Piaf at The Octagon Theatre Bolton Review
Piaf
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
23 May 15 June 2013
Reviewed by Michelle Wright
I knew that the life story of Edith Piaf was not a happy one but I never really knew how difficult right from the start her life really was. The show, Piaf, at The Octagon portrayed it, warts and all…
Piaf was raised in a brothel by her Grandmother, and then discovered by a nightclub owner, starting her singing career in Paris. Her distinctive voice and small, petite frame gave rise to her nickname of “Little Sparrow’ – and here started her rise to stardom and her fall to the life of alcohol and drugs. All Piaf wanted was to be loved – no it wasn’t a want, it was a need.
Caroline Faber takes on this memorising role in a fantastic performance by her as Piaf. Faber portrays the nervous stage presence which Piaf is famous for to perfection and her voice is absolutely stunning – with spine tingling renditions of La Vie En Rose and Non, Je ne Regrette Rien to name but a few. Even the way she moved her hands and held her head when performing were captured perfectly by Faber.
The show covers Piaf’s life from her early 20’s up until her death at the very young age of 48. Through snap shot scenes, the production includes her time at the brothel and relationships with the German Army at the time of the Second World War, the start of her on stage career, meeting and losing the love of her life a boxer named Marcel Cerdan (played by Kieran Hill), her friendship with Marlene Dietrich, her rise to fame and being an international singer and the 'face' of the French music scene, then her lifelong addiction to morphine and alcohol, as well as her marriage to her second and final husband, Theo Sarapo and her sad and lonely death in 1963. The producer, Pam Gems manages to include all of these elements as well as fabulous musical renditions.
I cannot speak highly enough of the performance and voice of Caroline Faber. I speak only a small amount of French and just as Edith could mesmerize an audience when singing a different language, so could Caroline.
Rating: 5/5
Piaf is the last of The Octagons shows for the 2012 – 2013 season and runs until June 15.
Box office: 01204 520661 or www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Tickets cost £23.50 – £9.50
