'Piaf' was originally showing in London at the Donmar theatre in Covent Garden. However, due to popular demand, the production was moved to the Vaudeville theatre on The Strand in the West End when it had finished showing at the Donmar.
The play tells the moving story of Piaf's life. Edith Piaf sung the world-famous songs 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' amongst many others. Edith Piaf (1915 - 1963) was a French singer, and is probably the country's most notorious singer.
The story showed Piaf's life, from when she was a young girl through to her last days. Piaf had an incredibly tough childhood, and claimed to be born on the streets to an alcoholic street singer who soon abandoned her after her birth.
She was raised by her grandmother, who ran a brothel in Paris. One day, Piaf is spotted singing on the streets by a cabaret boss, and so the fame begins.
From this point, Piaf's life is a whirlwind of rising fame, men, alcohol and later, drugs. Elana Roger captured Piaf's pain and unique voice perfectly.
Elena Roger's character interpretation of Piaf
Roger makes Piaf seem unaware of anyone around her and her character is fantastically unselfconscious.
Piaf's manners are straight from the streets and she is often rude and abrupt, yet remains warm and likable.
Although often surrounded by people and fans, Piaf cuts a lonely figure, and claims to constantly need a man in her life and is easy and carefree with giving her body to men.
There is a sad moment when she is for once without a lover in her life; she drunkenly tells her secretary how desperately alone and in pain she feels.
Roger does this however with humour which shines through the drunken slurs and stumbles.
Piaf's downfall is alcohol and drugs, and she eventually succumbs to the addictive nature of these substances. They transform her from a strong-willed and beautiful girl to an old, frail and broken woman in a wheelchair.
We saw Piaf enter rehabilitation. During this stage of her life, the men and friends in her life abandon her, and those that don't, she manages to push away.
There are some ugly scenes of sex and drug use that depict the seediness of that world.
In one of these scenes, we see Piaf inject herself, and our surroundings transform from London playhouse to Piaf's smoky and hazy world. The sound effects and special effects throughout the play were superb yet not at all overdone.
Piaf died a relatively early death aged 47. During the Piaf's funeral, Elana Roger sings what the audience have been waiting for, 'Non, je ne regrette rien'. It was everything I had been hoping for and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Singing a poem
The dialogue and chosen songs for the play were perfect. Elena Roger sings the songs in French, bar one which she half speaks, half sings. It is called 'Hymn to Love', and really was very moving. Please see my next view for the lyrics and video of Piaf singing this song.
Atmostsphere at The Apollo
Before the play started, the audience were played some 20th century French street music, and I felt slightly as if we had been transported back in time to an old Parisian theatre. The Vaudeville theatre is actually over 140 years old.
I looked around me at the cobbled stage-floor, and the fading and peeled 'Piaf' street posters on the walls and listened to the French music playing in the background.
People around me were reading the day's papers and quietly chatting whilst waiting for the play to start. Out of the hustle and bustle of the streets of West London, the interior of this theatre had a quintessential and lovely ambiance.
Overall, I would rate this play as truly superb. The acting was both believable and brilliant. I would go as far to say that Elena Roger's (Piaf) acting was the best I have seen in over a year. See here for booking - Piaf will show until the 24th January, 2008. Other critics have also given this play outstanding reviews.
Rating: 10/10
The play tells the moving story of Piaf's life. Edith Piaf sung the world-famous songs 'La Vie en Rose' and 'Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien' amongst many others. Edith Piaf (1915 - 1963) was a French singer, and is probably the country's most notorious singer.
The story showed Piaf's life, from when she was a young girl through to her last days. Piaf had an incredibly tough childhood, and claimed to be born on the streets to an alcoholic street singer who soon abandoned her after her birth.
She was raised by her grandmother, who ran a brothel in Paris. One day, Piaf is spotted singing on the streets by a cabaret boss, and so the fame begins.
From this point, Piaf's life is a whirlwind of rising fame, men, alcohol and later, drugs. Elana Roger captured Piaf's pain and unique voice perfectly.
Elena Roger's character interpretation of Piaf
Roger makes Piaf seem unaware of anyone around her and her character is fantastically unselfconscious.
Piaf's manners are straight from the streets and she is often rude and abrupt, yet remains warm and likable.
Although often surrounded by people and fans, Piaf cuts a lonely figure, and claims to constantly need a man in her life and is easy and carefree with giving her body to men.
There is a sad moment when she is for once without a lover in her life; she drunkenly tells her secretary how desperately alone and in pain she feels.
Roger does this however with humour which shines through the drunken slurs and stumbles.
Piaf's downfall is alcohol and drugs, and she eventually succumbs to the addictive nature of these substances. They transform her from a strong-willed and beautiful girl to an old, frail and broken woman in a wheelchair.
We saw Piaf enter rehabilitation. During this stage of her life, the men and friends in her life abandon her, and those that don't, she manages to push away.
There are some ugly scenes of sex and drug use that depict the seediness of that world.
In one of these scenes, we see Piaf inject herself, and our surroundings transform from London playhouse to Piaf's smoky and hazy world. The sound effects and special effects throughout the play were superb yet not at all overdone.
Piaf died a relatively early death aged 47. During the Piaf's funeral, Elana Roger sings what the audience have been waiting for, 'Non, je ne regrette rien'. It was everything I had been hoping for and there was not a dry eye in the house.
Singing a poem
The dialogue and chosen songs for the play were perfect. Elena Roger sings the songs in French, bar one which she half speaks, half sings. It is called 'Hymn to Love', and really was very moving. Please see my next view for the lyrics and video of Piaf singing this song.
Atmostsphere at The Apollo
Before the play started, the audience were played some 20th century French street music, and I felt slightly as if we had been transported back in time to an old Parisian theatre. The Vaudeville theatre is actually over 140 years old.
I looked around me at the cobbled stage-floor, and the fading and peeled 'Piaf' street posters on the walls and listened to the French music playing in the background.
People around me were reading the day's papers and quietly chatting whilst waiting for the play to start. Out of the hustle and bustle of the streets of West London, the interior of this theatre had a quintessential and lovely ambiance.
Overall, I would rate this play as truly superb. The acting was both believable and brilliant. I would go as far to say that Elena Roger's (Piaf) acting was the best I have seen in over a year. See here for booking - Piaf will show until the 24th January, 2008. Other critics have also given this play outstanding reviews.
Rating: 10/10
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