDI / EVA BEWARE OF THE CITY
CHE
Now Eva Peron had every disadvantage you need if
you’re going to succeed.
No money, no class, no father,
no bright lights–there was nowhere she’d been at the age
of fifteen,
as this tango singer found out. A tango singer!
Agustin Magaldi–who has the distinction of being the
first man to be of use to Eva Duarte.
MAGALDI
On this night of a thousand stars
Let me take you to heaven’s door
Where the music of love’s guitars
Plays for evermore!
In the glow of those twinkling lights
We shall love through eternity
On this night in a million nights
Fly away with me!
I never dreamed that a kiss could be as sweet as this
–now I know that it can
I used to wander alone without a love of my own
I was a desperate man
But all my grief disappeared and all the sorrow I feared
Wasn’t there anymore
On that magical day when you first came my way
Mi amor!
On this night
On this night
On this night of a thousand stars
Let me take you to heaven’s door
Where the music of love’s guitars
Plays for evermore!
EVA
To think that a man, as famous as you are,
could love a poor little nothing like me!
MAGALDI
The audience here are sitting on their hands
CHE
Listen chum, face the fact they don’t like your act
MAGALDI
But this is Junin! If this were Buenos Aires–
I’d have that town at my feet!
I never ever meet members of the public
–they’d tear me apart!
CHE
I understand their feelings
EVA
I want to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
EVA and FAMILY
She wants to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
CHE
Just listen to that! They’re onto you Magaldi!
I’d get out while you can
EVA
It’s happened at last–I’m starting to get started–
I’m moving out with my man
MAGALDI
Now Eva don’t get carried away-
EVA
Monotony past–suburbia departed–
Who could ever get kicks in the back of the sticks?
MAGALDI
Don’t hear words that I didn’t say
EVA’s FAMILY
What’s that? You’d desert the girl you love?
MAGALDI
The girl I love? What are you talking about?
EVA’s FAMILY
She really brightened up your out of town engagement,
she gave you all she had–she wasn’t in your contract
–you must be quite relieved that no-one’s told the papers
–so far-
EVA
I want to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
Would I have done what I did if I hadn’t thought,
If I hadn’t known, we would stay together?
CHE
Seems to me there’s no point in resisting,
She’s made up her mind, you’ve no choice.
Why don’t you be the man who discovered her?
You’ll never be remembered for your voice.
MAGALDI
The city can be paradise for those who have the cash,
The class and the connections
What you need to make a splash.
The likes of you get swept up in the morning with the trash
If you were rich or middle class-
EVA
Screw the middle classes! I will never accept them!
And
they will never deny me anything again!
My father’s
other family were middle class
and we were kept out of
sight, hidden from view, at his funeral!
If these are the
people of Buenos Aires
I welcome the chance to shine in
their city!
CHE
Do all your one night stands give you this trouble?
MAGALDI
Eva, beware of the city
It’s hungry and cold, can’t be controlled, it is mad
Those who are fools are swallowed up whole
And those who are not become
What they should not become
Changed–in short they go bad
EVA
Bad is good for me–I’m bored, so clean and so ignored
I’ve only been predictable–respectable!
Birds fly out of here so why oh why oh why the hell
can’t I
I only want variety–notoriety!
I want to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
EVA and FAMILY
She wants to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
MAGALDI
Five years from now I shall come back
And finally say, you have your way–come to town
But you’ll look at me with a foreigner’s eyes
The magical city, a younger girl’s city,
A fantasy long since put down
EVA
All you’ve done to me–was that a young girl’s fantasy?
I played your city games alright–didn’t I?
I already know what cooks, how the dirty city feels
and looks
I tasted it last night, didn’t I?
I’m going to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
EVA and FAMILY
She’s going to be a part of B.A.–Buenos Aires–Big Apple!
MAGALDI
Eva beware your ambition
It’s hungry and cold, can’t be controlled, will run wild
This in a man is a danger enough
But you are a woman, not even a woman,
Not
Very much more than a child and whatever you say
I’ll not steal you away!
