Piaf

Synopsis

The story of Edith Piaf, the legendary French singer. From singing in the streets to being the highest paid singer in the world, Piaf has left us with her wonderful legacy of great songs which reflect an extraordinary life. Contains strong language.

Our Review:

17 March 2004

The applause comes before curtain up, so to speak, as Piaf emerges from the cold white lamplight on a cobbled Paris pavement, spitting and peeing into the gutter from which she notoriously came. She clearly has her fans, as does Anna-Jane Casey, last seen at the Crucible in the hit musical Sweet Charity.

Rather than ‘Frenchifying’ her appearance or behaviour, Casey's interpretation of this 'kid sparrow' is a stray lass with a Yorkshire accent and a soiled rag for a dress. F'ing and blinding her way through a tough start on the street she introduces us to the breathlessly condensed musical biography of Edith Giovanna Gassion.

Next we fast-forward through her earlier life, and brief motherhood, to the chance encounter with impresario Louis Leplée where her rendition of "Les deux ménétriers" gets her noticed. She is scooped up, away from her father to perform at Leplée's exclusive club and very quickly spat out after his murder. From there, countl...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.93.34.14) - 30 March 2004:

Edith Piaf lives! This is a mesmerizing performance. The stark wonderfully atmospheric set, the music of the Paris pavement cafe, the brilliant white spotlight, the giant shadows of France's adored little 'sparrow', provide the perfect backdrop for this frenetic tour through the scrapbook of her life. It's not a play, it's not a musical, it's just a series of scenes each perfectly illustrated by Piaf's legendary songs. Above all it is an extraordinary realistic and captivating performance. Anna-Jane Casey is Piaf! David Tomlinson (Sheffield)...

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