I never expected to enjoy a show made up of only Edith Piaf’s songs but I was completely enamoured. Fiona Barrow and Edward Jay, on violin and accordion respectively, evoke the pavement café atmosphere of Paris before Eve Loiseau, our singer, even comes on stage; this is saying quite something when you are sat in a school lecture hall in Scotland. Loiseau doesn’t pretend to be Piaf, although she does imitate her style and uses her words to introduce the songs; she never does a gimmicky narration in first person, more concerned with creating the feel of a Piaf show. When it climaxes, of course, with ‘Non Je Ne Regrette Rein’, you leave desperately wanting to be young and in love and in Paris.

The Edinburgh Academy, 16-26 Aug, 5.00pm.
tw rating 5/5 | [Lia Sanders]

Sections: by Lia Sanders - ED2012 Cabaret Reviews - tw rating 5/5 | Tags: Eve Loiseau, The Edinburgh Academy

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