By Chung Ah-young
Iconic French singer Edith Piaf will be revived on stage in “Piaf” two years after the Korean adaptation was first performed in Seoul in 2009.
Written by British playwright Pam Gems in 1978, the play is based on the life story of the French singer and her music. When first presented by the U.K.’s Royal Shakespeare Company in 1979 it received rave reviews from critics.
The work portrays Piaf’s tempestuous life from childhood to her peak as a popular singer in the 20th century.
The play made its premiere here in 2009 at the Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center, featuring 17 of her memorable songs. Veteran actress Choi Jung-won, who performed in the 2009 version, will reprise the role of Piaf.
During the performance, the actress will not leave the stage ― she will age and change clothes, sing and cry in frustration on stage. The Seensee Musical Company said that the play will show the “art of an actress” focusing on her energy and passion rather than using stage changes and the audience will meet various people from Piaf’s life.
Her songs such as “La Vie en Rose,” “Hymne a l’Amour” and “Non, Je ne Regrette Rien” mesh with the tunes of the accordion and piano to resonate throughout the auditorium.
Born in 1912 in Paris, Piaf spent four years in a brothel and became a cafe singer after her talent was acknowledged by nightclub owner Louis Leplee. She had to temporarily quit singing after Leplee was murdered and Piaf was falsely accused of killing him.
But she resumed her career in 1935 with strong encouragement from other artists. Piaf met Yves Montand and fell in love with him inspiring the lyrics to “La Vie en Rose.” After her breakup with Montand she met boxer Marcel Cerdan and after he died in a plane crash she released “Hymne a l’Amour” in 1950 to express her love for him.
Her tragic love affairs made her miserable. Sometimes self-destructive and turning to alcohol in her later life, she held her last concert in 1962 and died in 1963.
Piaf’s story has been adapted for numerous genres such as films as well as other theatrical works.
The play will be staged from April 30 to June 5 at Chungmu Art Hall in Sindang-dong, Seoul. Tickets cost 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information call 1544-1555.