Exposing Edith: Showcasing a Legend in Adelaide and Overseas

Much has been written, said and performed over many decades about the life and music of Edith Piaf, but Adelaide audiences will have a chance to decide for themselves who the legendary singer really was when Exposing Edith plays the 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival in June, before the show heads overseas later this year.

Written and performed by Michaela Burger on vocals and Greg Wain on guitar, Exposing Edith is directed by Shona Benson and combines twelve authentic vintage French pop songs and contemporary sounds. Piaf’s classics are linked by the instrumental underscoring together with rarely told true-life stories about her life.

Burger and Wain have examined the undertones of Piaf’s vocals and lyrics, creating their own interpretations of her music using acoustic guitar with loop, delay and effect pedals. In developing their unique interpretation of Piaf’s works the two artists are convinced the show reflects what Piaf might have created herself with the advantage of today’s musical tools, even though in truth she hardly ever composed her music and only occasionally co-wrote.

The inclusion of spoken stories adds an atmospheric and special element to the show, but Burger and Wain never soften Piaf’s life history. ‘We don’t portray her through rose-tinted glasses,’ says Burger. ‘We literally “expose” her for all that she was.’

Since Exposing Edith played at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival last year, Burger and Wain have developed the show further, including adding new elements. Dates are being finalised to perform the show in Singapore and negotiations are also occurring with European venues.

‘We are so excited by all the opportunities to take the show overseas,’ says Burger, ‘but we’ve only been able to get this far thanks to the loyalty and support of friends and family. To honour and thank them, we felt very strongly that Exposing Edith had to play in Adelaide first… and when better than at Cabaret time.’

Micaela Burger has an impressive performance history. She was the winner of an Adelaide Cabaret Festival scholarship in 2002 and went on to perform in her own show as well as with one of Broadway’s most sophisticated songwriters, Jason Robert Brown, at the 2003 Cabaret Festival. She later furthered her performance experience by studying in Europe for eight years. As one of the founding members of Adelaide’s Weimar Room, she wrote and starred in four sold-out cabaret shows between 2003 and 2010. While living in the UK, Burger hosted and performed in many cabaret events and has also performed at Café Paris (Landor Theatre) and La Boheme (Covent Garden). Her additional performing credits are extensive, working with State Opera Studios, Co-Opera, Amity Dry, Blue Fruit Theatre and more. Burger will be working with the State Opera of South Australia for their production of Otello this year.

Archer Jazz Scholarship winner, Greg Wain spent two years with London’s West End production of Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express. He has also been a member of internationally acclaimed vocal groups, The Swindle Singers and The Shout. He played Robin Gibb in the UK’s Bootleg Bee Gees before moving to Australia in 2008 to play Maurice Gibb in Showtime’s international Night Fever Bee Gee tribute show. As a guitarist Wain has featured as a solo artist in European jazz festivals and has recorded and toured with UK jazz/blues singer Carol Grimes. He teaches jazz guitar at Adelaide University and is currently touring Australia as Benny, on keys and as musical director with GOLD; the ultimate ABBA show.

Says Exposing Edith’s Director, Shona Benson, ‘Michaela Burger and Greg Wain have had many admirers over the years. The Sunday Mail selected Burger as a ‘top pick’ of the Cabaret Festival two years ago and ABC Radio in Melbourne described Exposing Edith as “sublime”’.

With professional histories like those of Burger and Wain, Adelaide audiences can expect to be exposed to memorable cabaret entertainment when attending Exposing Edith, the revisiting of Edith Piaf’s legendary life and timeless songs.

Lesley Reed  

WHEN: Wednesday, June 11 at 8pm; Saturday, June 14, 7pm; Sunday June 15, 7pm. 

VENUE: June 11 La Boheme, Grote Street, Adelaide; June 14 and 15, Nexus Cabaret, North Terrace, Adelaide.
TICKETS: From $25.

BOOKINGS: www.cabaretfringefestival.com