Edith Piaf’ world premiere debuts at Cinnabar
“Opera star Valentina Osinski, who conceived the stage production, is joined by Soprano Julia Hathaway and tenors Kevin Singer and Michael Van Why. Together, they sing seductively in English and a smattering of French while a backdrop projects scenes from the century. Piaf’s half-sister, Simone, is a marvelous enactment by Melissa Weaver, who also directed the production. . . Creativity abounds in this stage adaptation by Valentina Osinski, Van Why and Lundgren. . . .The popularity of the show has recently prompted Cinnabar to extend performances through Jan. 25.” Cari Lynn Pace, Marinscope January 2015
“Edith Piaf: Under Paris Skies” is an original commission, assembled from scratch for Cinnabar Theater, and though its creators are better known as performers than authors, I predict their clever, moving, raunchy, mysterious, funny, sad and seductive little musical theater piece will definitely have a life beyond Cinnabar, or should, if there is any justice in the world. ” Robin Cressman, KRCB January 2015
“The music, singing and scenes from Cinnabar Theater’s brassy new commission, “Édith Piaf: Beneath Paris Skies,” are so ingenious that it’s easy to imagine them invigorating Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (2011) or Olivier Dahan’s “La Vie en Rose” (2007). Conceived and written by Valentina Osinski and Michael Van Why, this new musical had its world premiere on Saturday and is a gem will linger in your memory long after the last chanteuse sings. . . It is pure pleasure to behold soprano Valentina Osinski in action. She sings with a smoldering intensity and her Piaf is tantalizing, pitiful, despicable and enviable. Osinski was honored last year with a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award. It’s a real treat to see her in Cinnabar’s intimate space, where you can almost feel the rustle of her movements. ” Geneva Anderson, ArtHOUND January 2015
Miss Osinski ultimately garnered a 2015 BayAreaTheater Critic Circle Awards nomination for best original script for BENEATH PARIS SKIES.
