Preview: Piaf, Donmar Warehouse, London
A view of the Sparrow that's less rose-tinted
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The French singer Edith Piaf, whose greatest hits include "La Vie en Rose" and "Non, je ne regrette rien", has long been the subject of biographies, films and plays. Most recently, the actress Marion Cotillard played Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose, and won an Oscar.
Now, Pam Gems has reworked her 1978 play Piaf, focusing this time more on the biographic details of the waiflike singer's life. The new production will star Elena Rogers, who starred in Evita in the West End last year, and reunite her with the Donmar's associate director Jamie Lloyd, who was associate director on Evita, and now directs Piaf.
"Essentially, it is the same play. It has the same spirit as the original but it feels more truthful and fresh," says Lloyd. "I asked Pam what she wanted to do, 30 years later. We had more specifics about Piaf's life since the original play was published. We know that Piaf saved prisoners of war by forging their papers. We know more about the men surrounding her, including Charles Aznavour and Yves Montand. Her relationships can now be based on reality rather than invented.
"We also now understand the significance of the boxer Marcel Cerdan, who was the love of her life, so he features prominently in the new play. When he died in a plane crash, she went on the road of self-destruction."
Lloyd, whose other credits include the recent West End production of Pinter's The Lover and The Collection, and The Caretaker at Sheffield Crucible, served his apprenticeship on big musicals such as the Donmar's Guys and Dolls and Trevor Nunn's Anything Goes. Of the star of his latest show, he says: "Elena can really sing these Piaf songs, and tap into the grit and sex of them. It's a raw, passionate performance.
"She can play the 17-year-old Piaf on the streets, the woman in control of her career and her men, through to the horrors of the morphine and alcohol addiction of this tragic star."
Friday to 21 September (0870 060 6624)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments