The biographical drama with music portrays the singer as a self-destructive, promiscuous alcoholic and junkie who, in one controversial scene, urinates in public.
The original production starred Jane Lapotaire in the title role, and included Ian Charleson as Pierre.
After six previews the show opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on February 6, 1981, with its original star, Jane Lapotaire.
Nowadays, She sings Piaf in her concerts around the world – including The Lincoln Center – NYC.
Caroline O'Connor starred in the play in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia in 2000 and 2001, gaining three Australian theater awards.
A new production opened at Curve, Leicester in 2013 starring Frances Ruffelle in the lead role.
The actor musician production directed by Jari Laakso starred Cameron Leigh in the title role, supported by Samantha Spurgin as Toine and Valerie Cutko as Marlene.
[2] In his review in The New York Times, Frank Rich observed, "Miss Lapotaire's performance burns with such heartstopping intensity that one never questions her right to stand in for the "little sparrow," who died at age 47 in 1963; one embraces her instantly and totally.
Instead of raising substantive issues about Piaf, the evening's cartoonish archetypes call the playwright's craft into question .
Mrs. Gems also relies on that tired device of following most of Piaf's heartbreaks with songs that comment directly on the action.
This might work if the songs were Piaf's best, but the ones here are generally lesser-known numbers that seem intended to minimize invidious comparisons between Miss Lapotaire's voice and her character's.