Piaf: A Centennial Celebration

It's rare that a concert of old chestnuts doesn't wind up being a bit too long and a little too much. It takes guts to know that a ninety minute concert should be ninety minutes and then to keep the program trim enough that it doesn't go over that length.

The producers of Saturday's "Town Hall Tribute to Edith Piaf," which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the French chanteuse, deserve credit for doing just that in a delightful concert that skillfully mixed laughs with pathos.

In this they may have been aided by a cancellation from planned guest Christine Ebersole. If that served to keep the show to a proper brevity, it was welcome, and the show in no way seemed to be lacking of her presence.

Featured were such talented singers as cabaret regular Amber Martin, Brit legend Elaine Paige, frequent "Tonight" show guest Marilyn Maye, Australian singer-actor Kim David Smith, "A Chorus Line" veteran Gaye Marshall and two-time Tony nominee Vivian Reed.

The performers were backed by the American Pops Orchestra while TV personality Robert Osborne served as the charming emcee.

As the audience was in a mood to enjoy itself, it chuckled frequently. But there was plenty to laugh at. This included an assortment of clever bits of stage business. One special reason to find amusement was from the appearance of violinist Aaron Weinstein, who informed the audience dryly that his fiddle would play his next song in French.

Four performers stood out for their feeling and faithfulness to Piaf: the charismatic Amber Martin, the intensely theatrical Reed, Marshall and Paige. Osborne noted that Gay Marshall had moved to France at one point to learn the language and to further acquaint herself with the tradition of which Piaf was a part. That was shown in her performance, which was fleet, forceful and without self-indulgence. This might also describe Paige's closing turn.

Osborne sensibly explained that he would not talk of Piaf's dramatic personal life as the evening was meant to honor her achievements as a singer and the music she championed. It was a wise choice and a tasteful one. My companion was a native Parisian, and she loved the concert. Isn't that the highest praise?

"Piaf: A Centennial Celebration" was held on Dec. 19 at Town Hall, 123 West 43rd St. For more information, visit http://thetownhall.org/event/piaf-a-centennial-celebration