JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

            Jacques Brel was born on April 9, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium.  He had been writing songs most of his life.  In the early 1950’s he went to Paris where he became a popular singer and composer of French songs, and in 1966 he gave up the stage to become an actor in films and musicals.  His numerous songs have been translated into many languages. 

            A 1968 Off-Broadway hit by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman based on lyrics and commentary of Jacques Brel is now being presented at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles.    Though we are fortunate to have his music alive and well at the Odyssey Theatre, Brel is neither alive nor well in Paris as he died from lung cancer in France on October 9, 1978.  

            This unusual presentation is performed by four extremely artistic performers, two women (Susan Kohler and Miyuki Miyagi) and two men (Marc Francoeur and Michael Yapujian) who not only sing the many songs by Brel, but act them out in a way that brings much more of the interpretation of them to life.  They are accompanied by a group of wonderful musicians, Anthony Lucca (keyboard), Cyrus Elis (bass), Conor Malloy(percussion), Ryan McDonald (alternate percussionist), and Max Wagner (guitar).

            Brel’s songs all have meaning about life in them, and the performances by this outstanding group is like watching twenty-four individual musical skits in two acts.  The musical direction is by Anthony Lucca.   Susan Kohler, Miyuki Miyagim, Marc Francoeur, and Michael Yapujian are all multi-talented singers and actors.  The production is under the direction of Dan Fishbach.

            Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris¸ will continue playing at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, through August 27.  For all information regarding reservations and/or purchasing tickets, call (310) 477-2055, ext. 2, or go online at www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

HIGHLY REOMMENDED