BUENOS AIRES
EVA
What’s new Buenos Aires?
I’m new–I want to say I’m just a little stuck on you
You’ll be on me too!
I get out here Buenos Aires
Stand back–you ought to know what’cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality!
Fill me up with your heat, with your noise, with your
dirt, overdo me
Let me dance to your beat, make it loud. let it hurt,
run it through me
Don’t hold back you are certain to impress
Tell the driver this is where I’m staying
Hello Buenos Aires!
Get this–just look at me, dressed up somewhere to go
We’ll put on a show!
Take me in at your flood, give me speed, give me lights,
set me humming
Shoot me up with your blood, wine me up with your
nights, watch me coming
All I want is a whole lot of excess
Tell the singer this is where I’m playing
Stand back Buenos Aires!
Because you ought to know what’cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of star quality!
And if ever I go too far
It’s because of the things you are
Beautiful town–I love you
And if I need a moment’s rest
Give your lover the very best
Real eiderdown–and silence
CHE
On the 9th February 1935, in Buenos Aires–a polo
match, between a team of leading Argentine players and
the touring British side. The British ambassador said he
had never seen a social occasion quite like it. Even by the
standards of Buenos Aires society the gathering at the
polo ground glittered. The Rolls’ and the Daimlers, the
hampers from Harrod’s, the clothes, the diamonds, the
crystal, the wines, the procession of nannies from
England and France. The result of the match? Oh yes–
the home team won, but as the British ambassador
pointed out, that did not reflect badly on British
horsemanship. Three of the Argentine players were
educated at Eton.
EVA
You’re a tramp, you’re a treat, you will shine to the
death, you are shoddy
But you’re flesh, you are meat, you shall have every
breath in my body
Put me down for a lifetime of success
Give me credit–I’ll find ways of paying
Rio de la Plata! Florida! Corrientes! Nueve de Julio!
All I want to know!
Stand back Buenos Aires!
Because you oughta know what’cha gonna get in me
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of
Just a little touch of star quality!
GOODNIGHT AND THANK YOU
CHE
Goodnight and thank you Magaldi
You’ve completed your task, what more could we ask
Of you now?
Please sign the book on your way out the door
That will be all
If we need you we’ll call
But I don’t think that’s likely somehow
EVA
Oh but it’s sad when a love affair dies
The parting, the closing of doors
But we must be honest, stop fooling ourselves
CHE
Which means–up yours!
CHE and MAGALDI
There is no-one, no-one at all
Never has been and never will be a lover
Male or female
Who hasn’t an eye on
In fact they rely on
Tricks they can try on
Their partner
They’re hoping their lover will help them or keep them
Support them, promote them
Don’t blame them
You’re the same
CHE
Goodnight and thank you whoever
She’s in every magazine, been photographed, seen
She is known
We don’t like to rush but your case has been packed
If we’ve missed anything
You could give us a ring
But we don’t always answer the phone
EVA
Oh but it’s sad when a love affair dies
But when we were hot we were hot
I know you’ll look back on the good times we’ve shared
CHE
But Eva will not!
CHE, EVA, MAGALDI, EVA’s FIRST LOVER
There is no-one, no-one at all
Never has been and never will be a lover
Male or female
Who hasn’t an eye on
In fact they rely on
Tricks they can try on
Their partner
They’re hoping their lover will help them or keep them
Support them, promote them
Don’t blame them, you’re the same
CHE
Goodnight and thank you whoever
We are grateful you found her a spot on the sound
radio
We’ll think of you every time she’s on the air
We’d love you to stay
But you’d be in the way
So do up your trousers and go
EVA
Of but it’s sad when a love affair dies
The decline into silence and doubt
Our passion was just too intense to survive
CHE
For God’s sake get out!
LOVERS
Oh but this line’s an embarrassing sight
Someone has made us look fools
Argentine men call the sexual shots
Someone has altered the rules
CHE
Fame on the wireless as far as it goes
Is all very well, but every girl knows
She needs a man she can monopolize
With fingers in dozens of different pies-
LOVERS
Oh but it’s sad when a love affair dies