Exposing Edith

Exposing the rise and falls of Edith Piaf, this is one cabaret biographical musical you do not want to miss. Simply stunning. 

Exposing Edith

This show was absolutely phenomenal. The performer acting as Edith, Michaela Burger, had the most amazing voice. The way she sung the musical has me captivated and entranced just listening. It was emotional, and extremely well acted. It was the kind of performance that makes your hair stand up on end. It was simply stunning.

Burger also adopted an array of different characters, convincingly and observantly. As an audience you forgot you were watching a stage, you forgot these were actors. It felt like Burger could have been Edith herself, or Momone or any of the other characters she portrayed.

We are sat in a tiny venue, a small space. There’s probably only about twenty people in the audience but we were the lucky ones to get to see this show. Imagine Idina Menzel stood singing her heart out, performing a Broadway music directly in front of you in your living room. That’s what it felt like. It was special and unique. It was extraordinary. I felt privileged to have the chance to see it.

Exposing Edith is about French singer Edith Piaf. It’s part cabaret, part drama. It’s also sometimes immersive, sometimes not but always captivating audiences. It follows her life and her longing, her lovers and her defiance. It shows the huge contrast between her public life of celebrity and her turbulent private life. It shows how fame empowers performers publicly yet misguided and abuses them privately. It’s enriching, tragic and happy all at once.

The musical follows the story of Edith, her struggle growing up in the brothels of Paris and how this influenced her later decisions. We see her go from no professional vocal training to selling out music halls. It shows the tragedy but it also shows the happiness. It’s a jukebox musical and a biography of a woman who deserves to have this memoir.

It’s relevant in today’s age of celebrity as she achieves her fame by effectively sleeping to the top. It shows the demands and ridiculous prejudice against women. The saddest part of this story is as an observer although this is a historic re-enactment, it could easily be set right now. It highlights the problem of fame-Culture, privilege and the pitfalls of trying to make it as a woman. It shows the ridiculous expectations set upon her and how that ultimately affects her entire personal life.

There’s so many songs that are beautiful and I have never heard before and so many that are so so famous and well known. ‘La Vie En Rose’, ‘Je Ne Regretted Rien’ and many more that you would instantly recognise. The actor is accompanied by another guitarist and performer, Greg Wain who also has a wonderful voice. Both are talented at music, musical theatre and as actors.

The show was enchanting, inspiring and performed absolutely beautifully by both performers. Burgers Voice is extremely powerful and yet reduces to the tiniest whisper for immense impact. Wain’s Voice was moving too and he is an amazing musician. The whole performance was stunning and enchanting. Please go see it, it deserves huge recognition.

Header Image Credit: Matt Craig

Author

Mary Strickson

Mary Strickson Contributor

I love writing, blogging and reviewing on Voice and other online publications, covering a range of topics but I especially love the arts, activism, film and theatre. When I am not writing I work as an events photographer and artist/illustrator, as well as running workshops in schools and the community, mostly with young people. I'm also a huge history nerd, have a History BA, Art History MA and work in heritage. I love comics, superheroes and anything sci-fi.

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