Evita | South China Morning Post

There were plans as early as 1978 to make a film of the stage show. But it took almost 20 years for film production to start, partly because of problems finding a suitable star to play the title role. Neither of the actresses who played the part on stage in London and New York was offered the role because they were not known to cinema-goers.

Top Hollywood actresses like Meryl Streep and Michelle Pfeiffer were at one time or another attached to the film, but nothing came of such plans.

In the 1990s, the singer Madonna began campaigning for the part. She wrote a letter to director Alan Parker asking to be given the role. Many people thought she was not good enough either as a singer or as an actress to carry the part, but Hollywood bowed to her star power. The film starring Madonna was well-received by the public and critics alike. Evita remains Madonna's only commercially successful silver-screen effort.

The plot

Eva Duarte was born illegitimate into a poor family in rural Argentina in 1919. Despite her humble origins, she was determined to improve. At age 15, she left her hometown for the capital, Buenos Aires, to work as a photo model and a film actress.

When she was 25, Eva met Juan Peron, a powerful army general just launching a political career. After they married, they worked tirelessly to get Peron into office. He was elected president in 1946 and Eva became Argentina's popular first lady. Poor people loved her because she was once one of them and she stood up for them. But Argentina's aristocracy and military were wary of her influence and ambition.

As Eva's popularity and political power grew, the people began calling her 'Santa Evita', or 'Little Saint Eva'. But during an important world tour she became seriously ill and was rushed home. In 1952 she died of cervical cancer. Her body was embalmed and then it disappeared, eventually turning up in Italy 20 years later. After Eva's death, Peron was overthrown as president and Argentina descended into political chaos.

Rice & Lloyd Webber

English lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber began working together on musicals in the early 1960s. They didn't have much success at first, but in 1968, the pair were commissioned by a London school to write a piece for its choir. The two wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a song version of a popular Bible story.

People loved the musical so Rice and Lloyd Webber began working on a longer piece. Their 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar first appeared as a concept album before being adapted for the stage in New York and London. It was an instant hit. The duo followed up with Evita five years later. It, too, came out first as an album before becoming a huge stage hit.

The pair bickered and went their separate ways, having further success with other partners. There are regular rumours that Rice and Lloyd Webber will reunite but so far they haven't.

'Don't Cry for me Argentina'

The best-known song in the film Evita is Don't Cry for me Argentina. It has been a hit for more than 30 singers, including Hong Kong's Priscilla Chan Wai-han. In the musical, Eva sings the song while addressing a crowd of supporters from the balcony of her palace in Buenos Aires. Its soaring melody and dramatic words have made the song a favourite even with people who have never seen the production.

During the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina over the tiny Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic, Don't Cry for me Argentina was played by British soldiers as they deployed to the combat zone.

The song, performed by either Madonna or Patti LuPone, the original Broadway Evita, evokes an image of Eva grandstanding before the people of Argentina at the height of her power.

Money-making tin cans

Argentina, South America's second biggest country, occupies most of the continent's southern tip.

The country stretches 3,900 kilometres from north to south and 1,400km from east to west. The Pampas, the country's fertile central flatlands, have always been a main source of wealth for Argentina.

Its vast herds of cattle make Argentina the world's third largest beef exporter.

Cattle, which are not native to the Americas, were introduced to the continent by the Spanish in the 16th century. Many Argentine landowners have since become super-rich thanks to their vast cattle stations. An important Argentine export comes in a small tin can. Corned beef - minced meat salted and canned - earns the country millions of dollars each year. No true breakfast in New York City is complete without corned beef hash, a tasty stew made with corned beef and potatoes.

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