“Oh What A Circus” — David Essex/ Antonio Banderas
40 years ago people living in major Western democracies made fun of tin-pot dictators in Third World countries. Now the joke’s on us…
Right across the political spectrum, you don’t need to go far to find a personality cult and the unquestioning adoration of millions of followers. Both right and left prioritise PR and boondoggles for their own supporters over the realities of trying to improve the lives of the majority of their citizens.
There’s that old line about those who don’t remember history being condemned to repeat it. I might update that a little to say those who don’t know the history of musical theatre are condemned to live it out in real life…
That’s because, if you want a perfect take-down of modern-day political hubris, you don’t need to look further than the Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice musical Evita.
Tim Rice is one of my all-time favourite lyricists although it’s probably fair to say he’s not that well known as a writer of songs packed full of searing political commentary.
But despite many angrier and more vocal people giving it a jolly good try, “Oh What A Circus” can’t be beaten as a critique of vapid, personality-driven politics…
She had her moments, she had some style
The best show in town was the crowd…
