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:

22 October 2008

With mostly the same cast (two minor changes) around her, Elena Roger storms the West End as the self-immolating firebird of the Paris gutters to prove that Judy Garland and Amy Winehouse have not lived in vain – they validate a performance like Roger’s which finds glory in gruesomeness, passion in pain and purpose in unbridled sensuality.

Piaf was a victim of her own temperament but she was also a victim anyway, rich or poor, which is why we love her. The show starts with Piaf collapsing on stage at the Paris Olympia and the rest of the cast stripping her tragic life away with her costume until she stands before us semi-naked as the beggar girl with the big voice.

And what a voice Roger has! Without imitating Piaf, or being hampered as Marie Cotillard was in the recent over-long film with the recordings themselves, she strikes every chord of defiant fury in the original French (no sur-titles), as if possessed. Jamie Lloyd’s production is just as fast and ferocious as i...

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Latest User Review

Robert - 25 January 2009:

This was a once in a lifetime experience. Elena Roger was Piaf. Her voice echoed post war France exactly. 'Little Jimmy Brown' still haunts me. An Oliver for Elena. She sets the standard now....

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