Pam Gems’ 1978 play Piaf started life at the Royal Shakespeare Company before moving its way to the West End, Broadway (garnering a Tony Award for Jane Lapotaire), Australia and even Japan. The play now returns to the Watermill Theatre after 20-plus years starring another familiar face to the venue, Audrey Brisson.
I was gifted a press ticket in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Piaf
Cast
- Edith Piaf: Audrey Brisson
- Marcel/Yves: Dvajan Van de Fliert
- Marc/Georges: Marc Serratosa
- Leplee/Vaimbert: Sam Pay
- Louis: Hazel Monaghan
- Toine: Tzarina-Nassor
- Oliver Nazareth Aston: Theo/Raymond
- Madeleine/Marlene Dietrich: Signe Larsson
Rating: ★★★★
What is Piaf about?
Piaf follows the Little Sparrow Edith Piaf’s dramatic rise from the squalor of the streets of Paris to the glamour of international stardom. Intertwining the great loves, losses and questionable decisions of this complex and fragile star with her raw, spellbinding songs, performed live by an ensemble cast of actor-musicians.
What are my thoughts on Piaf?
The Little Sparrow’s rags to riches to downward spiral to tragic premature death could be something that comes off as sensationalised or exploitative if put in the wrong hands – all too familiar with other female celebrities whose turbulent lives have been put in the spotlight. While elements of Gems’ script have become inevitably dated over the years as it condenses Piaf’s life into episodic scenes, in many ways it’s ahead of its time as its pulls-no-punches approach finds the person hidden beneath the starlet. Fortunately, Kimberley Sykes’ direction in this production treats her story with the tenderness and empathy it deserves.
Breezing through Piaf’s life from her beginnings living in the Parisian slums to performing during the war to her several love affairs (with her most famous songs added to the mix), the production is further complemented by its staging. James Perkins and Victoria Smart’s simple yet era appropriate sets and costumes create a rustic edge perfect for a venue like the Watermill, adding a romantic edge to its version of Paris. Plus it allows plenty of room for the actor-muso ensemble to work their magic.
In light of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’s recent victory at the Oliviers, it’s a delight seeing a talented actor-muso ensemble onstage and have them be so cleverly utilised and offer room for creativity. An all too familiar concept for the Watermill Theatre including the current UK tour of Calamity Jane, Michela Meazza’s movement direction stages the songs effectively as they capture Piaf’s life from the the outside and her internal state of mind, songs such as Jimmy Brown and Bravo pour le clown particularly standing out.
What’s the cast like?
In her grand return to the Watermill following her breakthrough in Amelie, Audrey Brisson gives the performance of a lifetime as Edith Piaf. Possessing the steely yet fragile vocals of the pintsized chanteuse, it’s an utterly raw and human portrayal of a woman whose self destructive behaviours are born out of a desire for connection. Brisson seamlessly takes us on a journey starting as a brash carefree twenty-something to a vulnerable shell of herself weighed down by her addiction issues. Every time she sings, you can hear the passion put into every word, appropriately capping off with a stunning Non, je ne regrette rien that brought the roof down at press night.
While Brisson is undoubtedly the star of the piece, the nine-piece actor-muso ensemble who complement her are equally as terrific, some doubling roles. Dvajen (Frozen) is charming as boxer and lover Marcel Cerdan. Signe Larsson oozes charisma as Marlene Dietrich and warmth as Piaf’s secretary Madeleine. Oliver Nazareth Aston makes an endearing turn towards the end as Piaf’s much younger husband Theo Sarapo.
What are my overall thoughts?
A standout performance from Audrey Brisson is enough for you to see the Watermill’s Piaf. While Gems’ script may not be 100% perfect as the years have gone by, in a lot of ways it’s like Edith herself. Affecting, moving and brilliantly staged, it’s the kind of biographical play that neither whitewashes its subject’s personal demons nor exploits their life with a sensationalistic lens..
Piaf runs at the Watermill Theatre until 17th May. Buy your tickets here.
Leave a Reply