Louise Pitre is red hot these days. The Canadian actress has played some of the most sought-after roles in musical theatre history (the lead in Mamma Mia! is just one in a series of impressive performances) and tonight she performs a solo concert entitled La Vie En Rouge, which will be recorded live for an upcoming CD. We tracked down the bilingual diva for a quick tête-à-tête before the show.
You’ve played some fantastic parts over the years: Fantine in Les Mis, Edith Piaf and even Donna in Mamma Mia. What’s your favourite role to date?
You know what? Up until this year, I would’ve said Piaf. I mean, Piaf’s definitely still a career highlight — that’s the hardest I’ve ever worked. But this year, I did "A Year with Frog and Toad" at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre. That’s the jewel, the tender little delicate thing that you hold in two little cupped hands. I’ve never felt that way about something I’ve done before. It was really special.
How did you select the songs for La Vie En Rouge?
Oh boy. Well, I wanted to end up with a French recording… and I knew I wanted a live-in-concert DVD. I also realized I’d be singing to an Anglophone audience, though — so I knew I needed to break the [French] performance up a bit. So I’ve done sort of an evening in Paris and a night in New York. The ‘rouge’ in the concert name refers to the passion in the performance — it’s more than la vie en rose — it’s more red-hot-tear-your-heart out. You’ll hear a lot of Piaf, and then some broadway stuff, as well — "One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man" I’ll sing for sure.
What’s your preference: singing in French or English? Pour quoi?
Oh God. Not fair! I’ll be honest, though: when I sing "The Man That Got Away," I feel I could fly. It doesn’t get much better than that. But when I sing Piaf, it makes me feel like I’ve lived before. I started my life speaking French, strictly. So singing in French takes me back to where I come from.
Any pre-show rituals?
Well, I try not to have a coffee and cigarette! No, actually, all I care about is eating enough, because I work so hard when I sing. I need to know I have a PowerBar on hand!
And how do you unwind after the show?
What I really want to do is sit with musicians and have a drink. But I also like go to the lobby and interact with my audience — it’s great to be able to have that contact.
Funniest thing that’s happened to you while you were onstage?
It wasn’t funny at the time — but it is now. When I played Piaf, in one scene I had a full-on fight with my young husband — and my wig came flying off. So there I was, standing on stage with my pin-curled head! It was impossible to hide — incredibly embarrassing. But I thought: what the hell, it’s live theatre!
First song you ever performed?
"You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman," accompanying myself on the piano. It was while I was still in high school, in Welland, Ontario. It went really well, actually! I used to play at home all the time, and had these secret dreams of singing in public.
Louise Pitre — La Vie En Rouge, June 1, Jane Mallett Theatre