Piaf charts the life story of the French icon – Édith Piaf – tracing her journey from the back streets of Paris to becoming an international star. Audrey Brisson (who played Amélie in 2019) embodies Piaf – her diminutive size, her energy and exuberance for life, and most of all her distinctive voice – powerful, rich and haunting. She is supported by nine other actor/musicians whose vocal skills, as well as playing a variety of instruments, add to the emotional intensity of the production.
The atmospheric opening, with hazy smoke and an accordion playing, immediately immerses the audience into the rough, back streets of Paris. The set is quickly transformed to a cabaret bar and then a theatre with a rich velvet curtain as Piaf’s fortunes rise. Piaf’s success on the stage is contrasted with the tragedies she faces in her private life – the death of her daughter, the death of her husband and in her final years more car crashes and her addiction to morphine and alcohol.
There are twenty-one of Piaf’s famous songs, which are often autobiographical, most sung in French, some in English, twenty- seven characters and twenty scenes which move at pace and are propelled by the music. The songs range in emotion from the jubilant to the romantic and heart rending. One of the highlights is the duet of La Vie en Rose, sung with Marlene Dietrich (Signe Larsson). Signe Larsson’s raunchy double bass playing throughout the production is particularly impressive. Special mention must also go to Yves (Djavan Van de Fliert) for his moving solo as well as to Theo(Oliver Nazareth Aston) for the duet he sings with Piaf.
Audrey Brisson portrays the frailty of Piaf as she reaches the end of her life, becoming more and more bent and brittle. She was in fact, only 47 when she died in 1963. She dies on stage and this leads immediately to the climactic ending of the play. The whole company gather as Piaf, in her trademark black dress, sings the uplifting and life affirming Non, Je ne Regrette Rien. With a backdrop of sparkling stars in the night sky the play ended to thunderous applause and a well deserved standing ovation.
Piaf is playing at The Watermill until May 17 – don’t miss it. To buy tickets click here
Election Special – Wiltshire Council Elections – 1 May 2025
