I. Grinshpun

a plastic drama about Edith Piaf, 14+

The play has visited these cities on tour and at festivals in different years: 

• Russia (Yalta, Simferopol, Moscow, Saransk, Samara)
• Lithuania (Vilnius, Druskinenkoi, Klaipeda)
• Latvia (Riga)
• Belarus (Babruisk, Mogilev)
• Ukraine (Odesa, Kherson)
• Cyprus (Limassol)

Directed and set designed
by J. Harmelin , Honored Artist of the Republic of Moldova

Choreography and plastic art
by N. Kazmin

Olga Sofricova , Honored Artist of the Republic of Moldova and winner of the Best Actress award in 2007, plays Edith Piaf

The following artists are participating in the performance:

Annotation

Inna Grinshpun's play "Padam, Padam..." is about the life of Edith Piaf. Much has been written about the legendary Parisian sparrow, a star of the French stage in the 1950s and 1960s, whose voice still captivates and whose life could be the basis for several television series.

A Chisinau theater has performed a Piaf monologue—piercing, desperate, playful, touching, and rude. As varied and strange as life itself.

The theater's luck was that the company included a young actress who was perfectly suited to the tragic role. There she is—passionately, defiantly, defiantly, painfully delivering the lines, the revelations of one who will conquer the entire world. And next to her is a silent chorus. Mostly male. Of which there is only one other woman. The actors in the "chorus" are dressed in tights and T-shirts, their faces heavily whitened. Not characters—types, characters. And who cares who they are, those encountered by chance along the actress's path? They appear sometimes as brothel girls, sometimes as chance lovers—a sailor, a legionnaire, a worker. Sometimes as variety show boys, sometimes as WWII soldiers, sometimes as a court of honor, sometimes as Piaf's backup dancers and her many lovers, whose names were forgotten. But then one, two, three emerge from the crowd... Those whose meeting became a turning point in Piaf's life. Leblanc from the variety show, who brought her on stage, Marcel Cerdan, Yves Montand, Cerano's last love.

They are silent. She plays for everyone.

Olga Sofrikova plays Edith Piaf. She's so diverse and multifaceted. In this role, she embodies everything: passion, naivety, mischief, pain, and a youthful, desperate thirst for fame.

Piaf, especially the mature Piaf, is usually played by older actresses. This Piaf is young, but she retains so much of Piaf's essence—how precisely she conveys the languid passion, the all-consuming youthful thirst for fame, the mischief—and yet she remains what is called a child of the streets. She is the seductive Frenchwoman, the funny, fearless Gavroche, and the desperately lonely woman. And the haughty, cruel, capricious diva, who knows all too well the price of both fame and a crust of bread.

The production delicately utilizes the soundtrack of Piaf's songs. The actress—and this is a fundamental directorial decision—doesn't sing or imitate Piaf singing. She hums a verse of the song once, without any attempt to compete with Piaf, recites the lyrics that form the basis of the songs, and listens to recordings of these songs with her co-stars and the audience.
The production's exterior is laconic and expressive. Four old street lamps are both a symbol of the country and a sign of destiny. After all, the sweet-voiced sparrow Piaf flew in from the cobblestone streets of Paris.

The premiere took place in 2004.

The performance lasts 1 hour 40 minutes without intermission.

The performance includes songs performed by Edith Piaf.

Photos of the performance

Videos of the performance

PADAM … PADAM …

plastic drama about Edith Piaf
based on the play I. Grinshpun

Staging and stage design
Yu Harmelina, Master of Arts of the Republic of Moldova

Choreography and plastic
N. Kazmina

In the role of Edith Piaf
Olga Sofrikova, winner in the nomination “For the best female lead” in 2007

Annotation

Piece Inna Grinshpun “Padam, Padam...” about the fate of Edith Piaf. Much has been written about the legendary Parisian sparrow, French pop star 50-60, whose voice still cares about, and destiny could be the basis for a number of TV series.

In the theater, there was a monologue from Chisinau Piaf - shrill, desperate, provocative, moving, rough. So different and strange as life itself.

Luck of the theater that the troupe was a young actress, who came at the time of the tragic role. This is it - passionately, fervently, defiantly, with pain says the text, the revelation of the one who yields to the whole world. And next to it - a silent chorus. Basically, the male. In which there is only one woman. Actors “chorus” dressed in tights and T-shirts, they strongly nabelennye face. Not characters — Valais, helpers. And does it matter who they are, those randomly encountered on the way the actress. They appear as a brothel girls, how casual lovers — sailor legionary work. Then the boys from Variety, the soldiers of the Second World, then the court of honor, the backing dancers as Piaf and her numerous lovers, whose names are not remembered. But here the crowd go one, two, three… Those meeting that became a landmark in the life of Piaf. LEBL of a variety show, which led her to the stage, Marcel Cerdan, Yves Montand, the last love of Serrano.

They are silent. She plays for everyone.

The role of Edith Piaf is actress Olga Sofrikova. So different and so multifaceted. In this role it all - passion, innocence, mischief, pain, and young desperate thirst for glory.

Usually Piaf, especially Piaf mature play actress aged. This Piaf is young, but like many of her Piaf - as though she were in the transfer of lingering passion, in an all-consuming desire for the glory of the young, in mischief - and she had remained those who called the child of the streets. She and seductive Frenchwoman, fearless and funny Gavroche and lonely woman to despair. And haughty, cruel, capricious diva, who knows all too well the price and glory, and a piece of bread.

The play gently used soundtrack songs Piaf. Actress — and this director's decision in principle — does not sing and does not portray Piaf singing. Once sings verse of the song, did not compete with Piaf, reading poetry, which became the basis of songs, listening to recordings of these songs together with partners and spectators.
The external appearance of the play is concise and expressive. Four old street lantern - this sign of the country, and a sign of destiny. After fruity sparrow Piaf flew with bridge in Paris.

Premiere 2004.

Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. without interference.

The performance used songs performed by Edith Piaf.