Emmerson as Piaf shows Montreal some love photo: Larry Auerbach

That initial run jumpstarted Emmerson's diverse acting career. In 2005, she decided it was time to reunite with the object of her early theatrical affections. She reworked the show - also serving as director and producer - and never looked back. When Piaf arrives at Centaur this week, it will be the latest stop for a production that has circumnavigated the globe.

The mainly one-woman musical drama invites audiences into Piaf's boudoir where she recounts experiences from her tumultuous life, punctuating the anecdotes with her most famous songs, such as La Vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien. Emmerson attributes the show's success to its accessibility and emotional impact: "Piaf was singing the blues of her time in that the lyrics are about the downtrodden and the absolute pain of love. That comes through even today."

Emmerson has gone on to acquire a veritable library of Piaf memorabilia. Nevertheless, she occasionally scans YouTube for newly unearthed clips of the singer. She's a devoted fan at heart, and, if nothing else, she hopes her production will inspire theatregoers to rediscover one of history's unforgettable voices. "You never know," she says, "maybe the music will affect the rest of their lives, like it did mine."

Piaf: Love Conquers All
At Centaur Theatre (453 St-François-Xavier), Jan. 28 to Feb. 8











 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Write your comment! please follow these guidelines

Information requested in blue will remain confidential   [privacy policy] Please indicate your real first and last names.

First name :

Last name :

Your email :

Confirm your email :

Title of your comment (max. 150 characters)   Your comment (max. 2000 characters)  characters remaining       LIMIT PER PERSON : one comment per article per member. Thank you. Your comment will be read by our approval team and, if it is approved, will be posted on the website within 24 hours. It could also be published, along with your name, in the printed version of Hour magazine and on any of our partner websites. In order to present the highest quality of comments, Hour reserves the right to refuse certain submissions. Any plagiarism will entail the entire removal of the member’s profile. Hour is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the members.