Evita - "The Lady's Got Potential"

Is "The Lady's Got Potential" part of the licensed version of this show? Or does anyone know if companies have secured the rights to add this to productions before?

I agree, MB, on all accounts. I loathe "The Art of the Possible"! I think it stops the show cold and new people to the show don't really know what's going on in that scene. Whereas "The Lady's Got Potential" (with movie lyrics) could be another song-and-dance number for Ché and the ensemble à la "And the Money Kept Rolling In and Out." Plus, it brings people up to speed about the coup of 1943 that paved the way for Perón's rise (and fall and rise again), and Eva's foray into film.

Furthermore, it would be interesting if they'd arrange "A New Argentina" so that Perón's arrest and eventual release (thanks to the mobilization of the masses) would be shown, like in the movie. The October 17 demonstration (called "Loyalty Day" in Argentina) is never addressed in the musical though the date is alluded to by Ché earlier in the show ("Show business kept us all alive since 17 October 1945), but it was a watershed in Argentine politics and the birth of Peronism. It marked the first time the working classes made their voices heard and the Peróns took advantage of their potential numbers.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to mention some of Eva's accomplishments. As it is now, in the second act Eva becomes first lady, takes a European tour, founds her dubious charity, considers running for vice president, and dies. But the real Eva increasingly took an active role in running the country, to the point that she commandeered the VP's duties (her portrait hung next to Perón's in federal buildings). Perón handled the military, she took care of the workers. At the time she became ill, women had been enfranchised and she'd founded and ran the women's branch of the Peronist Party (which encouraged women to get politically involved/active and actually put several women in congress and mayoral positions), and she was the head of the largest labor federation in Argentina (CGT).

Hardly the figurehead in furs and diamonds the musical makes her out to be.

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Updated On: 10/23/10 at 12:49 PM

"Is it not possible to have both songs in the show?"

The movie kinda had it both ways. Though "The Lady's Got Potential" replaced "The Art of the Possible," an excerpt of the latter was used (and is credited on the soundtrack as "Charity Concert/The Art of the Possible") after Peron gives his speech at the earthquake benefit. It is sung by Ché, with "Juan" replacing "One":

Juan always picks the easy fight
Juan praises fools, Juan smothers light
Juan shifts from left to right
Politics -- the art of the possible!

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Updated On: 10/23/10 at 01:07 PM

I really enjoy the 2006 London cast album. I had reservations about Elena's singing at first, but I've really warmed up to it. And yes, the version of "Art of the Possible" on that album really changed my mind about that song. It's absolutely creepy in that incarnation.

Hal Prince requested a song written to establish the unstable government(s) in Argentina. Though the song by itself does not clearly establish this - which explains why some feel it is a dead spot - his staging was brilliant. In the original production Peron and 4 other generals entered carrying oversize rocking chairs. They all sat and began racking while singing the verse. After singing each verse they all rose, one chair was removed and they were playing musical chairs. At the very end Peron wins the game by grabbing the sole remaining seat.

Prince also used film clips and newspaper stills to feed us much information that is NOT contained in the text. This multi-media approach made the original production thrilling.

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I think it would be perfectly viable to use both songs.

Lady's Got Potential would be a great song for Ricky Martin and the way The Art of the Possible is staged in the revival is great.

I want the original SO BAD!

I am a huge CT. Wilkinson AND Evita fan but I don't have the original concept