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C'est la Vie (formerly La Vie Ennui)

"Full of charm and period 'oo-la-la,' La Vie Ennui is ready for the high life, capturing that ever-light, ever-sassy Parisian style."

Chicago Tribune

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 90 minutes

  • Time Period: 1950s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Senior Theatre
Dominique and Fatiguee are a pair of down-at-the-high heels chanteuses working at Chez Leplee, a dingy, dead-end cabaret in 1950 Paris. Henri Lepl'e, the miserly nightclub owner, insists his two songbirds croon only the songs of their archrival, the famous Edith Piaf, night after night.

Bored with this routine, copycat existence, Dominique and Fatiguee, along with their faithful (nonspeaking) pianist Jean-Paul-Pierre, scheme to have their boss conveniently detained by the police so that they can finally perform their own material -- if only for one night. The result is a charming musical sorbet about life, love and annoying accordion players.

The 13 songs range from the hilarious "The Accordionist Song" (about a woman murdering her next-door neighbor accordion student) and "New Jersey" (a love song to the romantic faraway Garden State) to the infectious "It's a Crazy World, N'est-ce Pas?" and "You've Got to Be a Waif" to the poignant "Living in the Cinema" and "The Boys of Days Gone By," as well as the lilting title song. 

REVIEWS:

"Full of charm and period 'oo-la-la,' La Vie Ennui is ready for the high life, capturing that ever-light, ever-sassy Parisian style."

Chicago Tribune

"There's no ennui in this perfectly packaged, memorably melodic, richly polished musical gem -- a big-hearted salute to French cabaret and the chanteuses who break our hearts. The songs showcase Opelka's skill at churning out four-star tunes and wicked lyrics. One of the Eight Theatrical Wonders of 2002 Chicago theatre."

Chicago Reader

"This is parody at its classiest. It's easy to imagine an entire club constructed around this show a la Tony and Tina's Wedding."

Windy City Times

"Opelka has fashioned a musical that is so right on the money it's a little frightening. This is a great, fun show that has a long life ahead of it."

Midwest Ursine

  • Casting: 2F
  • Casting Notes: One pianist