 Louise Pitre's wide repertoire includes everything from Edith Piaf to ABBA. |
French-Canadian chanteuse Louise Pitre has the luxury of adding a number of 'firsts' to her resume, and the most outstanding is being dubbed Canada's 'first lady of musical theatre.'
In addition to headlining in Toronto, Broadway and with the U.S. touring company of Mamma Mia, Pitre recently landed the plum roll of Mame with the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House. The show opening in April.
Her career has spanned theatre, TV and concert stages, garnered Tony nominations, Drama Desk awards, Critic's Circle awards, and she is a sought after soloist at orchestra performances across North America and Europe.
Pitre takes to familiar and well-loved territory as she embarks on a concert tour that will take her to far-flung cities from Fredericton and St. John to Moose Jaw, Osoyoos and Kelowna.
Her dedication to all art forms, but especially live theatre, is evident as she enthusiastically declares "my first love is always the stage."
"Live theatre is so very different from performing for film," she said from her Toronto home. "In concert, I have the luxury and pleasure to lead the evening, to respond to the enthusiasm of the audience, to connect with them and get an immediate reaction, build on our experience," she explained.
"I greatly admire (screen) actors, but its all about lights and camera angles.
"There's almost a disconnect, it's most impersonal. Scenes are shot out of sequence, you work with people who you have never seen before, but then are expected to act like you are in love with them! It's a weird way to act."
On stage, Pitre added, you have a beginning, a middle and an ending. The play builds on itself, "which seems more natural."
And Pitre's concert performances leave the audience buzzing as she launches into what many critics have called "the consummate performance from a feisty powerhouse."
Pitre, 55, doesn't deny she connects with the audience with her unique, down-home, we're-all-friends-here stylings. Whether she's singing the sultry songs of Edith Piaf or belting out The Winner Takes it All by ABBA in a spangled jumpsuit, or baring her musical soul in Les Miserables, she leaves every inch of herself on stage.
"On stage, it's me talking to you," she exclaimed. "If I can make you laugh with me, cry with me, do something to make you feel … then hot-damn, I've done my job."
Secure in the knowledge that she has 'made it' on the list of noticeable singing and performing stars, Pitre noted it was only after she left Canada and struck out on her own to carve a name for herself in the U.S., that the illusive idea of fame materialized.
She recalls leaving home, clawing up the ladder of success and then "when I came back here, suddenly I'm the first lady of musicals!"
Taking from that experience, Pitre has raised her own flag of patriotism and is ready to nurture a new generation of Canadian musical theatre fans, and support Canadian performers.
"As Canadians, we still have some kind of shy little cousin attitude when it comes to supporting our stars here," she said. "We are inundated by the U.S. industry, which is huge. We feel inferior to the states.
"We tend to not applaud ourselves too easily, and there's no friggin' need for that."
Pitre says that in Quebec there is a well-established and still burgeoning music industry, and the people of the province "embrace our own stars."
"We know them by name, we nurture them, we support their careers, we see them and we read about their shows," she added. "in other places, when we have a Canadian hit - a production or singer - we're so surprised! It's a ridiculous attitude."
Her best advice for up-and-coming actors and singers, is to "see as much as you can, and decide what moves you on stage."
"Watch the really good performers and emulate them, adding your own style, and know the difference between what's good and what is not," she added.
For her Kelowna appearance, Pitre plans to pull out all the stops, presenting a list of well-loved songs from Broadway musicals such as Cats, Gypsy and Les Miz; as well as a collection of Piaf, a mix of French Canadian favourites and "some original songs that I have."
QUICKFACTS
Who: Louise Pitre, From Broadway
to Paris, accompanied by pianist Christopher Mounteer
When: Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m., with a
6:30 concert featuring Chloe, Kyle & Co.
Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts
Tickets: Available at the RCA box
office, 250-717-5304,
selectyourtickets.com
