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Show March 26, 1996 Midweek Etc. Te Page 4 MadonnaCastto Play Argentine Saintin ‘Evita’ ByKerry Luft Chicago Tribune BUENOS AIRES — Not every day does the president of a country sit down for a friendly chat with someonehe hascalled “a total and utter disgrace.” Then again, Madonna doesn't cometo townall that often. The pop star is here to make “Evita,” a $60 million movie based on the 1979 musical of the same name. It portraysthe life of Eva Peron, who, like Madonna. rose from a working-class back- ground to become an idol — and to some Argentines, a near saint As first lady of Argentina from Webber infuriated Argentines by saying Eva Peron was“easily the most unpleasant character I've written about.” The show went on to win seven Tony Awards but never has been performed commercially in Argentina. Its critics say it is wildly inaccurate. For example, the Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara appears as an adult in the play, though he was a youth while Pe- ron wasin power. “The rock opera is entertaining,” said soap opera star Andrea del Boca, who plans to portray Evita in a biographical film set to go into productionlaterthis year. “It’s a great opera. I respect it but it's offensive as an interpretation of Argentine history.’ Two years ago, director Oliver Stone announced plans to film “Evita,” reportedly with Michelle Pfeiffer and Raul Julia in the leading roles. Stone came to Bue- nosAires, had lunch with Menem and even checked out the balcony at the presidential palace. But although Stone claimed that Menem hadoffered full sup- port for his production, he soon got a rude awakening: Within a week, Menem said the musical “distorts historical truth” and forbade filming inside govern- mental buildings, Stone vowed to push on, but soon dropped the project. Parker later picked it up and signed Madorma to star, along with Antonio Banderas, who plays Guevara, and Jonathan Pryce, who plays Peron. on the Pop star Madonna is in Argentina filming ‘Evita,’ a movie based and are life of Eva Peron. Some Argentines consider Peron a saint appalled by the casting of Madonna to portray herlife. 1946 until her death from cancer in 1952, Peron befriended the poor, building schools and hospi- tals and, along with her husband, Gen. Juan Peron, she passed a women's suffrage law. To this day, Argentines lay wreathsat her tomb in Buenos Aires’ La Recoleta cemetery. So whenit was announcedthat Madonna would portray Evita, manyof Peron’s fervent admirers howled with rage, saying there was no way that an entertainer known more for her antics than for her acting could play their heroine President Carlos Menem, head of the Peronist party, was outraged. So was the archbishop of Buenos Aires. Even before the singer arrived in late January, graffiti started popping up aroundthecity: ‘Evita Lives! Ma- MD Painter's All-Purpose Caulk donna Out!” Some congressmen proposed making the cast persona non grata in Argentina and urged Argen- Acrylic formula dries fast,interior or tines to boycott the film. But Madonna came anyway, drawing dozensoffans to her lux- exterior use, easy ury hotel, where they wait for hours each day hoping to glimpse water clean-up. their idol. “The truth is, I became aware of Evita because of Madonna," said 17-year-old Paulo Invernizzi, ashe sat with his friends, many of whomtake hour-long busrides to keep their vigil. Andin fact, the words some of Madonna's fans use to describe her sound strangely similar to the worshipful tones older Argentines use to describe Evita. “They have a mission in common, though they comeatit from different angles," explained Matthias Villegas, 18. “Unity for everyone,one equalclass. Madonna stands for freedom of speech and doing what you want.” Liz Rosenberg, the entertainer’s spokeswoman,said that ““Madonna feels she can relate to Eva Peron because she was misunderstood. She was both loved and hated, and Madonna can relate to that." and get 50%off a new paint brush. It doesn’t matter what shapeit’s in, It may not even look like o paint brush. Rosenberg added that Madonna has wanted to portray Evita for TiuiVt alue HelpIs Just Around The Comer: 299 Z-ProPaint Brush Set Reg. 4.69 4-pieces: 1", 1-1/2", 2" and 3" #812 Trv-Test Quality WeatherAll Latex Flat Paint Tru-Test Quolity WeatherAll Latex Satin House & Trim All acrylic, latex flat house paint (HPX-1, HPX-3, HPX-4, HPX-7, All acrylic,latex Satin house & trim. HPX-9, HPX-14, HPX-17) SHP-7, SHP-9, SHP-11, HPX-17) e youu ee (SHP-1, SHP-2, SHP-3, SHP-4, CEDAR FENCING years, and has read books on the Perons and met with several of their contemporaries in preparation for the role. A few years ago, while in Bue- nos Aires for a concert, Rosen- a" 2x4x8 #1 Cedar berg and Madonnadrove to see the balcony at the presidential palace, the spot where, in the musical, Evita sings the show-stop- ping number “Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.” “She didn’t even have the role yet, and I rememberhow excited she was to see the balcony,” Rosenberg said. Forher own part, Madonnatold the local magazine Caras before 4x4x8 #1 Cedar 6.49 txdy6 1x6x6 tx4x6 1x6x6 #1 #1 #2 #2 Flat Top Dog Eared 85 1.69 49 99 4 1.79 55 9 filming started that the movie “won't be scandalous.”” “Many people see Eva Peron as eithera saintor the incarnation of Satan. That means I definitely can identify with her,” she said. The musical by composer Andrew Lloyd Webberandlyricist Tim Rice portrays Eva Peron as an ambitious woman whoslept her way to power and then abused her station, hoarding wealth gained at the expenseofthestate. It ends with her death at age 33. But director Alan Parker, who also wrote the screenplay,said his film, while based on the musical, will be more truetolife than the original. “My screenplay is a realistic, naturalistic telling of the Eva Peron story, but the heart of the piece is still . the original op- era,” Parker said. “The challenge is to tell a historically accurate story in the operatic form.” Filming is to continue in Argentina until mid-March, and then shift to Budapest, Hungary. “Evita” was controversial long before Madonna signed on for the project. Even before the musical opened on Broadwayin 1979, af- ter a hit run in London, Lioyd Ete. Midweek Bic & 2 weekty supplement to The Sot Lake Tribune mod Deseret News Commespondence may be addressed to: Bic Fiitor ‘Newspaper Agency Corporanon C Mowe Steet, Sak Lake City, UT 84111 ‘Managing Editor: Cynthia M. Cook Predaction Supervisor lems | Satis Predection Assistant: Kattieex Doolin Aary opinions expressed im Ei are those ofthe ndivadual weiters and Go mot necessarily reflect the cecinarial views of The Salt Lake Tribe ce Deseret News To dincontinge delivery of ic or to report Getivery problems, please cell 237-2908, To subscribe to The Salt Late Tritene or Deseret News, phemse call 237-2900 0 Beremang SC is 4x4" i" white 0 aly S48 cack Tire Cord Reinforced Hose 6-10-4=1% Iron 2%Sulphur All brass coupling, flexible coils, 20 Ibs. 5/8" 50 foot, (FR-585) Selected 8x8" Tiles EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR EVERY JOB YOU DO 37 YEARS LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED Hoses on —Ganed Seeley 1555 WEST 3500 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 972-8737 |