Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Don't Cry For Me, Argentina

I would like to share this post to tell you about my favorite Broadway musical, and to also tell you about the time I wanted to kicked myself in the ass.

I should probably start by saying that although I enjoy humor and comedy, when it comes to my taste in musical theater, I’m not one for sugary, jolly, and happy-ending shows in which leprechauns are singing about rainbows, or cowboys are dancing ballet in an Oklahoma corn field.

Ironically, I much prefer a musical that blatantly exposes both the light and dark sides of human nature - and even more so if it’s a musical based on a biography or a piece of history. The shadow side is not always easy to look at, but for some crazy reason...I like looking at it.

I enjoy musicals such as, Sweeny Todd, Sunset Boulevard, Cabaret, and my all-time favorite…Evita.

Evita is a fascinating story based on the life of Eva Peron, First Lady of Argentina, who seduced her way into political power by appealing to the poor and working class. She was loved passionately and hated equally. She spent most of her adulthood fulfilling a personal vendetta. To make a long story short…she took money from the rich to give to the poor, and then took some for herself. She died at a very early age before having the chance to run for vice-president. And in the last scene of the musical on her deathbed, she humbly confesses her motives and asks for forgiveness.

Many years ago I was asked to be in a production of Evita. And after briefly talking to the musical director and hearing some of the music, I declined. At the time, I knew nothing about Eva Peron and it sounded like the show was going to be boring.

*WRONG*

However, I had several friends who were in the cast, so I was excited to attended the open night festivities.

I remember sitting in my seat as the curtain rose on the first scene, which is actually the funeral of Eva Peron. The musical starts at the end of her life, then reverts back to the beginning.

I don’t know whether it was the exquisitely dramatic sound of the orchestra, or the film footage of the real Eva Peron that was projected onto a movie screen, but I sat there totally mesmerized; not able to move.

The second act opens with the famous song Don’t Cry for me Argentina, at which point Eva Peron is at the peak of her political power. The actress who portrayed the role, slowly walked out onto a balcony wearing a magnificent designer gown and was dripping in diamonds.

As the stage lights hit her….she literally sparkled. It was intoxicating.

By the time the finale arrived, I was so engrossed in the story that I found myself not wanting it to end.

And as the curtain descended I remember standing on my feet and clapping so hard I thought my palms would bleed.

It was at that moment I had discovered my favorite Broadway musical and was simultaneously kicking myself in the ASS for not being a part of the show.

And after going backstage and congratulating the cast for their outstanding performances, I walked to my car thinking to myself…

….“Argentina wasn’t the only one CRYING”…

Ronita Peron

"The First Lady of Argentina"